Internships

Dublin is the center of Irish industry, and has a very international, cosmopolitan workforce, so depending on the industry in which you are interning, the person at the next desk is as likely to be from County Tipperary or Latvia as they are from Dublin.

It’s impossible to generalize about internships in Ireland – we’ve found placements in fields from taxidermy to forensic accounting, and you might be working for a two-person home grown company or a multinational bank – but most students working for Irish organizations have reported that

• The Irish workplace is generally more intimate than American professional settings. Not only are most companies smaller than their US counterparts, staff tend to socialize together more frequently than in the US, and they know each other better.
• The office environment is more casual than you might expect. It is not unheard of to hear office banter, gossip, colorful language or joke telling are commonly heard at the water cooler.
• Hierarchy is not as strong in Irish offices as it may be in the US. In Dublin, EVERYONE will make tea – from the intern to the Managing Director, and clerical work is a part of everyone’s job.
• Irish work culture is less “PC” than in the States – don’t be shocked if someone asks about your love life or tells the odd off-color joke.
• Dubliners don’t take themselves – or anyone else – too seriously. The concept of “blarney” definitely exists (though Dubliners almost never use that word) – Irish people use language very playfully. “Slagging” (gentle teasing), from co-workers is a sign that you’ve been accepted.
• Small, informal work environments also mean that placements may lack the formal structure you’re used to.  Don’t expect formal induction or training days – you may have to show the initiative in introducing yourself to your coworkers.
• There is no typical work day – some companies work 8-6, others turn up around 10:30 or 11 and leave at 4. Irish people tend to have a casual approach to timekeeping. They are generous with their time: they will not cut short a conversation or meeting just for the sake of time, nor will anyone think it’s odd to stay late at work to finish the job.

“My placement in Dublin was, without a doubt, the absolute best experience of my undergraduate career! I have kept in touch with my former supervisor who supplied me with a great letter of recommendation for grad school. Studying in both London and Dublin was the best decision of my life so far. I realize how lucky I was to get the opportunity that I did in my stage of undergraduate study, and your efforts allowed me to get a thoroughly unique experience. Those eight weeks have shaped my interests and perspective more than I could have imagined.” – Kristine, Boston University