An American Expat Working in London: 3 Ingredients for Career Success
Living in a new culture has been invaluable for my personal growth and professional success. I have had the opportunity to work in London for the past three years, and in immersing myself in the English culture, I have learned all manner of things from brewing the perfect cup of tea to learning how to properly say ‘Cheers’. Those are just a couple of the many things I’ve mastered, but I’d like to share with you the three lessons that truly helped me thrive in the English workplace:
#1) Importance of a cup of tea – Have a cuppa
Having a cup of tea signifies so much more than I first thought. When you take a break from your day-to-day to enjoy a warm cup of tea with another person - you are actually saying, ‘let’s have a chat. I want to get to know you better.’ Not only does this help you expand your network, but it helps you connect and build rapport with your colleagues and customers.
For me personally, I have found the more cups of tea I have, the more business I close, and the more productive I am in the office. I have become more confident in my work, which has flourished because I have taken the time to get to know my clients and other parts of the business. Cups of tea help to put work aside, and allow you to genuinely enjoy another human being. My network has grown, my relationships are more authentic, and my business is prosperous. All due to small cups of tea.
#2) Dress to impress everyday – Wear your best tweed suit
Ok… not necessarily tweed, but a suit of any kind will do. My English colleagues tend to walk into the office wearing 3 piece suits, the majority of them in suits every day. Now, as this may seem a little much in the American culture, it is quite normal in the United Kingdom, especially in the City of London. Traditionally, the English culture has always favoured very formal attire in the workplace, which has been a positive attribute for me.
In my experience, formal attire gives the perception of professionalism. When you put on your formal suit (dress, skirts, etc...) in the morning you are signaling to the world and to yourself that you are mentally ready to start your job. You should always be ‘dressing for your next role’, whether that’s a Senior Sales Rep, Manager, Director or VP – formal attire tells everyone you are ready to be the utmost professional in the workplace. In my opinion, dressing smart has helped me move up in the company and be taken seriously by my more experienced colleagues and customers.
#3) Work hard, and take your vacation (annual leave ;))
When I moved to England my boss at the time offered me 20 days of vacation with the option to “buy” 15 more days of holiday……. I nearly choked on the phone line. To an American 35 days of holiday seems absurd, but to an English person this seems just right.
I’ve learned that I enjoy my work even more by taking time off for myself. I have enjoyed my current role because it allows me to have the travel-life I only dreamed of in America. I saw the glaciers in Iceland, skied the pure powder in Japan and even watched the sunrise in Croatia. ‘Working to live’ rather than ‘Living to work’ has made my job so much more satisfying because I can progress in my career and see the world at the same time. I love my role, my team and my company, which allow me to do what I love: travel.
In summary: have a cuppa tea with someone as often as you can and grow your network. Dress to impress every day, and let your physical appearance reflect your professional best. Take your vacation, which gives you the balance we all need in life. To any of you that have the chance to work abroad – TAKE IT. You will surprise yourself with the lessons you learn, and it will open your eyes to a new culture and new ways of living.
To all my dear English friends and colleagues reading this article - hopefully you don’t think I ‘have egg on my face,’…