Marcus Behrends relocated from Germany to NZ three years ago, swapping from KPMG in Berlin to PwC New Zealand’s Strategy and Architecture team.
After much learning along the way, Marcus shares his insights for success in the Kiwi work culture.
1. Expect to have to adapt
Coming to NZ from Germany, brought challenges and I had to consciously focus on adapting to those. Familiarising myself with a new city, far away from friends and family, no social/work network - my partner and I had to start from scratch in every aspect of life and work.
Fitting into a new environment requires an open mindset and a willingness to proactively engage in situations that might support you to build your life. This can range from going along to every work social event to build your network, to asking what seems like 100s of questions a day when you first arrive!
2. Learn from others
The most valuable advice I received was to listen to my colleagues and peers and observe how they interact and behave in their work environment. I built upon and focused on what I saw was different or new, and this really helped me fit in quickly.
I also talked to friends within my expat circle, as many of them went through similar experiences.
3. Understand the NZ business environment
Some expats feel they are expected to be more of a generalist than a specialist in NZ compared to overseas. This is an interesting point and very relevant in my current progression within the Big4. Given the scale of New Zealand’s market, it is favourable to be a generalist as there are just limited numbers of companies across a handful of sectors.
When you take a step back and look at the full picture of the Big4’s demand, the common Kiwi career path is starting out as a generalist, after a couple of years you develop special skills and become an expert in that domain. As your career progresses into senior levels, you have to be across multiple projects that require a broader skill set that will be needed from generalists in a limited market.
4. Speak up for what you need
Flexibility, freedom, and autonomy are important to me in my work environment in order to accommodate my needs such as exercising, catching up with friends or looking after my wellbeing. Being in a safe and trusted working environment helps me to express those needs as it is important to communicate with the team you work for.
In New Zealand I’ve experienced a strong shift in Big4 culture to a people centric-company mindset, with flexibility for individuals to accommodate their personal life commitments. My work is project based, so it is important to keep up the communication and develop a trusted relationship with the project team – speak up and you will be heard and get the support you need.
Finally, go, explore, and create your own experiences in different work environments as every company is different. I enjoy working in consulting as it provides a great opportunity to connect with people and get to know Kiwi businesses.
If you’d like to read more from Marcus, check out his tips on 4 things you should know about Kiwi work culture.
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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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