Intercultural onboarding in steel companies: the key to success in an international environment

In the steel industry, teams made up of people from different countries and cultures are becoming increasingly common. This is a result of globalization and labor shortages, which drive companies to seek talent abroad. However, hiring is only the beginning—the real challenge lies in effective intercultural onboarding.

Onboarding cannot be limited to signing documents and a tour of the production hall. For employees from other countries, it is essential to introduce them not only to the company structure but also to the local work culture, communication rules, and management style. It’s important to provide language support, train managers in intercultural competencies, and implement a so-called buddy system—assigning a mentor to each new employee.

When well-managed, cultural differences can become a source of innovation and efficiency. But without proper onboarding, they can lead to misunderstandings and high turnover. That’s why intercultural onboarding is not a luxury—it’s a necessity in today’s modern production environment.