Professional Relocation to

the USA - A Training Guide

 Rocky mountain Appalachian
Great LAkes
USA GEOGRAPHY system hights

9,826,675 km2 (3,794,100 sq mi)

3 or 4 in the world.
(1-RUS, 2-CAN, 3,4–USA
or China, 5–Brazil)
Land borders: CAN (largest in the
world) and MXC
Water borders: RUS, Cuba, Bahamas
Oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, gulf of
Mexico, Arctic, Bering strait

Intermountain
Great Plains Atlantic plans
plateau

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POPULATION

Populated
California (39.3M)
Wyoming (576K)
Density
New Jersey (1300/sqr mile)
Alaska (1.3/sqr mile)

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 RELIGION AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

MAJOR HISTORICAL Major Religions

EVENTS Christianity Judaism Islam
Non religious Other

The Formation of the United Nations

3%
World War II and Pearl Harbor
Declaration of Independence

20%
The American Revolution

September 11 Attacks
1%
2%
World War I
Civil War

Cold War

Landing
Moon

Religion info:
https://www.thearda.com/
74% Historical info:
1775 - 1783 1776 1861-1865 1917-1918 1941 1945 1947-1991 1969 2001
https://www.bbc.com/news And
https://www.loc.gov
https://en.wikipedia.org/

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USA POLITICAL PARTIES
A complex and nuanced political system:
Federal Republic, presidential system, democratic voting system
Power divided between federal and state governments
Two-party system
• Democratic - Centrist-left
Social welfare, environmental protection, and government intervention in the economy

• Republican - Centrist-right
Lower taxes, deregulation, and a strong military

• Others - Several small parties like the Libertarian and Green Parties
Limited electoral success

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 MAJOR INDUSTRIES CONTRIBUTING TO
GDP (2023-2024)
Industry Estimated 2023 Estimated 2024
The largest economy around the world Contribution Contribution
(%) (%)
Gross Domestic Product ~$28 Trillion
Healthcare 20.2 20.4
Annual value of all goods and services produced
Professional & Business 18.7 18.9
Can fluctuate due to various factors Services
Economic growth, technological advancements, and global Retail Trade 11.3 11.2
events. Manufacturing 8.5 8.7

US is a diverse country with a mixed economy, combining Government 7.3 7.2
Finance & Insurance 6.7 6.8
elements of capitalism and socialism.
Education 6.5 6.6
This is an estimated look at major industries based on Information 6 6.1
Construction 4.3 4.2
available data and recent trends. Leisure & Hospitality 4.2 4.3

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 US HOLIDAYS AND IMPORTANT DATES
New Year’s
Day Juneteenth National Labor Day Veterans’ Christmas
Washington’s Birthday Independence Day 1st Monday in Day
1 January Day
3rd Monday in February June 19 September November 11 December 25

Martin Luther Memorial Independence Columbus Day Thanksgiving Day

King’s Day Day 2nd Monday in 4th Thursday in
Birthday last Monday in July 4 October November
3rd Monday in May
January

 Federal Holidays – Paid days off.

 Patriotic Nation
 Northern Hemisphere: summer is usually June – August,
winter December - February
 Schools have a long summer break of close to 3 months
 Universities use a bi-annual semester system

www.commerce.gov
Pugh, americajosh.com
www.weather.gov/forecastmaps
DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION AND
ACCEPTABLE TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
Informal Communication Style: Americans value informal and friendly communication. Enthusiasm and friendliness are
expressed right from the start.

Directness and Efficiency in Meetings: Americans value direct communication and often want to quickly get to the point in
meetings. "Time is money," and a direct approach is used to keep discussions efficient.

Non-formal approach: Americans quickly adopt a first-name basis, reflecting the egalitarian nature of the society.

Body Language: Americans use positive body language, including smiles and eye contact. Personal space is important, and
individuals may have varying comfort levels with physical contact.

Tabooed topics: In the workplace, it's advisable to steer clear of discussing politics and religion unless the workplace culture
explicitly encourages such conversations. These topics can be divisive and may lead to uncomfortable situations.

Respecting Privacy and Boundaries: Above all, it's crucial to respect the privacy and boundaries of colleagues. Avoid prying into
personal matters and be mindful of cultural and individual differences in comfort levels with personal disclosure.

