To be fully honest, before traveling this summer, I could not tell you very much about Europe. I came in with a very open mind to take in and learn as much as I possibly could. With that, I learned so much about Europe culture, political systems, and business practices. There are several things that are very different from America. My study abroad program was very unique in that we attend seven different countries, all of which are very different from each other. We start in the United Kingdom, then go to France, Monaco, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It is hard to make broad statement comparisons because each country is unique and has its own culture. Interactions such as ordering at a restaurant or buying something from a market are considered business transactions. Even though I was not able to see all of the behind-the-scenes from well-known businesses, I learned a lot from the conversations I was able to have. My initial impression was that the biggest problem would be the language barrier with conducting business. I truly do not think that it was that big of a deal. First of all, most people speak English. Conveniently for us, English is the most universal language so we did not struggle too much with that. If we did, we could get our message across by simply pointing and using body language.
One of the biggest things I have learned about European businesses is that they do not hustle like they do in America. For example, in the States, if you are at work, you are typically getting it done in the most efficient way possible. No matter what industry you are in, you want to make customers happy and serve them quickly. In Europe, there is less pressure to work efficiently and quickly. The biggest example is when I was at a Zara in France, the worker did not prioritize the customer?s needs at all and the line was moving slowly as molasses. There was a different worker at the checkout who had the same mentality. There was no pressure to get the customers through the line quickly. I remember thinking that this would not fly in America. Plus, at restaurants, you do not tip the waiters. This could be a part of the reason why they are a bit slower to get you the bill and bring you water. Or maybe Europeans just like to enjoy longer meals more than Americans. Regardless, the restaurant industry seems to work a lot slower.
Something that I have noticed about European businesses is that the working class seems to have a much better work-life balance. People will not stay past what they are called to do. They will not work more hours than expected and work stays at work. I really like this. Even though it may cause them to be slower, workers are better able to prioritize family and home life. I remember when we were in London, we were told that the maternity leave that they are given is one year, which I thought was incredible. It is rare that you see so long of time away from work in America. Europe has its pros and cons when it comes to business. My biggest takeaway is the realization that I would love to experience what it would be like to work abroad at some point in my life. My perspective has been broadened to include new mentalities and ways to work in my future career. I could 100% see myself returning to Europe as a businesswoman.
