How do people view scheduled appointments?

Meetings are important for Turkish business people. It would be a good idea for meeting to
be scheduled one to two weeks in advance to avoid Turkish holidays. First appointments
are more social- than business-oriented since Turks prefer to do business with people they
know. Although Turks are not vey punctual, they expect foreign visitors to be on time. The
meeting may start later than scheduled, but be patient. foreigners should be prepared to
meet less senior partners in the first meetings, as high-ranking executives are reluctant to
engage unless negotiations are advanced and a certain level of trust has been established.

Turkish society is highly influenced by Islam, so organize your appointments and meetings
around each of the five daily prayer times. You should not schedule any appointments
during Ramadan or during July and August, since these are the most common annual
holiday periods for Turkish business people.

Are people expected to socialize before conducting business?

1. For Turks, the first meeting is more social than business. Their aim
is to get to know you and it is extremely rude to insist on talking
about business right away.

2. Many Turkish businesses are family-owned and nepotism is

common. Globalisation has introduced multinational company
dynamics to the country. However, the business culture is still very
personal. The Turkish generally only want to do business with
those they feel comfortable enough with to trust. If you are too
impersonal or guarded, they may view you with suspicion and be
reluctant to follow through with you.

3. When speaking it is important to maintain eye contact since this

conveys sincerity and helps build a trusting relationship.

4. Courtesy is crucial in business, so the ability to listen and show

patience are the two qualities that the Turks appreciate most
highly. Follow-up phone calls are preferred over e-mails to
maintain a close relationship.
Is money or gift expected in exchange for
arranging business transactions?
1. Gift giving is not a common at business meetings in
Turkey. However, if a gift is given it will be appreciated.
If you do decide on a gift, it won't be viewed as an insult,
but avoid lavish gifts and it would be best if it's something
that relates to your home country such as food stuffs or
craft items.

2. Sight seeing trips and dining are more appropriate forms

of business relationship building.

3. If you're given a gift in a business situation and

your company policy prohibits you from accepting
it, be careful when declining the gift . Say that you
appreciate the gift and wish you could accept it and
then explain your company's policy.

4. There's a saying, "There's two things you

should never talk about... Religion and
Politics." This also applies to gift giving with
clients and business associates. Avoid gifts
related to religion or politics unless you are
confident of their belief
What are the attitudes toward
work? Toward money?

1. Turkish law guarantees equal pay for equal

work and has opened practically all
educational programs and occupations to
women. According to traditional values,
women should do domestic work and
not work in the public arena or with
unrelated men. However, women have
begun to work more in public.
Women are prominent in the senior ranks of
Turkish business. But in the overall labour
force, female participation of about 30 per
cent is one of the lowest.

2. Turkish people are hospitable, polite and

extremely professional. They tend to work
extremely hard and long hours; so, taking a
job in Turkey is not an easy task for a
foreigner. Turkish authorities are averse to
any foreign national taking a job that can be
done by a Turkish citizen. So, foreigners are
 usually hired for teaching, working in large
international companies or by press
agencies that require native expertise in a
foreign language in one of their branches in
Turkey.

3. Men monopolize the officer ranks in the

military and the transportation occupations
of pilot and taxi, truck, and bus driver.

upper-class men work as university teachers,

professionals, upper-level managers,
businessmen,

4)Working hours cannot exceed 45 per week

and are typically divided up evenly across
six days