G NETWORK MOVES Locallevel Preparing for the future Travelling light different way in which my new col leagues communicated with each other and with their Managers. I was used to a different office culture but my col leagues in Hong Kong and Singapore were very helpful, and it didn't take too long to settle in and adapt to the way they did things.' The experience opened Morgan's eyes to how the same Rabobank processes mean different things in different count- ries. 'Essentially a loan is a loan wher- ever you are in the world,' he says. 'But what you don't realize until you are involved on a local level is the varying ways in which they have to be processed, and more importantly, re- ported. I wasn't aware of the crucial role the Central Bank (HKMA) played for the Hong Kong office either - if the HKMA had not approved the imple- mentation, the project I worked on could not have gone ahead. These are things one just doesn't know until becoming familiar with the local busi ness culture.' The experience outside the office was, to him, as important as the experience inside the office. 'Being im- mersed in a different culture - especially in a place with so much history - was fascinating,' he elaborates. 'Luckily for me, as a soccer fan, I was also able to travel to Korea for one of the World Cup 2002 matches.' While professional development is one of the most obvious bonuses, develop- ing a professional network is another. Morgan says, 'I hope my international experience has put me on the radar as someone willing and capable of work- ing in a multicultural, cross-border environment. 1'm currently studying to obtain my MBA in Management and Pm sure my overseas experience played a part in earning me a place in this particular program. Once my degree is finished, I'd jump at the chance to go somewhere else.' H oing on an overseas posting can he a daunting experience which is why Rabobank has a team dedicated to ensuring everything runs smoothly. 'We advise expats, HR colleagues and managers worldwide about all aspects of expatriation,' explains Expatriate Advice Services Team Manager Karen Vermeer. 'We also organize international assignment contracts and deal with the practical things - house removals, flight tickets, legal and fiscal issues - so that the expat can concentrate on settling into their new home and Rabobank office. Language and cultural training, where necessary, is arranged and this is also available to spouses.These days, the dual career factor comes into play regularly and Rabobank has devised ways to enable an expat's partner to con tinue his or her career development. By providing a 'career development' allow- ance for spouses, agents can be enlisted to find suitable jobs or educational courses, such as MBA, can be followed. Vermeer and her team are also cur rently implementing a new international assignment policy and are organizing presentations to introducé new concepts - such as the above mentioned allow- ance - to expats. The policy is in the form of a manual, distributed to every new expat and HR manager, and applies to all Rabobankers working overseas. It explains all aspects of what being an expat involves, what individuals are enti- tled to and what procedures must be followed. The new policy is immediately applicable to those taking up new postings. Existing expats will be transferred once their contracts are renewed. 22 I Rl The Word I

Rabobank Bronnenarchief

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