Business Etiquette In The United States

www.entrepreneur.com
Topics That Should and Shouldn't Be Discussed in th
Office
www. globig.com
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DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION AND
ACCEPTABLE TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
Family
Weekend Sports

Activities Hobbies

Topics
Status Religion

Sex Health
Politics

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UNDERSTANDING EXPECTATIONS WHEN
INTERACTING WITH AUTHORITY FIGURES
IN THE USA
 In the US working culture – which is a low power distance culture, effective
communication with authority figures is crucial for professional success
 Key Points when interacting with authority figures:
 Open communication
 Respect For hierarchy
 Professionalism
 Work as a partner and lead by example

American work business culture etiquette:

www.berlitz.com
culturalatlas.sbs.com.au
www.linkedin.com
Power distance:
numinoscoaching.com/power-distance
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INTERACTING WITH AUTHORITY FIGURES:
STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
WITH AUTHORITY FIGURES
 Active Listening
 Foster open dialogue
 Show respect for authority
 Adaptability
 Professional development
 Cultural Sensitivity
 Power distance
American work business culture etiquette:
www.berlitz.com
culturalatlas.sbs.com.au
www.linkedin.com
Power distance:
numinoscoaching.com/power-distance
Reem
MOTIVATING AMERICAN EMPLOYEES:
KEY DRIVERS & UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURAL
LANDSCAPE
By understanding and respecting the American work culture, you can effectively motivate
your employees, avoid misunderstandings, and build a successful team.
Individual Achievement
Recognition, promotions, performance-based rewards, personalized incentives and feedback.
Empowerment & Autonomy
Responsibility, encourage independent thinking, involvement in decision-making.
Direct Communication
Clear, specific, open. Americans appreciate frankness and constructive criticism.
Work-Life Balance
Respect personal time, healthy boundaries. Avoid overwork and encourage leisure activities.

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MOTIVATING AMERICAN EMPLOYEES:
CULTURAL TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT
Cultural cues are subtle, so observe and be open to learning.
Adapting your management style will lead to a motivated and productive team
 Informal Dress Code - Business casual, unless specified.
 Timeliness & Punctuality - Be respectful of deadlines and meeting times.
 Positive Attitude & Humor - Maintain a positive outlook, occasional humor.
 Small Talk & Socializing - Build rapport, engage in friendly conversations.
 Direct Communication- Straightforward feedback and learn to express yourself assertively.
 Bonus Tip - Adapting to individual needs, respecting work-life balance.

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PROVIDING FEEDBACK AND MAKING SUGGESTIONS

 Positive context ✅
 Bolster confidence 👏😁
 Acknowledge achievements🏆
 “Giving three positives for every negative”
 “Sandwich 🥪 method"
 🧐Confusing😰

Koroleva, www.forbes.com
Meyer, Leading Across Cultures at Michelin
Meyer, www.fastcompany.com
Mills, www.linkedin.com
DISPLAY OF EMOTIONS
Workplace
Generally: Expression of emotions is generally highly valued.

Positive Emotions: Expressing positive emotions such as enthusiasm, joy, and excitement is generally well-received in the workplace.
Celebrating achievements, acknowledging successes, and fostering a positive work environment are often encouraged.

Empathy and Support: Displaying empathy and support for colleagues during challenging times or personal difficulties is often
considered appropriate. It helps foster a sense of community and can contribute to a supportive workplace culture.

Fostering Positive Emotion: Individualistic cultures studied (United States and Australia) value positive emotions more than negative
emotions

Managers
Promoting Inclusivity: Managers are expected to play a role in promoting inclusivity and diversity within the workplace. This includes
creating an environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing their identities and perspectives.

Work-Life Balance: Encouraging a healthy work-life balance is often a key responsibility for managers. Both for the employee and
business sakes.

Encourage emotional safety: Managers are expected to be attuned to the emotional needs of Emotions
their team members,
in Groups, express empathy,
Organizations and Culturesand
Research on Emotion in
support a positive work environment. Organizations, Volume 5
Psychological Reviw, Vol. 98

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CULTURAL VALUE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE USA
CULTURE CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA AND ISRAEL
BASED ON THE "SEVEN CULTURAL KEYS"

Dimension / Region USA Scale

Communication
2 Direct Vs. indirect
Style
Relationships 1 Transactional Vs. interpersonal
Group focus 1 Individualistic Vs. Group focus
Hierarchy 2 Egalitarian Vs Hierarchy
Change Tolerance 3 Change Averse Vs. Tolerant
Motivation / WLB 5 High Vs. Low balance
Time Orientation 5 Low Vs. High

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 CULTURAL VALUE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE USA
AND CANADA CULTURAL
Same: Be mindful to others feelings
and provide pos. feedback. Direct(?)

Same: Very Transactional-

Be mindful to timelines and
business first
schedules.

Same: Stay self-

sufficient and Respect others space and
independent needs

Less of a discussion Be more conservative

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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ISRAEL PROFESSIONALS IN
THE US
Be mindful to direct communication

Build Professional network Be punctual & concise

Focus more in an Embrace diversity

individualistic
achievements

Respect authority but value open Stay open-minded and adaptable

communication. Embrace a flatter
hierarchy.
 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOUTH AFRICAN
PROFESSIONALS IN THE US
Speak up 📢

"Who you know" will

only get you so far. Be punctual & concise. ⏱️

Unions 🤐

Trust 🤝
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION