If you’re an expat or returning Kiwi preparing to start a job in New Zealand, this blog is for you. Marcus Behrends, originally from Germany, tells us what he had learned about Kiwi work culture while working for PwC in Auckland and how it compares to his Big4 experience in Europe.
What is your work history in Germany and NZ, and how did you end up here?
I started off at KPMG Germany in Berlin, as a working student in the CIO Advisory team and stayed over three years. In 2017 my partner and I decided to start a new adventure and travel the world. Our first destination would have been one of the furthest countries from Germany, New Zealand. After travelling New Zealand, the Pacifics and Oz, it was about time to progress on the career, and we stopped travelling and settled in NZ. I was lucky enough to continue my career as technology consultant at PwC New Zealand in the Strategy and Architecture team for the past 3 years.
What are the 4 things you find most different or surprising about Kiwi work culture compared to Germany?
1. Dress code
I realised quite quickly that the suit and tie mentality from Germany is less common over here in NZ. Kiwis generally dress more casually. But PwC NZ also has a dress-for-the-day policy so you do need to respond to the dress expectations of specific clients too.
2. Lunch on the run
Having a 15-30 min lunch break, with a quick bite like a pie or sandwich feels the norm here. I have seen people laying on bean bags during the lunch break and enjoying themselves in the sun, and also lunch work or walk meetings as well. The sandwich culture was probably the largest mind shift for me as a foodie. I grew up with a warm meal for lunch and we had a cafeteria at the German KPMG office that provided warm meals every day. By the way, I still haven’t adapted, so a warm meal is still important to me :-)
3. Shades of grey
In my German work life I saw things predominantly in extremes. I was thinking and operating in ranges such as “On or Off”, “1 or 0”, “Yes or No”, “Dark or Light”, and it was difficult to see the different grey zones in between. A lot of Kiwi communication is subtle and polite, and happens in this grey zone. This was a major insight that helped me to adapt. So, don’t necessarily expect a straight-out answer in a business conversation. If your counterpart feels uncomfortable with what is going on, you will experience replies that can be interpreted with a lot of wiggle room - ambiguous answers that leave you behind with an odd feeling and a lot of interpretation. For Kiwis, this buys time to discuss the issue further with you, or consider other options before coming to a final decision.
4. Working hours
In Germany, the work day starts at 9am and people would clock off around 6pm. I feel Kiwis are early risers and tend to come into the office, between 7am and 8.30am but also leave earlier. I reckon it is because of the great outdoor opportunities such as an after work surf or family time and using the daylight as much as you can.
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Bridget is a New Zealander who has lived and worked as a diplomat in Singapore and India. After experiencing all facets of the relocation experience, she founded Mobile to work with private individuals moving to NZ and leading local and international businesses bringing in offshore talent. bridget@mobile-relocation.com
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