Ondernemersplatform Spanje’s Post

Had fun and learned a thing or two at the recent event for Polish #expats in #Switzerland organized by Polsko-Szwajcarski Instytut Kultury i Edukacji / Polnisch-Schweizerisches Kultur-& Bildungsinstitut I'm super happy to see that the Polish professional community in #Zurich is growing. When I came here over six years ago such big events were still extremely rare. From the discussion it seems that Switzerland still has a long way to go in terms of #diversity and inclusion in the workplace and recruitment. And the picture is still brighter for those in international corporations, compared to small & medium businesses and the public sector. What are your experience with the job market and work atmosphere as expats in Switzerland?

🎤So, I recently received incredibly detailed feedback from my clients at the Consulate General of Canada in HCMC regarding an event titled "Networking Reception for Team Canada Trade Mission to Vietnam." 🇨🇦🇻🇳The event featured the Honorable Mary Ng, a Canadian business delegation, Vietnamese Provincial Government Leaders, 500 guests including local Vietnamese business representatives, and members of CanCham Vietnam. And you know what? Despite my efforts to exude the image of a charismatic event host, the feedback I received was unexpectedly different. Instead of descriptors like "charismatic," I was described as "charming, sweet, gentle, and warm." My friend said “but that’s simply reflective of your personality”. This led me to reflect on my journey of over 5 years, striving to meet the expectations of audiences while inadvertently losing touch with my authentic self. Ultimately, I realized two important lessons: 📌Firstly, as an MC, authenticity reigns supreme. We host, don’t act. We needn't pretend to be someone we're not to please the crowd; rather, we should tailor our stage presence to suit the event's requirements while staying true to ourselves behind the microphone. 📌Secondly, confidence breeds authenticity on stage; when we're comfortable in our own skin, our true selves naturally shine through. What are your thoughts on these points? Do you see any similarities with your work?

Attracting and preserving International Talent in Sweden is the value projected by many companies. But what do we have in reality? 👉🏼 According to New to Sweden you are 3,5 times more likely to be unemployed if you are foreign-born than if you were born in Sweden. 👉🏼 Research from the Swedish Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) indicates that foreign-born individuals are disproportionately represented in certain industries or occupations, potentially facing barriers to accessing higher-skilled or more lucrative employment opportunities. At the same time many companies are looking for international talent to diversify their workforce and bring in new perspectives. ❗ There is a gap between intention and reality. And one of the biggest reasons for this gap is CULTURE. Reducing this gap is the responsibility that lies on both sides! And this is the area where we all can do better! 🤝 This year I’m partnering with UniMeet and Göteborg & Co to support International talent in Gothenburg Sweden by means of Career Development Bootcamp with focus on better understanding of the Swedish job market and integration to the Swedish (work) culture. 💜 I’m grateful if you share this opportunity with international talent in your network, so that more people can get relevant support! More details are in a comment section below 👇🏼 💡 Are you a company willing to uplift international talent and help them better integrate to the Swedish society and culture? I’d like to partner up with you to support you in your existing initiatives and create new ones together to reduce the gap between intention and its impact! Let's connect for a conversation 👋🏼 #culture #internationaltalent #career #sweden

Let's talk about how having international talent takes your company to the next level. A few months ago, I was chatting with a colleague, Alfonso, who was telling me how, on a trip to Argentina, he saw the opportunity to open a new office there. His main business is based in Jalisco, México. However, he saw Argentine talent as an area of opportunity. Before opening his office in Argentina, one of the big challenges he faced was the cost of hiring, providing benefits in another country, and currency transactions. "Well, that’s what an Employer of Record, like Core Resources, does for you in exchange for an affordable monthly fee," I told him. Once he integrated the team, made up of talent from both Argentina and Mexico, he witnessed the magic that results from having people with such different perspectives working on the same project. 👉 His main business is building construction, but the heart of each project is the ideas that fuel it. The integration of diverse cultures, despite their similarities, makes each project even richer, adding to the profit potential it can represent for the company. And that’s how a vacation trip for Alfonso turned into a great business opportunity, streamlined by the benefits of an Employer of Record. Going international is easy. Of course, the challenge lies in the specific needs and requirements of each business.

International expansion isn't just about spreading a company's reach across borders; It's about tapping into the expertise and networks of local individuals who understand the nuances of their respective markets. For almost two years now, I've been crafting a community tailored for professionals in the commerce space. My vision is: What if a dedicated space existed for companies in the commerce space aiming to expand internationally? A place where you could have insights from industry leaders, forge meaningful connections, and even recruit top-tier talent to accelerate your international expansion efforts? Why do I believe such a space is necessary? Drawing from my experience with the Danish Trade Council, I've observed that while facilitation services like theirs provide valuable assistance, there's often a gap when truly delving into the commercial aspects of expanding abroad. Sure, they offer market insights and facilitate initial contacts, but the crux of international expansion lies in establishing local knowledge, networks, and influential partnerships. Real international expansion requires boots on the ground—individuals who intimately understand the culture, customs, and business landscape of their respective markets. There is a movie on Netflix called "The Covenant" by Guy Ritchie, where a North American soldier relies on a local interpreter to navigate the complexities of war-torn Afghanistan. The parallels are striking: just as hiring a skilled interpreter significantly improves one's chances of success in a foreign conflict, so does partnering with local experts enhance the likelihood of success in international business. That's where the EVOLVE Commerce Club comes in. With over 80 ambassadors spanning multiple markets and boasting diverse subject matter expertise, we're fostering a community where members can forge invaluable connections, support one another, and cultivate international relationships. Will it work? Frankly, I can't say for certain. However, I firmly believe that bringing together exceptional individuals increases the odds of success in any venture. If you're interested in learning more, feel free to send me a direct message. #gotomarket #internationalexpansion #evolve #evolveclub #carlosmonteiro

