Hi everyone! We’re halfway through our internship experience, how exciting! I’ve accomplished a lot so far and I’m looking forward to what’s coming. I’m about to start this new project with my supervisor which is a research project and we’re going to be analyzing the business market in the US and how we can change our business strategy to better suit it. This task seems a bit daunting but I’m sure once we start, it will be very interesting. I’ll keep you guys updated on how that goes. 

If I’m being honest, it has been a bit difficult to connect with my host company’s culture because my internship is virtual and because my supervisor is based in the US. Since I interact with him the most, I don’t get much insight into the culture in Ireland. That being said, with the meetings I have had with people based in Ireland, I have noticed some things about the culture that took some getting used to. 

I’d say one of the most noticeable things about the work culture in Ireland is that it is much more laid back than what I expected. This has been something I’ve brought up before in my blog posts and how it has been a little difficult for me to get used to. Usually when I get an assignment or project to work on by my supervisor, it is really up to me on how quickly and efficiently I want to get it done. I always try to complete things on the day or day after they were given to me and every time, my supervisor is always impressed with how quickly and well I get things done. It’s nice to feel like you’re constantly impressing and exceeding your supervisors’ expectations, but sometimes I worry about the leniency given to me at this internship. This is because I know that not all places I will work or intern at in the future will have such a laid-back work environment. That being said, I do appreciate the trust and responsibility that is given to me to complete my assignments in a timely manner. I feel like I have been blessed with the best of both worlds as my supervisor gives me very clear directions on what needs to be and how it needs to be done, but when I complete these things is completely up to me. 

Another thing about the company’s work culture that I thought was worth noting is their attention to constantly improving what you achieve. To elaborate, at the company meeting last week, each department went through what they wanted to accomplish during the last quarter and what they actually achieved. I thought this was an interesting experience because no one was being criticized for the work they couldn’t achieve. I thought this highlighted the Irish work culture in that everyone is focused on improving things over time rather than fast solutions. I also think this relates to laid back work environment in that people don’t expect you to get things done right away. The common consensus is to take your time and do the best you can.   

Another thing I noticed about the culture is how everyone loves to joke around and keep things fun. The team slack page has a channel dedicated to memes and funny videos so that everyone can have a laugh while they’re working. I remember during my first week at patientMpower, I attended the company social. As soon as I introduced myself and started talking about myself, they started making fun of me because I was doing an international internship virtually and my supervisor is based in the US. They didn’t think I was getting much of an international experience, but I’ve been making the most of it! Even though it was a bit nerve-wracking to meet all these new people at once, I found it much easier to talk to them after they had been making fun of me (as silly as that sounds). 

The fact that we’re already halfway through the internship is sad as I feel like I am just getting to know people and finding my place within the company. I’m still excited though to continue my experience and look forward to keeping you guys updated. See you in the next post!