joeyb

Hiya,

Just one quick question - how do you find working with the Aussies? :scared:
Do you have any experiences you can share. Hubbie is a Brickie and is just wondering what it is like working with the Aussies on-site.
Generally, building-related or not, do they like POMs or do they think we are just going to Oz and taking their work?

Cheers

Jo

wafoo1

Had no trouble at all,once they understand your accent,if you have a Northern one you'll struggle!
Sense of humour needs refining they don't get British Humour

walla

I work in human services and found my colleagues to have a sense of humour at about 80% of mine

They love TV programmes like Little Britain and Phoenix Nights.

Very sarcastic but so are the Brits I work with too....

And I have Geordie accent, it was a struggle at first but I've learned to slow down my speach and I've sent them web links to the Geordie language which was a laugh in itself

podgypossum

I'm about the same as you Walla

80% of the time we giggle and laugh all day... now and again they stare blankly but just laugh at me anyway.. i have to say that the crowd i work with are the friendliest i ever had the pleasure to work with either here, UK or NZ!!

pako

I work in west London with over 20 aussies and kiwi's, we all have a great laugh and share the same sense of humour...I find most of the Aussies are a lot more relaxed than the UK staff...they are always more friendly, I don't know why that is....
...in my industry there's a shortage of qualified workers...without the Aussies and Kiwi's we would be in serious trouble...we're glad that they take the UK jobs...however I'm not an aussie brickie so can't help to much!!

just my observations ...

walla

another thing too, I think it would be rather boring if the Aussies had the same sense of humour as the Brits.... may as well stay in the UK if you want the same old same old....

ABCDiamond

We need to learn their sense of humour too, it caught me out a few times in my early days

walla

I'd go with that PP, they've welcomed me with open arms, good on them

PommieLeague

I tend to find them no problems. They wind me up, I wind them up. I tell them they are the Poms (convicts) and not us.

Sense of humour is similar IMO. Aussies hate losing at sport, so whenever a British sporting team like England soccer, GB rugby league or England cricket win, rub it in!!

podgypossum

Just 4 rules seem to get me by in most situations including work...

1. Be honest and sincere

2. Be upfront but relaxed

3. Be very easy going

4. NEVER stick yourself on a pedestal..you'll get knocked off very quickly

DagBoy

I will file that away as a useful strategy, just in case it ever happens

Cheers,

DagBoy

Amazulu

Aussies have a sense of humour, I find it different to UK humour though.

The put down is a part of the Aussie character. If they do it to you, give it back with interest & then some. Be relentless. If they get on top, they'll never let up.

Aussies love to dish it up, but are not good at taking it back, I say give it back to them with a cherry on top. Again be relentless.

Wind them up at every opportunity. They are going to do it to you, so do it to them first After all, winding Aussies up is one of life's great sports & is a real pleasure because they bite so easily.