GERMANY | Internship: At work | DOs and DON´Ts
DO
- understand open criticism as a pointer or suggestion and not as a personal attack
- address a doctor or professor with their title e.g. Herr Doktor Schmidt, Herr Professor Schmidt
- add your own suggestions for improvement
- answer questions directly and truthfully
- arrive 5 minutes too early rather than 5 minutes too late for an appointment
- call a company after applying for an internship in order to express interest
- look for common interests as a mutual point in conversations
- look for an opportunity to present your country to your colleagues
- ask if you do not understand something. This shows your interest and is definitely not regarded as stupid
- invite colleagues who invite you to their house or invite you to do something together after work
DON´T
- be surprised or hurt if you receive an open and truthful reply to your question which does not seem to take your feelings into consideration
- exceed the skills or working competence required
- beat around the bush
- exercise bribery or refer to relationships
- ask about your wage as the first point in an interview
- answer the telephone with your first name or hello
- expect everything to be the same as at home or as you expect
- feel like you are not responsible for your area of work