🌍 Same Job, Different World: How Work Culture Abroad Can Surprise You

Depending on where you go — whether it’s Magaluf or Bali — the expectations, attitudes, and vibe around work can be completely different.

Here’s what no one really explains before you arrive: how where you are can completely shape how things work.

🔁 Fast-Paced vs Laid-Back

If you’re heading to Zante, Magaluf, or Ibiza, expect things to move fast from the moment you land. Trial shifts might be arranged the day you arrive. In Thailand and Bali, the pace is more relaxed. You might have a few days to settle before you even start work. But once you're in, flexibility is key — you could be doing a bit of everything, especially in guesthouses or hostels.

🧍‍♂️ Independence Matters

Wherever you go, employers expect you to get on with things. No one’s holding your hand. In Ibiza, it’s competitive — if you’re not pulling your weight, someone else will happily take your spot.

In Thailand and Bali, there's often less structure — which sounds great, until you realise you’ll need to figure a lot out yourself. Schedules change, plans shift, and you need to be adaptable.

🗣️ Communication Is a Skill You'll Learn Quickly

In Zante or Magaluf, most of your team (and customers) will speak English. But that doesn’t mean communication’s easy — you’re selling, promoting, organising, dealing with people at 2am. You’ll get good at reading a room fast.

In Bali or Thailand, there’s a language barrier with locals — so you pick up polite phrases and learn to use body language, tone, and patience to get by. Respect goes a long way.

👣 You’re Replacing Routine With Experience

Back home, jobs might mean stability. Working abroad is more about opportunity. In Ibiza, that might be working behind the scenes of huge events. In Bali, it could be helping run a yoga retreat. In Zante, maybe you’re guiding a bar crawl with 200 people.

It’s not just a job — it’s a crash course in confidence, decision-making, and thinking on your feet. What you learn doesn’t fit on a CV — but it sticks with you.

✅ Final Thought

No two places run the same — and that’s kind of the point. What works in Magaluf won’t in Bali. What’s normal in Thailand might feel mad in Ibiza. The sooner you let go of expectations, the quicker you’ll settle in.

Wherever you end up, showing up with the right attitude will take you further than any experience.