What to wear
Since you may well know that Russia has extreme cold temperatures, always be ready for winter by wearing thick clothing even when going to the office. Russians value seriousness among their counterparts, and would appreciate it if one can dress formally. Both men and women should wear dark clothing at work, with men in dark suits over dark-colored shirts and trousers. Women may also be in dark colored suits over dark-colored shirts and skirts or pantsuits. Light colored clothing at work may be associated with laziness, so avoid bright and light colored clothing.

What to bring
When meeting a Russian local for business, always bring with you a business card. Business cards are normally exchanged during meetings and are expected to be translated in Russian on one side and English on the other. There are no particular rules as to when and how business cards will be exchanged so long as it is given to your counterpart. Part of the Russian culture is generosity, so always bring something to give to your counterpart. As a rule of thumb, you also shouldn’t give something that is easily obtainable in the country.

What to expect
Russian meetings always begin on time, so better arrive a few minutes early for punctuality is valued by the locals. Expect your meetings to be straightforward and direct to the point, as Russians would prefer it to be. Don’t get offended when getting outright comments about a deal since they prefer open communication with counterparts. When meeting a counterpart for the first time, expect different levels of seriousness, most especially among men because this for them is a sign of power and respect. Very little smiles are being shared in a business meeting so avoid sounding goofy or refrain from making humorous remarks in an attempt to lighten the discussion.

What you should know
The corporate culture in Russia is strictly hierarchical and authority is commonly centralized among high-level positions in the office. There is a huge gap between people who have powers over people who just appear as workers in an organization. Thus, decisions only come from top management and low ranking employees have no influence on them.

Despite the gap brought about by position and authority, you should know that Russians value humility. Achievements for them is not something to boast about and modesty is an essential part of any conversation. Make sure you don’t attempt to impress a counterpart by staging your huge successes at work or awards in school, because it will leave a bad impression on you.

The gender gap between male and female in the Russian corporate scene is huge up to this moment. Although the Soviet-Era Labor Restrictions that bans women to over 350 kinds of jobs are set to be stripped down on January 1, 2021, the prevailing situation puts females at a disadvantage. Women in Russia are also paid less in comparison with men and are viewed with too much skepticism in terms of capabilities at work. However, through the years, as more and more females are able to show excellent and notable skills in the corporate scene, the gap is reduced and some companies are accepting women in higher positions if they are able to prove themselves worthy of it. Although little can be said as to the improvements of how females are being regarded at work, Russian locals remain a gentleman to any female they come across with.

If you are about to land a job in Russia, make sure you know the following leave of absences you are entitled with and public holidays you will have to observe.