How to Work Well in Canada

Key Point Focus

• Business culture
• Being open to new ideas
• Workplace values

First things first

The Oxford ESL Dictionary defines culture as "the customs, ideas, and civilization, etc. of a particular society or group of people."

Understanding business culture and communication patterns in the Canadian workplace can involve a steep learning curve for many new immigrants. Canada covers a large geographical area, and you may observe regional differences in some culture practices as you travel from place to place. Although there are federal and provincial regulations that provide laws and guidelines for working Canadians, each company will also have some of its own customs, practices, and workplace values. And just like Canada does, each workplace contains a mix of cultural practices.

Trying to observe and understand culture is like trying to observe and understand an iceberg. There are things that are easy to see on the surface. However, it is not so easy to understand and predict what is under the surface. Values are sets of beliefs about the way people should behave with one another. Sometimes these values are easy to see and other times they seem to be very challenging to understand.

Anyone who is either looking for a job or starting out in a new job will require some time to figure out the expectations, culture, and customs of any new or prospective workplace. Meeting new people and learning about a new workplace culture can be difficult.