Career
Abroad is the ideal guide to facts on work culture abroad. Do's
and don'ts on etiquette, work ethics and conversational pleasantries,
find them all here.
IRELAND
GREETINGS
• Shake hands and extend a warm
greeting as you maintain eye contact.
• When meeting a woman, men
should wait for her to extend her hand before initiating a handshake.
iriash
• Use a person's last name with
the proper courtesy title.
• Keep in mind that surgeons
are referred to as “Mr”, rather than “Doctor.”
PUNCTUALITY
ALERTS!
The Irish are rather relaxed with time. However, you as a business
traveller, must strive to be on time for all your appointments.
If you are made to wait for as long as 30 minutes, do not pass
any comments on that front. Business hours are generally between
9am to 5 pm. You must avoid the month of August, since most Irish
are on vacation during this period. The holiday spirit starts
from December and strches through the first week of January. The
holy week is closely observed, the period between palm sunday
and easter sunday. May is the time for business fair, you might
not find too many executives during the first half of the month.
CONVERSATION
WITH IRISH
• Maintain low moderates tone
• The Irish tend to get personal,
gracefully step out of the conversation if you want to avoid getting
too personal
• Do not put Irish culture in
the same category as the English
• Avoid political or religious
debates
• Dispaly knowledge and appreciation
towards Irish literary geniuses
Suggested
topic of conversation :
• Travels in Ireland
• Irish literature and other
forms of art
• Gaelic culture
• Irish sports
• Drinks
• pets-animals
• positive aspects of the Irish
economy
• Weather, do not complain about
the rains.
Avoid
:
• Controversial social issues
• Irish politics
• Comparing native Irish with
Irish Americans
IRISH DRESSING
Ostentation is frowned upon, so there no need to be preoccupied
with designer labels, elaborate jewellery. Conservative dressing
is followed in Irish business culture. It's preferable for both
men and women to wear clothes made from wool and tweed, in subdued
colours. Suits and ties are standard attire for businessmen. In
business settings, pants are best avoided, although for casual
settings, its absolutly perfect. Restaurants and private parties
usually do not require jackets and ties. Formal wear is usually
in the form of dinner jackets. In many situations, sneakers and
jeans are still unacceptable. Since it rains a great deal in Ireland,
and often unpredictably, it’s recommended that you always
carry a raincoat and, if you wish, an umbrella.
BUSINESS
ATTITUDE
• Exchanging business cards
is not a commonplace business practice
• However, if you are asked
for a business card at the end of a meeting, it is a sign of appreciation
• In large organisation there
is a huge divide between management and staff.
• Uirish tend to value conservative
demeanor
• General rule is larger the
industry, the more conservative it is
• Follow the example of your
Irish collegue, behave in a warm, friendly and a hospitable manner
• Any information you give must
be accurate
• Irish do not usually say ”no”,
they rather be non commmital
• sarcasm is not appreciated
• Golf is an integral part of
establishing business contacts
• In the organisational hierrachy,
the managing director takes the final call.
• Irish take a kong time to
take decisions, so be patient
BUSINESS
ENTERTAINMENT
• Lunch is served between one
and two.
• Business lunches are popular
time for socialising
• High tea is often observed
in irerland. It is considered to be a substitue for dinner. The
Irish take their High tea between four and six.
• Spouses are often part of
business dinners
• If you are invited home bring
a token gift like chocolates or flowers
• You can arrive about ten munutes
late to a dinner party without offending anyone
• Couple are occassionally broken
up and made to sit next to people they do not know.
• Serving bread with meals is
not a part of the iriash culture
• After you finsish your meal,
plaxce your knife and fork parelle to each other on the rigth
hand side of the plate
• Offer help to clean up after
dinner
• The one who invites pays tye
bill, however the guest must pffer
• Tip is about 10 to 15% on
the bill amount
• Drinking is very much a part
of the Irish culture, getting drunk isnt.
• In a pub, everyone present
takes turns to buy the rest of the group a drink
• make a point to sample irish
beer
• Beer is popular during lunches.
”Guiness” is considered the national drink.
• Serving drinks with ice is
a big no no
• Refrain from ordering Scotch
whisky in a pub
• Another popular drink is the
shandy, a mixture of beer and lemonade
• You are not expected tip waiters
in a pub
GESTURES
• When introduced, make an effort
to engage in immediate eye contact,
• The distance between speakers
is usually less than between other northern Europeans
• Keep your hands out of your
pockets, particularly when speaking
• Avoid using the North American
expression “Have a nice day
• Pointing by using the head
or chin, rather than the fingers
• Touching one’s nose is
a sign of confidentiality
• Use the index finger to indicate
the number one, and the thumb for number five
• The peace sign or “V”
made by extending the index and middle finger with the palm facing
out, is an obscene gesture in Ireland and should be avoided
• Public toilets are available
in Ireland. Bear in mind that the door labelled “Fir”
is the men’s room, while the one with “Mna” is
the women’s room
• Instead of asking for a “ride,”
follow the example of the Irish and use the word “lift.”
GIFT-GIVING
Gifts are expected for family and social events. For business
meetings, it is not impratibve to bring a gift along. As a matter
of fact, if you do want to give gifts to your Irish counter parts,
wait until your meeting reaches a conclusion. Bring a long a gift
that reflects your own culture. The best gift for a dinner party
is a good bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, or a simple arrangement
of flowers. Red roses are reserved for romantic occasions, while
lilies are for funerals. Most other types of flowers, however,
are acceptable. When you are presented with a gift, ensure that
you thank the giver and proceed to open it in front of him or
her.
