As part of our “Go Canadians, Go” project, Marketing asked dozens of Canucks working abroad (or those who’ve returned with a few years of international experience) to give us their impressions of the differences between Canada’s industry and others. Does being Canadian give you a leg up?
Having grown up in the Middle East, it had always been a pipe dream of mine to work overseas. I moved to Canada for university, and after that I chanced upon a career in PR (which I fell in love with immediately). And then in 2011, I had the opportunity to move to Beijing. I didn’t have a clear idea about what to expect.
I worked at a leading global PR firm while in Beijing, where my Canadian training and experience translated well. I had a chance to learn about one of the largest and most dynamic consumer markets in the world, the way that culture is so deeply embedded in the way business is conducted in the country, and how different a career in PR is in the absence of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube (of course, China has its own social networks, with even larger memberships). At the same time, I had the opportunity to teach my colleagues about Western consumer behaviour, the importance of employee engagement and the growing integration of social and digital into companies’ overall communications strategy.
That’s not to say it was a seamless transition—overseas moves rarely are, even within the same industry. Here are just a few of the important lessons I learned (often the hard way) about corporate culture and social etiquette:
Trust looks very different on the other side
The first time I was communicating with a new Chinese client to get a large budget approved, I received sign-off in one day—via text message. My instinct was to follow up with an email, but a colleague pointed out that creating a paper trail—especially as a foreigner—could be perceived as a lack of trust. Over time, I realized the value that Chinese culture puts on a person’s word, and the implication of this notion on doing business in China. Did this lead to overdue invoices? Yes, just as much as anywhere else. But I never encountered a client who didn’t proactively follow up on his/her word with a signed contract.
Who’s in your Rolodex?
The benefits of knowing someone on the inside is a well-known advantage, but in China, guānxì or “social currency” is what makes the world go around. From getting job interviews to earning the respect of your colleagues and winning new business, developing mutually beneficial alliances is an essential survival tool in China. A handy way to top up your social currency with colleagues? Office outings to the local karaoke spot with open bar and unlimited fruit platters—the natural alcohol accompaniment (I still don’t get this one).
“Lady, how old are you?”
Coming from Canada where personal privacy is held in such high regard, one of the toughest adjustments to get used to was being asked personal questions in a work setting. From being asked about my age and marital status in job interviews to speculations on my ticking biological clock and personal wealth status, it was all in a day’s work.
Hosting 101
The first time I invited some Chinese friends home, one of them pulled me aside and told me not to bother making dinner since it was clear I was poor. Seeing my horrified expression, she went on to explain that in China, inviting people home for dinner – instead of taking them out to a restaurant – was perceived as being cheap. This, of course, could not be more different from the Western notion I was familiar with, where opening up one’s home to colleagues is a big step and considered a more personal gesture than paying for a meal. Needless to say, I took them out that night – and ended up saving money and time in the process.
Rohini Mukherji is an account director at Apex Public Relations
