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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.

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