- For business meetings in non-English speaking countries, it’s very significant to have a two-sided version of your business card printed—with English on one side, local language on the other. This makes an immediate statement about your awareness of global culture. Hand over your card with the local language side up and facing the other person. However, be very careful to obtain a professional translation!
- In some cultures, it’s customary to include relevant educational credentials (especially postgraduate degrees) along with your job title. Check first.
- In many countries, handling of business cards is more formal than in the United States (Japan and Korea being well-known examples). When foreign counterparts give you their card, thank them, study it for a moment, and keep it in your hands or on the table during the meeting. It may be considered rude or dismissive to quickly tuck a card into your pocket, day planner or wallet. In many Asian cultures, it’s good etiquette to present and receive business cards with both hands. Tossing or sliding a card across the table may be intrepreted as a lack of manners or even disrespect. Likewise, avoid writing your notes or comments on someone’s business card.
- Unless they directly report to you within your own organization, do NOT point out typos or English grammatical errors on others’ business cards.
- It is ALWAYS preferable to offer cards at the beginning, rather than the end of meetings. Like you, your counterparts may have difficulty remembering or correctly pronouncing foreign names.
- Unless the number of participants is extremely large, personally hand your card to everyone present. From an outside cultural perspective, it may not always be obvious to you who the ranking officers or decision makers are, but when possible present cards first to the highest ranking individual(s).
ASIST Translation Services, Inc. is a full-service translation agency located in Columbus, Ohio. We provide translation, interpreting, proofreading, voice recording and media production, localization of interactive, e-learning and Web content, and specialized language services to clients around the world…