Abroad in America

Why Working in America Feels So Confusing for Expats

• Jimmy Miller

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Many expats move to the U.S. expecting to adjust to a new job.

What they don’t expect is having to decode an entirely different workplace culture.

In this episode of Abroad in America, we step away from taxes and investments to explore something that affects nearly every expat living and working in the U.S.: understanding how the American workplace actually works.

From meetings that start with small talk instead of the agenda, to communication styles that are more indirect than they seem, many of the unspoken rules can feel confusing at first. What might sound polite or positive on the surface can carry a very different meaning underneath.

We break down the subtle dynamics that shape everyday interactions, including how feedback is delivered, why being “busy” is often treated as a signal of commitment, and how workplace hierarchy can feel both informal and high-stakes at the same time.

You will also learn why self-advocacy plays such a critical role in American work culture, and how visibility often matters just as much as performance. For many expats, this can feel uncomfortable, especially if you come from a culture where your work is expected to speak for itself.

This episode is not about changing who you are. It is about understanding the system you are operating in, so you can navigate it more effectively without losing your authenticity.

If you are working in the U.S. or planning to, this conversation will help you avoid common misunderstandings, build stronger relationships, and feel more confident in your day-to-day interactions.

You will also get a preview of what’s coming next as we shift back into financial topics, including the hidden costs of becoming an expat in America and how to better prepare for them.

If you know another expat who is still figuring out meetings, emails, or workplace expectations, share this episode with them.

Stay curious, stay open, and as always, keep exploring.

In This Episode

• Why meetings in the U.S. often start with small talk and what it really means
 • How indirect communication can lead to misunderstandings for expats
 • The “feedback sandwich” and how to interpret it correctly
 • Why being busy is often seen as a sign of commitment
 • How workplace hierarchy can feel informal but still carry real stakes
 • The importance of self-advocacy and visibility in American work culture
 • How to adapt without losing your authenticity

What’s Coming Next

• The hidden cost of becoming an expat in America
 • How lifestyle and financial decisions in the U.S. impact long-term outcomes
 • A return to tax and investment strategies with an expat-focused lens

SPEAKER_00

Welcome to the Abroad in America Podcast, the only financial podcast designed specifically for expats living in America. Where you go behind the scenes with financial planner, author, and speaker Jimmy Miller to learn how to make your time in America as financially rewarding as well. And now here's your host, Jimmy Miller.

SPEAKER_01

Hey everyone. Welcome back to Abroad in America. I'm your host, Jimmy Miller, and today we'll take a break from taxes and investments to continue our cultural series with a topic that affects nearly every expat living in the U.S. working in America. Because if you're an expat here, you probably learned pretty quickly that the American workplace is its own culture. And no one really explains the rules. You're just expected to pick them up along the way, preferably without embarrassing yourself. Let's start with something that confuses a lot of expats right away. Meetings don't start with the meeting. Instead, they start with small talk. How was your weekend? How was about this weather? Did you see the game last night? And if you're from a culture where meetings are efficient and direct, you're thinking, why are we talking about dogs and weekend barbecues when we have an agenda? But in the US, this chit chat isn't wasted time. It's relationship maintenance. It builds trust, signals approachability, and sets a friendly tone before business begins. Think of it as a social warm-up lap before the actual work starts. Another big adjustment is communication. Americans tend to be positive, indirect, and diplomatic, especially at work. You'll hear phrases like that's an interesting idea, but let's circle back to that. Or we should definitely explore this further. And sometimes those phrases mean no. This can be confusing if you come from a more direct culture where feedback is clear and unambiguous. In the US, preserving harmony is often more important than being bluntly honest. Reading between the lines becomes a critical workplace skill. Now next let's talk about feedback because this one trips up a lot of expats. In American workplaces, feedback is often delivered in a sandwich for framework. Positive, then constructive, and then positive. So you might hear, you're doing a great job overall. We just want to see a bit more initiative in meetings, but your teamwork has been fantastic. Now, if you're not used to this, you may walk away thinking everything is perfect when there was actually a very clear message in the middle. Now on the flip side, Americans expect feedback to be framed constructively. Direct criticism without cushioning can come across as harsh, even if it's normal in your home culture. Now let's address the elephant in the office. Americans work a lot, long hours, short vacations, and a strong focus on productivity. In many American workplaces, being busy is a badge of honor. People talk about how early they logged on, how late they stayed, and how full their calendars are. This doesn't always mean they expect you to burn out, but it does mean there's a cultural emphasis on showing commitment. The key for expats is balance, understanding the expectations, but not feeling pressured to sacrifice your well-being just to look busy. And here's another adjustment. Hierarchy in America is often flatter, at least on the surface. You might call your boss by their first name, you might speak up in meetings with senior leadership present, you might even disagree openly and respectfully with someone above you. This doesn't mean hierarchy doesn't exist, it absolutely does. It just means authority is expressed more casually. The challenge for expats is knowing when openness is encouraged and when discretion is still required. The vibe may be informal, but the stakes are still real. Now this next one can feel uncomfortable for many expats. In America, you're often expected to advocate for yourself. People talk about their accomplishments, they highlight their wins, they speak up about their goals. This isn't arrogance, it's visibility. In many cultures, good work is expected to speak for itself. In the US, if no one knows what you're doing, it's easy to be overlooked. Self-promotion doesn't mean bragging, it means making sure your contributions are known. Now, why all of this matters? Well, understanding the American workplace culture isn't about changing who you are. It's about translating your strengths into a system that operates in a different way. When expats struggle at work in the US, it's rarely because they lack the skills or intelligence. It's usually because they weren't given the cultural decoder ring. Once you understand the norms, the small talk, the communication style, the feedback culture, the emphasis on productivity, everything becomes easier to navigate. Working in America can be energizing, frustrating, rewarding, confusing, sometimes all in the same day. But with a little cultural awareness, you can avoid misunderstandings, build stronger relationships, and thrive professionally without losing your authenticity. The goal isn't to become American at work. The goal is to become effective at work while staying true to yourself. And once you crack the code, the American workplace becomes a lot less mysterious and a lot more manageable. Now that's it for episode 14 of Abroad in America. If you found this episode helpful, share it with a fellow expat who's still decoding meetings, emails, and performance reviews. Next up, we'll tackle the hidden costs of becoming an expat in America before returning to the tax and investment account strategy episodes. This can really help with putting the whole adventure into context and making sure that your time in America is as rewarding as possible.

SPEAKER_00

Until next time, stay curious, stay open, and as always, keep exploring.com. And subscribe to the blog to stay up to date on issues affecting experts. Don't forget to subscribe to never miss a nap. See you next time. Bayob Wealth and Payable Wealth Abroad are DBAs of Bayobab Wealth LLC, a Florida registered investment advisor. This podcast is designed for general education purposes only and shouldn't be taken as legal investment or tax advice. You should seek out a qualified tax professional or licensed financial advisor to determine what is best for your personal situation.