Live and Work in the USA – Cultural Awareness Training

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Every day business professionals like you travel to the U.S. to live and work in the USA – representing your company in a variety of roles. While it is exciting to come to the United States, coming on a work assignment holds a certain responsibility that casual travel does not. Let us help you prepare for all aspects of your journey from before you leave, after you arrive, or even upon your return (repatriation).

We understand there are a wide variety of international assignments that bring expats like you to the U.S. We have tailored these programs to a wide variety of assignment types, lengths and situations; for the first time traveler as well as the seasoned international business traveler that may have come to the U.S. one or more times in the past.

Are you ready for your expat assignment to the US? Take this quiz to find out.

Jump to Syllabus
How you will feel better after working with us 
“I learned how to shake hands and introduce myself to clients. I think it’s important to learn how to create a good first impression.”
~Allianz Participant, Trivandrum

 

“I credit my first expat assignment to Wall Street a success due to our cross-cultural training program.”
~Financial Analyst, Moody’s Analytics, Bangalore



 “The session conducted by Jennifer on US Business essentials was extremely well structured and helpful to our team. She provided a great insight on the most important business etiquettes which are often ignored or missed out on very easily. The session was very informative, interactive and two way between the instructor and learners. A test at the end of the sessions was a good way to reinforce the importance and gauge the knowledge of business essentials. We would certainly recommend, Jennifer and Authentic Journeys to organizations that have business travel requirements to the US”.
~ Decision Maker in India Based Company, Team Attended Online Classes 

 

“The customized role plays Jennifer did with me through our virtual sessions prepared me well for my onsite visits with my US clients. I could make small talk over dinner and even go out to the pub with them.”
~ Project Manager, Fujitsu, India 

 

“We had taken the modules online to prepare our sales team from all over India to go to the US. We were happy that the sessions were interactive and tailored to our business need. Jennifer took time to answer our specific questions as they arose. Our visits to the US went off well due to the series of preparatory sessions.”
~ Sales Professionals from all over India


How this helps your team and why it’s important 
Back in 2016 when facilitating these programs in India, we found out the cost for sending one employee from India to the US (including visa processing, travel fees, and incidentals) ranges from about USD $11,000 to USD $20,000. Companies invest a lot of money in administrative costs to send their employees. Companies would prefer to see a good ROI (return on investment) when sending their employees to the US on their expat assignments. Based on the role of the international assignee, their outcomes would differ. We help your international assignees to consider how to create a successful outcome in their travel in all areas (personal, career, immediate business goals, return to home country, family, and more).

  • Power Distance: Small Talk, Relationship Building, Use of names/titles 
  • Teamwork: Gatekeepers of information, absentees, taking initiative/volunteering/ nominating, cross-training vs. working in silos, fun at work, family part of work experience 
  • Basic Communication Tenets: Requests, Denials, Questions, Modes of Communication (Face to Face, Phone, Email, Texting, others), Pleasantries in Indian English 
  • Planning, Time Lines, Goal Setting Orientation: Short vs. Long Term Orientation, Cyclic View of Time, Frequent interruptions, Things ‘getting in the way,’ Seeing time as ‘not in our control’ 
  • Getting & Giving Feedback 
  • Negotiation strategies: Pitching timelines and financial details, Understanding Yes, No, Maybe in words and actions, Written communication (documentation, emails, contracts, etc)
Audience Profile

Who attends this training?
Overseas business visitors to the U.S. specifically visiting for work related assignments anywhere in the U.S. If any of the below criteria relate to your situation, we are ready to work with you or your team:
    • Contract workers or short-term hires to your organization holding an H1B or L1 visa. Spouses on H4 or L2 visas also may attend. 
    • Professionals from any country preparing to come to the US for a few days up to a few months.
    • Professionals in any variety of roles: intercompany, intracompany, international sales professionals, those coming to attend a conference, trade show, give a presentation, or do networking.

When can I attend this training program?
Because those who attend this training go to the U.S. for short term international assignments, it’s ideal to attend this training a few days to a few weeks before you leave your home country.

