台灣人的特質，讓我能在瑞士工作 - What is unique about Taiwanese that found me a job in Switzerland?

English Version Below

根據英國牛津經濟研究報告 “國際人才2021” 指出，台灣在開發國家中，人才外流的程度高居第一。越來越多的年輕台灣人選擇出國留學找工作，希望可以有更好的待遇以及職涯發展。我自己在臉書上數一數從學生時期到工作的朋友，大約有三成的人在海外工作或進修，大部分的人選擇美國，日本和中國。

想想當今的狀況, 我們可以討論為什麼台灣的公司吸引不到人才留下來，而後又能針對這樣的現況做些什麼。但另一方面，我也很好奇為什麼身邊的台灣人這麼能在海外找到工作？難道是台灣的文化，教育，社會的特點，讓畢業生能比別的亞洲國家更有競爭力嗎？

翻一翻臉書的朋友群，再想一想我自己來瑞士的故事，歸納出三點：台灣培養出了一代好相處，求安穩，關心別人的年輕人。這些人格特質再加上普遍的高等教育，是讓年輕的台灣人被外國公司願意聘用的原因。

好相處在台灣被當成一種美德。年輕的台灣人喜歡”不做作“ “真誠” 的政治家或藝人。台北市長柯文哲，一位沒有政治背景的醫生，說明了這個潮流。柯文哲說話直接而實在，贏得了台灣年輕人的支持。

為什麼台灣人這麼重視 “好相處”？這有可能跟台灣島嶼的歷史有關。台灣島嶼被西班牙，荷蘭，日本，美國，中國先後影響。在外來政權的影響下，台灣的人民學會如何在壓力下發展。另外，也有可能是島嶼上緊密的社群，讓每個人都需要跟別人保持良好的關係。畢竟，台灣是一個小島，人們很容易就互相認識彼此。我自己就常在臉書上發現，跟完全不認識的人有好幾個共同好友。

在念ＭＢＡ時，我被班上同學認定為“每天都穿著很休閒的人”。跟其他的亞洲同學比起來，我就是不愛穿得很正式。連系主任都常在有重要來賓到學校演講時，提醒我要穿正式一點。但對我來說，一個人穿什麼不重要，更重要的是你能為別人帶來什麼價值。

因為天性隨和溫順，我發現自己比外國同事更能平靜的面對火爆的爭論。面試現在的工作時，我被要求要模擬跟客戶爭論，巧妙的給予醫生反面的意見。大而化之的個性讓我的履歷加分，特別在醫療業，需要跟醫生平靜，並且知所進退的討論議題。

在每天的工作中，我注意到自己因為被認定成好相處的人，同事很容易卸下他們的心防。在工作中，我常會開自己的玩笑，而且不會希望得到別人的欽佩。因此，同事們更願意跟我分享他們所知，並且支持我的想法。

一般來說，台灣人不喜歡冒險，而且更珍惜他們所擁有的。在一個美國的經濟研究中，台灣在其他23個國家中，是風險規避係數最高的國家。這意味著當我們賺錢時，喜歡把盈餘存起來，而不願意再拿出來投資。

這一個特性反映在日常的家庭與工作中。在家裡，家長教育小孩貪心是不對的，應該要珍惜所擁有的。在職場上，員工們被指導要小心行事為上。台灣的企業通常會選擇把資金投資在擴廠和增進產能的專案，而不願投注在冒險的長期投資或研發專案。

這種見好就收的個性，代表台灣人對於自己的能力採保守的態度，不會去吹噓自己的能力。同時，這種規避風險的個性，使得台灣人很願意去接受現況，不會去爭取額外的利益。這使得台灣人成為一群努力，聽話，不會亂來的好員工，老闆可以放心的讓員工去營運公司。

當我自己在瑞士工作，也注意到這個很“奴性”的觀念，還是伴隨著我。舉例來說，當老闆提出要求時，我會很理所當然的想要盡力的達到要求，但歐洲同事們對於老闆的要求，第一個想法是跟老闆理論。有時候，我不禁覺得，歐洲同事們是不是享受跟老闆理論的過程？

一般來說，台灣人比其他先進國家更關心別人。根據世界捐贈指數2016的研究，台灣人比一些歐洲以及亞洲的已開發國家更願意捐獻。另外一項國際外派人士的調查，台灣被評選為對外派人士最友善的國家，其中有三分之一的外派人士考慮永久居住台灣。

為什麼台灣人對外人這麼友善？我猜有兩個原因：安全感跟認同感。台灣的社會由好幾層安全網組成：便宜又高品質的全民健保，緊密的社群關係，高所得儲蓄比率和低犯罪率。這樣的層層保護下，台灣的年輕人發展出對陌生人沒有戒心，而很願意給予或尋求幫助。另外一個原因，是台灣在國際上不被承認為一個國家，因此島嶼上的人民很希望獲得國際上的認同。當我們拿出最友善的一面，目的不是為了要外國人欽佩，而是希望我們能被外國人喜歡的時候，就更容易達到成效了。

這樣的個性轉移到了海外工作，我發現自己常常成為團隊中的協調者。台灣人喜歡把人們拉在一起，不辭辛苦的居中跑腿，讓大家討論棘手的議題。當團隊中出現爭論時，我通常會自願組織大家來開會，協調爭端。在台灣話裡面，我們還創了一個專用字 “喬”，可見台灣人多愛協調事情。