More and more internationals are discovering Bornholm, the island in the Baltic Sea with a unique character and a growing job market. Bornholm is no stranger to internationals. In 2023, the top countries from which internationals relocated to Bornholm were Germany (18 percent), Ukraine (10.6), Italy (8.6), Poland (8.3), and Sweden (7.1). The Copenhagen Post has talked to David Christensen, Coordinator at Newcomer Citizen Service, and Bornholm’s Mayor Jacob Trøst to understand the mindset of internationals on the island. Bornholm is a very popular tourist destination amongst Danes and internationals in Denmark, especially during summertime. While the general perception in Denmark is that tourism is the largest driver for the island’s economy, the mayor describes otherwise. “Tourism is only 10 percent of our total income in Bornholm. The biggest business establishment is heavy-duty laundry company Jensen with close to 600 employees. The municipality is a major employer with close to 4000 employees in community services,” Trøst says. The ‘Energy island’ Bornholm project is one of the largest operations currently being undertaken on the island that require high-skilled labour. The newcomer service has been crucial in attracting talent to Bornholm, the mayor notes. According to David Christensen, there are two offices at Bornholms Regionskommune (municipality) dedicated to providing services to internationals. Newcomer Service: Dedicated to assisting individuals in relocating to Bornholm. On-Island Assistance: Provides practical support to newcomers after their arrival on Bornholm. There has been a recent influx of EU citizens to Bornholm, and that English is becoming a more dominant workplace language. “On the harbor even with local energy production facilities there has been an effort to transform their language from Danish to English to accommodate highly skilled internationals in the near future. According to recent statistics, we have attracted the most EU citizens across Denmark in recent years,” he said. New campaigns have highlighted jobs on the island in the industrial sector, especially with smiths and welding people working in the windmill industry. “These are jobs that require some very specialized abilities that we might not find on Bornholm. So, we’ll have to get that workforce from abroad,” says Christensen. Dennis Grundmeyer is a German pharmacist who relocated to Bornholm two years ago. His advice to other internationals considering a move to Bornholm is to learn Danish: While English is spoken, knowing basic Danish is crucial, especially for job opportunities. Research Opportunities: Determine if your current job is feasible on the island or explore new career paths. Be Open to Challenges: Be prepared to take on jobs outside your comfort zone and be patient in finding your niche. Full story: https://lnkd.in/dz3YmMnv

Typically when we see information about integrating internationals to Sweden, most of the responsibility falls on the international. Plenty of programs exist to help them assimilate into the society. But what happens when they’ve done all they can to get hired, have the qualifications, and prepared to the max yet still won’t get the opportunity? There are a significantly smaller amount of programs for the Swedish community to learn how (and why it’s important to) work together with internationals to help them integrate. Learning to remove biases. Looking at facts and seeing that diverse teams are 25% more profitable (Nordic countries were included in this McKinsey study). The amount of money that internationals pump into the local economy (hint: it’s more than they take). There need to be more programs for the #swedish community and companies to learn how to successfully work with internationals in their hiring practices. It benefits everyone in the end, equally the local community as much as the foreigner joining them. 🤔 What do you think, should the focus shift from pumping money into international assimilation to helping Swedish companies remove obstacles to hire international talent?

TALENT ATTRACTION & RETENTION SUPPORT The image of Sweden abroad has taken a hit in recent times, as shown in the annual report by the Swedish Institute published yesterday (Sverigebilden 2023). An unfortunate consequence is that Swedish employers who need to recruit internationally to secure the right competency have to work harder to attract and keep their talent. Although it’s not possible to control international headlines or inaccurate stories, expert help is available to provide a positive and more nuanced picture of Sweden to your international recruits and to assure them that they can build and enjoy good lives here.   Relocate To Sweden offers: -Guidance on making your employment offer more attractive without increasing the salary -A smooth relocation process for your international recruits -On-going support with building good lives in Sweden -Assistance when unexpected challenges arise   For more information email info@relocatetosweden or see www.relocatetosweden.com #Workpermits #Relocationservices #Interculturaltraining #Partnersupport  

Let's get serious: why are we doing this Internationals thing in Denmark? Well, that is exactly what we are going to address, in black and white, over the next few days. This Sunday (May 12th), we will be hosting a general assembly of Elevate the Voice of Internationals. And you are invited too, all of you, even if you have never shown up before. 📍 The assembly will take place at The Copenhagen Post headquarters in Ryesgade 106 (Copenhagen) from 3 PM to 5 PM (no registration required, just show up). We will work on the agenda setting, which means defining, point by point, what we are advocating for. Housing issues? Public services in English? Visa procedures? The labor market? Well, it's up to you to define. ☝ So, if you feel that your voice has gone unheard, if you want your concerns to be considered, or if you want to make a difference for Internationals FOR Denmark, this is the place to be. For whatever doubt, you can write to me, or Benjamin Schenkel and Richard Steed #Internationals for #Denmark

🌏🤝 Building bridges in a new country is not just about adapting, but thriving. As an expat, I've learned that networking is key to finding your place in a foreign land. It's about embracing new cultures, understanding different business etiquettes, and making genuine connections. Remember, it's not just who you know, but who knows you. Stay open, be curious, and watch your global network grow. 🌟 #ExpatriateLife #NetworkingAbroad #GlobalConnections