It may also make sense to attend a follow up to this training when you get back home to: 
    • brainstorm how to apply your international learnings to your home team 
    • understand best practices on following up with client and sales leads
    • how to use your experience to mentor your own team in future similar types of assignments

Job Titles of Participants Include
    • Account Manager
    • Engineer Operations Manager
    • Administrative Assistant
    • Quality Assurance
    • Production Control Specialist
    • Production Control Senior Manager
    • Sales and Business Development

Duration

    • To complete all of the modules- 20-30 hours is required. It is not required to select all of the modules to elect for this program.

Syllabus Overview
Program Goals:

    1. Prepare your team to travel to the U.S.: We walk through the steps to packing your bags, what to expect while traveling internationally, and how to prepare for an international expat assignment
    2. Coaching your team for onsite success in the U.S.: This section is tailor made to your business roles, goals and locations in the U.S. 
    3. How to impress your US counterparts: introductions, handshakes, small talk, meeting management, and more. 


Let’s customize this United States cross-culture training outline to your team’s business needs.  

Facilitation Method:

Our method is a blend of coaching, advising, and training. This not only offers you a flexible approach, but an approach that is not dependent on traditional training or classroom learning.

 

Our goal is to make each session have tangible, practical outcomes that you can use on the job today with clients, colleagues and stakeholders.

 
As a learner, if you opt for one on one coaching, you will take responsibility for your learning objectives and outcomes based on the highly interactive and individualized approach of our sessions.

 

Short-Term Business Trips to the USA: Expat Preparation Program

Live and Work in the USA – Comprehensive Training Syllabus

Module 1: Discover How to Assess Cultural Competencies so that you can effectively communicate anywhere and with anyone
(3 Lessons- roughly 3 hours)

1.1 Attend a cultural blueprint self-analysis tool (available to both employee and spouse)
1.2 Orientation to cross-cultural concepts for successful work across cultures and within diverse teams
1.3 Code switching, its importance to working across cultures, within companies, and across industries

 

Module 2: H1B / B1 – USA Business Visa Coaching
(1 Lesson- 3 to 5 hours)

2.1 24 common questions used in visa interviews

 

Module 3: Secrets that will Create a Good First Impression on or BEFORE Day 1
(4 Lessons- Roughly 2 hrs)

3.1 What is it like to work in an American office?
3.2 Interacting with colleagues, managers, subordinates
3.3 Public mannerisms and etiquette tips to avoid embarrassing situations
3.4 US Work Values with case studies

 

How to Assimilate to US Location’s Culture Without Missing a Beat (Destination Consulting)
(7 Lessons- 5 hrs by Location Expert)

4.1 Understanding the ethnic mix in target expat location and office spaces in the US (how to be sensitive to diverse cultures and identities, dos and don’ts)
4.2 Understanding local culture in community and business settings
4.3 A call out of differences in words, language use, body language that is specific in local culture with practice (code switching)
4.4 Role playing of situations in business or community settings – For Live Sessions Only
4.5 Planning for moving to location (neighborhoods, commutes, schools, facilities, lifestyle, etc)
4.5 Q & A Session (before and/or after arrival) – For Live Sessions Only
4.6 Locations Of Interest: New York City, Boston, Connecticut, Los Angeles, Miami, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Utah, New Mexico, Indiana

 

Module 5: Master Small Talk in A Wide Variety of Situations
(3 Lessons – up to 3 hours)

5.1 Three kinds of small talk (with practice – practice only in Live Sessions) – Including US holidays and observances (See – US Holidays – Yearly Calendar and Game)
5.2 US vs Indian English (with practice – practice only in live sessions)
5.3 What to expect at a US American’s house

 

Module 6: Simple Boots on the Ground Strategies for Easy Day-to-Day US Living Part 1: Getting There & Getting Around
(7 Lessons – up to 1.5 hours)

