Moving to the U.S. as an international healthcare professional is an exciting new adventure! You will have the opportunity to pursue your American Dream. You will also be able to gain valuable clinical and professional experience. You will also have the chance to make new friends at your facility and in your new community.
At first, you might be a little nervous about reaching to others at your facility or in your neighborhood and make new friends. That’s understandable, especially sine you are in a new place and trying to get settled. Once you are ready to make new friends, there are several tips you can try out if you find that you are more shy and introverted.
As an introvert, we look at others who my be more social and outgoing and wonder just how do they do it? If you want to walk into your facility and make new friends, here are the tips you should try:
1. Smile and keep a positive attitude
Even though you may not be a social butterfly, you can still attract others toward you by giving a warm smile and keeping a positive attitude. People prefer being around a positive person over being around a negative one. Keeping an upbeat attitude can also help your coworkers in terms of productivity.
When coworkers are positive, it encourages more collaboration, communication, and overall patient care. Staying positive can also have an impact on your patients as they may be scared or anxious about their condition.
By providing a warm and optimistic environment for your coworkers and patients, you can make their day better. You can also increase their productivity and make them feel joy at their place of work. This will make you a great candidate for a new friend in their eyes!
2. Listen to others
Another great way to make friends at your facility or in your new community is by offering a listening ear. When your coworkers come to you with an issue that’s work related, try your best to listen offer a solution. You might offer to help them in any way you can, or if you are busy or don’t have the answer, you can help direct them to someone who can better assist. A coworker may even come to you with a personal issue just looking for someone to talk to.
The power of listening is very important, and can show that you are a good friend. Many times people just want someone who will listen to them when they are dealing with a situation and not give a response. Just because someone goes to you to talk doesn’t mean you have the answer–you simply can just listen! This undivided attention can really mean a lot. Be sure to make eye contact to let them know you are listening and that you care.
3. When invited to social events, try going
After moving to a new place as an international healthcare professional and trying to adjust to the situation, it can be hard to navigate being invited to social event with people you don’t really know. If you coworkers invite you to a social event, it can be nice to try going. While it might seem stressful at first, stepping out of your comfort zone will help you grow as a person and find the confidence to reach out and make new friends. You might even be surprised at how well you get along with your coworkers outside of work and find that you have a lot in common with them!
4. Give a compliment
Another kind way to interact with others is by giving out compliments. Compliments can really brighten someone’s day. In fact, a study published in the journal PLUS ONE found that compliments have an incredible affect on the mind. Professor Norihiro Sadato, a professor at the National Institute for Physiological Sciences in Japan, said:
“To the brain, receiving a compliment is as much a social reward as being rewarded money.”
You might feel shy or awkward about giving a compliment, but knowing you have the power to make someone’s day better should give you enough confidence to reach out to someone new! You might wan to start by giving the compliment someone you interact with more frequently. You can try complimenting them on their hair, makeup,or jewelry they might be wearing.
5. Think about rejection differently
One of the major obstacles a shy international healthcare professional may have to overcome to getting over rejection. No matter how kind or positive you may try and be, there are times when you may be rejected. That’s okay! If someone does not want to be friends, that doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you. You simply have the endure the rejection and move. Do not let the rejection discourage you from reaching out and meeting new people to try and make friends! As you endure rejection, you will learn how to better navigate it and not take it personally.
The power of friendship
Friendship makes a difference when working in the U.S. as an international healthcare professional. There is nothing like a great friend!
A friend is someone who is there for you when you need them and offer support in many different ways. Friends are also great to have to call and chat with, go out for coffee or lunch, or even just to have a laugh with. A study published in Journals of Gerontology found that adults with “meaningful social connections” such as a strong romantic relationships, marriage, or close friendship, has as reduced risk of developing dementia. The study proved that it wasn’t so much the number of friends someone had, but the quality of those relationships.
Looking to make new friends? Start your journey today with MedPro International!
If you’re looking to make new friends, we’re the team for you! We are compassionate, dedicated, and enthusiastic individuals. We work each day to help you be successful at life and work in the U.S.
Each of us play a role in your journey and are committed to your success. Our team has successfully placed thousands of foreign-educated healthcare professionals in rewarding positions throughout the U.S.
We are proud to have earned a 95% client satisfaction rating for our team’s integrity and a 93% overall satisfaction rating from our foreign-educated healthcare professionals.
