To me global competency means adapting to different cultural expectations within a work environment. Working as an intern at The Jam in Prague has given me a new understanding of “professional success”. There is definitely a contrast between American and Czech ideas of work ethic, and what makes someone good at their job. Work standards in Prague seem to be higher with less guidance than I’m used to. However at the same time there is also a lot more down time than I’ve experienced in a work day. Dress codes also seem to differ significantly, and casual wear is more normal here. Overall their high-context communication style has taught me the most about workplace expectations. 

In the US success is usually defined by productivity, speed, and accomplishments. For example when I worked as a server, my accuracy and customer service skills when taking orders was what got me extra tips. Supervisors and bosses tend to pay attention to efficiency and attention to detail. However in Prague, success seems to be defined by consistency and creative contribution. My supervisor usually gives me positive feedback when I give innovative ideas, and when my designs follow the brand styles and templates. The Czech work environment seems to prioritize showing up on time, working hard, and collaborating well with other coworkers. I’ve noticed when it comes to media designs they aren’t usually looking for flashy or trendy posts. They typically want designs that fit their brand’s style, and match the theme of their marketing. I felt accomplished simply by posting weekly schedules and creating posters for their instagram stories. Though back home I might’ve felt anxious to overperform or constantly keep up with new trends. 

The Jam definitely fosters a casual but creative environment, and success is measured more in energy and attention to detail. I think the most crucial skill to have is adaptability. Especially through communication, and remote availability. I had to learn success in content creation from trial and error methods. I also did research on competitor’s posts and current trends. But most importantly I analyzed previous posts and the overall style of their page. I also talked a lot with my supervisors about expectations and strategies. They clearly prioritize showcasing their brand’s logos, fonts, color schemes, and style. My boss also appreciates when I am proactive, and do things before I am asked. For example when we have weekly events I try to create story designs several days prior to the event. That way I also have time to ask questions because my supervisor sometimes takes a while to respond. I overcome challenges like last minute assignments, by preparing designs for events that happen every week. For example I create posts for Wednesday Open Mics and Friday Jams at the beginning of the week. That way I can focus my attention on the concert promotions and new comedy shows. I practiced creative initiative by coming up with new ideas for tiktoks that aligned with trending sounds and Czech humor. I motivated myself to post consistently without any supervision or guidance. With hopes that I would start to gain trust and credibility within the workplace. A simple “great job” from my supervisor showed me that my hard work was paying off. The more independence I was given, the more confident I felt in posting my designs. 

The most notable difference was definitely the relaxed communication. My supervisor mostly communicates over WhatsApp with casual greetings and short instructions. My work days usually consist of flexible hours and online assignments. In the U.S, this would definitely feel “unprofessional”, but it seems to be the normal work situation here. Doing my job independently is more appreciated than consistently asking for approval. I’ve learned that the Czech approach to “success” is more about executing your role well without unnecessary stress. Even when I make mistakes my boss always seems to be so understanding and encouraging. This helped me let go of my usual perfectionism and obsess less on aesthetics by focusing more on dates and details.  

Most importantly this internship taught me to observe workplace norms and learn from my peers. By adapting to their communication styles and marketing strategies, I felt more confident in my content creation. It was definitely a struggle to meet expectations when they weren’t clearly laid out for me. However, I successfully learned to navigate language barriers through messaging my boss and making captions for Czech audiences. I began to learn their cultural preferences were more tailored to simple designs and not flashy trends.