Business Builder: New Job in England? Do NOT Bring Gifts!

Congratulations you have a new job in a new English-speaking culture. My first piece of advice is do not bring gifts with you! I have lived in other cultures where it is common and recommended to bring small gifts when you start a new job.

In the UK, we usually keep our working life and home life quite separate. We will naturally, over the course of time, make a friend or two at work, but we are not expected to be part of a happy “family” with our colleagues, or spend much time together outside of the working day.

Bringing gifts on your first day is usually seen as someone trying to buy friendship and respect. Friendship and respect are expected to be earned over a longer period of time. If you are like me and your default is to be friendly and approachable instantly, you might want to try and step back a little when you are new. It is expected that you will be a little quiet and reserved. I am neither of those things and I have trouble in new jobs!

What are people expected to do on their first day in your culture?