Working in the UK

chillibreeze writer — Nilanjana Jana

Need an editable PowerPoint map of England

Aristotle rightly said ‘Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work’. So it is essential to get hold of the right kind of job in order to give it your best shot. A good and secure job is a top-of-the-list priority for every individual especially in this age of cut-throat competition. The world changes drastically once you set foot beyond your college or university campus and if the task ahead of you is of finding the perfect job in a foreign country it becomes all the more arduous.

There are a plethora of things that you should keep in mind while working outside your country. For all those who are interested in working in the United Kingdom, the best way to start would be to bear in mind that finding a good job in the UK won’t be a simplistic task. But once you have got over the ‘looking out’ phase and actually get hold of a lucrative job which suits your needs, there are a lot of rewards for your hard work beyond the already stipulated monetary benefits of earning in British Pounds. Apart from the obvious fat pay cheque, working in the UK is genuinely a fruitful experience, an experience to remember.

You will learn that there are a lot of things you will have to adjust to if you have to adapt successfully to a job environment in the UK. The British are very proud and conscious about their accent. Staying there means you really need to be very careful about your accent. Even if you think that you have a perfect English accent you will find out that you don’t if you are not speaking the ‘Queen’s English’, and believe me no Indian in India has spoken the English that the British speak! Indian names are somewhat difficult for them to pronounce. Your Indian name will almost definitely be shortened into something which is easy to say. Like 'Nilanjana' can easily be abbreviated to 'Neila' or 'Nilaxi to 'Nicky'.

You might be pretty flabbergasted about the so called “Brit” accent. No matter where you are working, be it a bank or retail stores, if you need to interact with the public regularly prepare yourself to face hurdles regarding the different British dialects. The dialect of the British Midlands and the Scottish accent is the most difficult to decipher. But once you overcome your initial problems you will find it a lot easier to interact with those around you in the UK.

One of the important things that you should remember is that, what we Indians consider to be milquetoast behaviour, the British consider to be the epitome of politeness. The parameters of Indian and British politeness are diametrically opposite. If someone gifts you something even as trivial as a pen it is imperative that you remember to mouth a polite and courteous ‘thank you’. If you don’t do so, you might raise quite a few eyebrows. Forgetting these generic pleasantries which are thought to be frivolous gestures in India are not welcome in the UK. These form one of the basic tenets of polite behaviour in the UK.

Like in so many other places (and even your native country) initially it might be a bit difficult to interact with your new British colleagues socially after the office hours or during the lunch break. There will remain an initial hesitation on the part of your colleagues to interact with you. For them you would be a bit of an enigma, especially if you are working in Southern England, where Pakistani or Indian immigrants are rare. It would be up to you to break the ice.

You could treat them to some delectable Indian savouries. Initially they might not welcome your gesture. But with some of your polite offerings of Indian snacks like “onion bhajis”; they might soon be eating out of your hands. However, now that you have broken the ice be prepared to be flooded with requests to treat them every now and then with some scrumptious Indian delicacies like “Poppadums with chutney”, “Onion bhajis” and “Chicken Tikka Masala” which are a rage in the UK.

Once you have gained access within their hallowed circle the ride from here is going to be much smoother for you. But be sure to lock your Indian taboos deep inside your cupboards if you are working in the UK. You may not like flowing with the tide or your Indian values might restrain you from adopting the western ways of life. But please be careful about not appearing to be condescending or critical about their way of life. Even if you don't like pubbing or clubbing, you could still hang out with your colleagues now and then at the local pub even if you don't drink. The best option would be to order a cola with lime and then let the tittle-tattle flow all round you.

One thing the British are crazy about is football and if you especially have the fortune of being in the UK during the football season you might be swept along with the football frenzy. It is hard to stay detached from the fervour with which the English support their teams. Do remember to say suitable words of solace when a national hero like Wayne Rooney gets evicted out of the game due to the 'malicious' behaviour of a villainous Chirstiano Ronaldo.

The British are legendary for their reticence and stiff upper lip. But once you start working there you would find that this is just a myth. The British can be equally affectionate as any other race round the globe but they do not have the over the top exuberance of Indian emotions. Matronly colleagues would often give you a reason to smile with a compliment on your dusky good looks or your long hair. Married women are often asked about the vermilion mark that they put on their hair parting. It is a bit difficult to make them understand the concept of 'Sindoor’ but be patient and try telling them that it is the Indian equivalent of a wedding ring and they would understand you in a jiffy. So the trick is to relate to them in their own way.

Now comes the hardest part. That is leaving behind the beautiful country while on your way back to your home country. Torn between the two conflicting emotions of delight on returning to your home land and of pensive melancholy on leaving behind what was your home away from home will be a difficult task to handle. During you stay in the UK if you are lucky enough to hold that special place in their hearts you are sure to be flooded with heart-warming gifts. The UK is sure to create a niche in your heart. So if you are planning to work in the UK be sure to understand that it will be like a journey which will surely enrich you and make you glad that you had the opportunity to interact with one of the fine races of the world.

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Nilanjana writes for chillibreeze.

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