Raj, an Indian mechanical engineer I met in Brisbane last Monday said to me. – “I called him Sir, I did not look him in the eye out of respect, and he nearly broke my hand when he shook hands with me. Why?”

Well Raj, Let’s look at some of the differences between Australian and Indian cultures. These three actions are some of the most important as they are critical to making a good first impression. Australians pride themselves in having an egalitarian society: we like to think we treat people as equals. Maybe this is not all that much reality, but there is one important behaviour that migrants need to understand to help make a strong first impression. In the Australian workplace there is social  equality in non work matters.

Here are three important behaviours you must practice to make that all important good first impression when being introduced to someone in Australia:

1. Look people in the eye: meet their gaze. The employer interprets this as having confidence. You are equal. Australians interpret looking down or away as something dishonest or shy.
2. In the handshake, grip the hand firmly: being limp wristed is seen as lacking confidence, or different.
3. Use a persons first (given) name. This is a sign of friendship. It also helps you remember a persons name by saying it when you are introduced.

The basic cultural difference in these actions is that Australians show respect for each other by treating each other as equals, whereas Indians (and many other cultures) show respect by deferring to the employer.

Show Australian employers you understand the Australian workplace culture:

• look people in the eye

• shake hands firmly

• use given names

Australian employers look for confident engineers. Migrant engineers must adopt the practices of the Australian society to succeed .