6.1 What is it like to fly to the U.S.
6.2 Documents to Carry for Self and Family
6.3 Documents to carry for self and family
6.4 Tips for staying in American hotels/domestic travel (optional)
6.5 Transportation options, Getting a driver license
6.6 Introduction to American money (per diem expectations from the company)
6.7 Weather, Season and Time

 

Module 7: Simple Boots on the Ground Strategies for Easy Day-to-Day US Living Part 2: Finding a Place to Live, Schools, Safety
(7 Lessons – up to 3 hours)

7.1 Finding an apartment, tips on good vs. bad apartments and neighborhoods
7.2 Signing a lease, legalities about leases, staying in apartments in the U.S.
7.3 Finding a school for your kids, school districts, fees, documents needed, other related information
7.4 Driver’s License and local IDs
7.5 Safety tips for family and how to avoid immigration, police, and tax scams
7.6 How to handle emergencies, role of the police and other government offices (very basic overview)
7.7 Medical System in the US

 

Module 8: Amplify Business Communications for Impact
(13 Lessons – up to 2 hours)

8.1 Meeting Planning: Meeting Invites (Requesting, Responding, Declining)
8.2 Meeting Planning: Writing crisp agendas
8.3 Meeting Planning: How to manage time during meetings
8.4 Meeting Planning: Importance of preparation in advance (Topics, participants, materials)
8.5 Facilitating the Meeting: Starting the Meeting (Small Talk, Housekeeping, Expectation Setting, Timeliness)
8.6 Facilitating the Meeting: Importance of driving the meeting
8.7 Facilitating the Meeting: Transitions, Small talk, Questions
8.8 Facilitating the Meeting: Use of Language to Encourage Participation
8.9 Facilitating the Meeting: How to agree, say no, partial no, push back with politeness
9.1 Following Up After the Meeting: Notes, messages, follow ups

 

Options/ Customizations

Add these bells and whistles:

    • Destination modules: We can spend time talking about the specific city or cities your teammates are to visit. These modules are good for first time as well as seasoned international business travelers. 
    • On-the-job Etiquette: Based on the roles of the individuals traveling, their roles, purposes and types of interactions, we look at how to be successful in various scenarios (day-to-day office scenarios, one-off office visits, conferences, sales, presentations, after hours visits, happy hours, socializing and networking events, etc.).
    • One-on-one Executive Coaching: Individuals can be chosen to work one on one with our coaches to tackle cross-cultural business strategy, relationship building and other scenarios as they arise. 
    • Certificates: A digital certificate you can showcase as part of your career portfolio can be issued upon completion. 
    • Small Talk Newsletter: This newsletter, delivered to you about 10 times a year, just before most major U.S. holidays and observances will build context for non U.S. Americans to make connections with their US counterparts. Try it out for free below! 

 

More Testimonials and Experiences:

I had a 1-1 discussion with Jennifer on US culture training and it was immensely useful. She provided me with practical tips and tricks which cannot be found easily. Her inputs helped me a lot during my US Trip as well. I consider her as my go-to-person for any consulting or mentoring on US culture and communication.
~ Dilip Bagrecha, Partner and Founder, Wishtree Technologies

“The US Culture Training was quite helpful for me. In fact, I was able to put much of the session into practice here in the US in real time. Starting from a handshake, food habits, public transport, usage of words, work culture, dress etiquette, meeting etiquette, and lot more. The bonus part is that she still keeps in contact with everyone and sends newsletters based on the season, climate, functions and festivals here in the US. This gives us enough heads up about the upcoming things/events in our pipeline. Jennifer is a true helper. I even reached out to her via email/calls for some of my personal issues/questions and she helped to the best of her ability. The course is a real value-add and I highly recommend it to people who are ready to start their stint in America.”
~Hari Krishnan

This is the best and most interesting orientation I have ever had. I feel its importance after reaching the US. Especially to know about accommodation, leasing agreement, coins usage; like I didn’t know what a dime is. I just wanna thank Jennifer for spreading awareness about US culture in India. All the best for everyone who attends this session.
~Vinod Subramanian

 

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…Thank you for considering working with us!…

Contact us to start your program today.

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