Midwest Manners
Your Interning Where?
Heavens, They're So Polite
In just a few months, law students, business school students and undergrads will flock to cities everywhere and begin the first jobs of their professional lives. The smartest interns and summer associates will choose their summer locale based upon the professional opportunities a prospective employer offers. But who can criticize the young adult who chooses a location that speaks to their personal interests or temperament. It’s a summer job, after all. If wind-surfing is someone's passion, Denver may not be the right place for them to intern.
Though I’ve now lived happily in NYC for nearly five years, I’ve told loads of young professionals that had I moved to the Big Apple right out of undergrad or law school, this metropolis would have chewed me up and spit me out. At that time in my life, I wasn’t prepared for Manhattan’s pace and intensity.
Though I now regularly move at break-neck speed, last week, during a client meeting in Chicago, I was reminded that other locations operate under different mores.
Early last Thursday, I headed into a skyscraper right off the river in downtown Chicago. As I stepped onto the sidewalk, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, a bike messenger zoomed around the corner. To avoid a collision, I quickly took one step back. At which point a very surprising thing happened: The messenger jumped off his bike and said, “My bad, I’m sorry.”
It was a good reminder that wherever an intern or summer associate lands, they’re likely to encounter different manners and rules of business etiquette. In Houston and Atlanta, I still encounter gentlemen of all ages who open doors for ladies. In Los Angeles, I regularly meet with professionals who dress more conservatively than one might expect for southern California. And in Chicago, I’m now prepared to meet with exceedingly polite messengers.
What Do You Need to Know?
When looking for that first job, interns, summer associates and new hires should consider the temperament of a particular city, including its manners.
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