Internships: London Style

On Friday, we had the long-awaited internship orientation meeting to outline what the process will be like. Between now and Oct. 7, I will receive an e-mail telling me the company or organization selected for me by FIE (Foundation for International Education). The second week of October, I will have an interview. It won't be too competitive since the internship has pretty much been arranged. But the employers still want to meet with students to finalize placement within the work place. I should mention that I forgot my portfolio at home. I asked my parents to mail it here, so I'm confident I will have it by October.


Anyway, my favorite part of the orientation meeting was when they explained differences between the American workplace and the British workplace. I'm a fan of the UK version of the "Office" so I was able to nod and agree with many of the points. Here is a short list of differences (according to the FIE people):


1. The British workplace is more casual. "Americans live to work. The British work to live." You will find that British employees are more comfortable socializing during work hours especially when it comes to making and drinking tea. Tea is the British equivalent of the American water cooler. It's also expected for co-workers to spend time together after work at a pub or restaurant, i.e. "Happy Hours" are often a must.


2. Co-workers are more comfortable poking fun at each other. Where in the U.S. political correctness is strictly enforced, Brits are known for being sarcastic, playing pranks and teasing their fellow employees. Here is a fun example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZXfBmwALBE.


3. There is a lot more diversity in the workplace in terms of age, especially in London. This is a young city and it’s not uncommon to find a large number of recent college grads working in an office and holding management positions. My immediate supervisors will most likely be around my age, according to FIE.


4. British offices, especially in London, are smaller. Co-workers will often share a desk and there are no cubicles. This prompts more interaction. This point interests me because it seems there is a high priority on privacy and ownership in the American workplace. Often, the American office worker is shut in his or her own little world for hours. Would a more open office layout lead to less stress for American workers?


Finally, I leave you with some photos from my weekend. I was lucky enough to tour Buckingham Palace but I wasn't allowed to take photos. I did get some pictures at the British Museum and the annual Thames Festival.


People waiting on Waterloo Bridge for the Thames Festival's fireworks

Mummies at the British Museum:

The British Museum: