U.S. CULTURE AND THE HIRING PROCESS

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MARKET YOURSELF EFFECTIVELY!

Jerry Donahue, Asst. Director, Medill Career Services

Key Aspects of the U.S. Culture and How That Impacts Your Efforts To Be Employed

• Key Beliefs of the U.S.• Social Attitudes and Customs• Language Concerns• Interview Etiquette• After the Interview

Key Beliefs

Equality & respect of individual Multiethnic & multicultural nation Proud of country & welcoming

attitude

Social Attitudes & Customs Direct, explicit, and mostly verbal speech Independent, practical, work-oriented Men and women on equal footing Deal with conflict openly and directly Beliefs are a private matter and are

tolerated Greet people with a firm handshake Say “please” and “thank you” Express gratitude to others Relaxed table manners

Key Concepts In Your Job Search

• Informational Interviewing as a valuable tool• Offering Value To Others– Credible – Likeable – Helpful• Referral To Job Opportunities by In-House

Contacts

Language Concerns

Americans use a lot of slang in speech Humor and sarcasm are common,

interpret positively Use of abbreviations in speech is

common; ask for clarification if not certain

Interview Etiquette

Punctuality is essential Display confidence, optimism, team-

orientation Make direct eye contact Claim credit for your

accomplishments Employers seek positive

upbeat, energeticemployees

After the InterviewPolite to send a short

personal note of thanks either electronically or handwritten

This demonstrates diligence and follow-through skills

Summary

Learn about American culture both through on-campus and off-campus activities & individuals.

Practice your verbal skills with an English-speaking partner, if possible

Develop a network of contacts through social media and in-person to help identify possible job opportunities

Utilize the Medill Career Services Office!

Resources• Medill Career Services office• International Office – Northwestern University• Myvisajobs.com• GoinGlobal – Cultural Advice• Adjusting to American Culture

• Power Ties- The International Student’s Guide to Finding a Job in the United States, Dan Beaudry

• 3 Steps To Your Job In The USA, Steven Steinfeld with Yingping Huang

(Books available on Amazon.com)

QUESTIONS?