For the past two months, I had the opportunity to work as an intern for a financial advisor in Dublin, Ireland. Through this experience, I learned many technical skills related to the financial services and venture capital industries. I assisted with two different fundraises, researched new clients, and provided background information on potential investors. While these skills will undoubtedly prove extremely valuable in my finance career, I am most proud of the lessons I learned about the nuances of working abroad. The first difference I noticed between American and Irish working cultures is the rigidity of their work-life balance. In America, it is not uncommon to work 55-60 hour weeks. In Dublin, even entry-level workers typically work 40-45 hours at most. My bosses were out of the office by 4 pm every day and were extremely protective of their time off. Most of my coworkers took their ‘holidays’ during July and were unreachable for an average of two weeks. In America, it can often be a struggle to take more than a few consecutive days off work. The Irish also cherished their chats. Before every meeting, there was a minimum of five minutes of small talk. If the meeting moderator jumped straight into the topic, they would be considered rude and insincere. In America, directness is seen as a positive trait, and unnecessary chit-chat can be viewed as inefficient. Lastly, the Irish are a lot more open about political discussions in the workplace compared to Americans. In America, it is widely understood that topics such as religion and politics should not be discussed at work and are almost taboo. In Dublin, my supervisor asked me who I was planning to vote for within the first hour of meeting him. This was jarring at first, but I soon realized that this was simply a part of typical office conversation. Overall, I had an amazing time in Dublin. After I acclimated to the social climate and became accustomed to their workplace tendencies, I was able to learn a great deal and forge lasting relationships.