我相信在未來幾年，越來越多的台灣年輕人會選擇出國工作，這不僅是因為年輕人尋求更國際的職涯發展，台灣人“好相處” “求安穩” “關心別人” 的特質也吸引了外國公司的聘用。長期來說，這不一定對台灣是壞事，當台灣的傳統公司難以吸引人才，會逼迫傳統公司轉型或倒閉。新型的公司和新的法規會出現，伴隨著中年回流的台灣人，帶回他們在海外的經驗。這就像在海裡的衝浪客都知道，永遠不要想要對抗海浪，而應該順著浪頭滑水，站上下一個迎面而來的浪頭。

According to Oxford Economics report “Global Talent 2021”, Taiwan is facing the strongest threat of talent deficient among developed countries. Young Taiwanese are going abroad to study and find jobs, hoping for better compensations and career outlook. When I now count on Facebook among my friends from my student days, 30% of them are working or living abroad. Most of them are in US, Japan, and China. 

Thinking about the situation, we could discuss why Taiwanese companies are struggling to attract talent and what can we do about it. But on the flip side, I am curious why my Taiwanese peers are so competitive in finding a job abroad? Is it something in our culture, education or society that gives us a competitive edge then other Asian graduates?  

Flipping through Facebook friend profile and thinking back of our own story coming to Switzerland, I boiled it down to three things. Taiwan has raised a generation of youngsters to be easy-going, risk adverse people who care about others. These traits combined with high education degrees, makes young Taiwanese attractive employees for foreign companies.

Easy going is a virtue in Taiwan. Young Taiwanese adore politicians and celebrities that are down to earth, unpolished and authentic. The election of Ko Wen-je, a doctor with no political background as Mayor of Taipei illustrates this trend. Ko is known for his candid and practical voice, which won him the support of Taiwanese youngsters.

Why are we Taiwanese so easy-going? It might be the history of the island, which has been formed by Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Americans and Chinese over time. Under the influence of various foreign powers, Taiwanese people learned how to thrive under pressure. Maybe its the tight community that encourage people to be in good terms with everyone else. After all, it is a small island, and you wouldn’t be surprised to find out that you have multiple mutual friends with some complete strangers on Facebook. 

For myself, I noticed when I was studying for my MBA, I was recognized as “the guy that always wears casual” compared to my other Asian classmates. Even the MBA program director felt the need to remind me to wear formally when we had guest speakers. For me, what people wear does not matter, but rather what value you can offer to others. 

Because of my easy-going nature, I found that I am more calm then others when discussions heat up. When I was interviewing for my job, I was asked to role play difficult customer conversations with my interviewer, and take and give criticism. My easy-going was a big plus for my profile, since in the medical industry it is crucial to know how to drive a conversation without crossing the line with healthcare professionals.

In my daily work, I noticed that because my colleagues consider me as an easy going person, they tend to easily put down their guards. At work, I often make jokes about myself and I show little desire to impress others. As a result, my colleagues are more willing to share info with me or support my ideas. 

In general, Taiwanese people are risk adverse and happy with what they have. In a study comparing 23 developed countries, Taiwan was the most risk adverse country among all. This means as Taiwanese people becomes wealthy, we tend to secure our gains instead of venturing onwards. 

This characteristic reflects both in homes and workplaces. At home, parents teach children that greed is bad, and you should cherish what you have. At workplaces,  employees are often asked to play it safe. Instead of risky long term research or investments, Taiwanese companies tend to prefer production scale up or efficiency improvement projects.  

Being risk adverse means Taiwanese people tend to be modest and conservative about their capabilities. Also, a risk adverse person tends to accept rather then change the status quo. As a result, Taiwanese people are often seen as hard working, compliant employees with predictable actions. Employees you can trust to keep the daily business running smoothly. 

While working in Switzerland, this Taiwanese mindset still follows me. For example, I am more eager then my colleagues to try to answer my boss’ requests as much as I can. It feels so natural for me. In comparison, my European colleagues tend to argue more with my boss, to an extend that sometimes I wonder if they simply enjoy the debate process itself.

In general, Taiwanese people care for others more. According to the world giving index 2016, Taiwanese people are more generous then some developed Asian and European countries. According to an expat survey, Taiwan was number one in hospitality in the world, and more then a third of the expats considered permanent residence in Taiwan.

Why are Taiwanese people so friendly towards others? I have two guesses: security and recognition. Taiwan society is weaved by several safety nets: good public healthcare, tight social communities, high saving ratios and low crime rate. As a result, young Taiwanese people has developed a high level of trust towards strangers to offer or ask for help. The second reason might come from Taiwan’s political status as not being recognised by the UN as a country. This leads to the islanders’ longing for international recognition. We want to showcase our best, not to impress but to be appreciated by other nations.

Translating this personality into working in an international team, I find myself usually becoming the mediator. We Taiwanese like to pull people together, never mind the leg work, and encourage others to speak up to issues. When dispute rises among the group, Taiwanese people felt the urge to call for group meetings to address the disputes. We even have create one specific word in Taiwanese, 喬（ts’iau´), which means “to mediate”.

So to sum it up, I believe more and more Taiwanese youngsters will choose to work abroad for the next few years. This is not only because they seek for an international career outlook, their profile also attracts foreign companies. This is not always a bad thing. As traditional local companies suffer from talent deficient, new types of companies and new regulations will emerge, accompanied with younger generations and new startups that carry ideas from years of abroad experienced. Like a surfer in the ocean, never try to fight the wave, but paddle along and ride with it. 

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