For students, graduates or young professionals undertaking an internship program in Colombia, the experience is filled with new challenges and exciting opportunities. Navigating the cultural nuances & understanding local Colombian culture successfully will significantly improve your internship experience in Colombia.
Here we aim to provide you with tips to approach your internship with enthusiasm and confidence by better understanding what cultural nuances to expect during an internship program in Colombia.
Understanding Colombian Culture
Colombian people are known for their warmth and friendliness, which can make your internship experience feel welcoming. Colombians often greet one another with a hug, a handshake or a kiss on the cheek, reflecting their affectionate nature. Colombia is a country rich in diversity and history, and each area has its own unique customs, traditions, and social norms that influence interpersonal interactions.
Top Tip: Embracing this custom will help you forge strong relationships with your colleagues, fostering a sense of community in the workplace. As a minimum, you should be greeting co-workers in the morning with a ‘buenos días’ and a goodbye in the afternoon with a ‘hasta mañana’ o ‘hasta luego’.
Language & Communication Style
The official language in Colombia is Spanish. While many professionals have a decent level of English, not all are comfortable speaking with native English speaks and many simply prefer to stick to Spanish. Familiarity with the local language is a huge benefit and even basic Spanish phrases can help build rapport not only with your co-workers but also locals you might meet outside of your internship. A willingness to try and speak the local language also demonstrates respect for Colombian culture and a willingness to embrace their culture.
Understanding the communication style is equally important. Colombians are generally more expressive and often use non-verbal cues to convey meaning. It’s not uncommon for discussions to include humour and storytelling, which helps to build relationships and set the tone for meetings. Be prepared for a friendly approach, where small talk is often the starting point for any conversation. At first, this may feel like a deviation, however this is very much the culture at places of work across Colombia.
Top Tip: Embracing small talk will enhance your relationships and foster relationships with your co-workers. The significantly more direct communication style found in many Western cultures could be considered somewhat impolite and unfriendly.
Building Relationships & Rapport with Colleagues
A rule-of-thumb in Colombia across most workplaces is that Colombians want to get to know their colleagues on a personal level. Building relationships is part of the work culture and it is commonplace to spend time in getting to know your colleagues outside of formal work environments. While this may be uncomfortable for some, it is completely normal in Colombia to attend social gatherings frequently. These interactions can make your internship more enjoyable and rewarding.
Top Tip: Accepting invitations to a social gathering, team lunch and/or coffee is advisable at least on the first occasion to demonstrate an interest and willingness to build relationships with your colleagues.
Sharing meals with colleagues or even being invited to a family gathering not only enhances your experience but also allows you to delve deeper into the local culture. Food - anywhere in the world - can be a conversation starter and a wonderful way to break the ice.
Being Punctual: A Cultural Perspective
Colombian time is more flexible than what you are used to. Colombians have a more laid-back approach to punctuality, and arriving a little late to meetings or social gatherings is often considered to be okay and not necessarily thought of negatively. Events or meetings may not start on time and it can be common for things to overrun their allotted time. Obviously, punctuality is not completely overlooked as it shows respect for others’ time, but it is certainly more laid-back in Colombia. A window of up to 30 minutes will not be considered rude.
Top Tip: Embracing this flexibility around time will ensure you do not become frustrated nor consider others to be unprofessional nor rude, helping you to better integrate into the local culture and avoid imposing your cultural standards on others.
Embrace the Cultural Experience
Based on the feedback of hundreds of interns in Colombia, we can state with confidence that an internship in Colombia is not just about the professional development but also the cultural immersion experience and the significant personal growth. Immersing yourself in a new culture will build confidence, expand your cross-cultural understanding and increase your global awareness, giving you the opportunity to better understand your cultural values and beliefs in a new context.
Top Tip: Embracing local customs, culture, traditional food & festivities will deepen your understanding of the day-to-day life in Colombia, help you to step out of your comfort zone and live like a local rather than a tourist.
Stepping out of your comfort zone is not easy, but a challenge well-worth undertaking. You will push the boundaries of what you are capable of and grow in independence, giving you confidence to take on challenges in the future.
In any event of cultural misunderstandings, we advise asking questions and seeking clarification rather than assuming intentions. Embracing a new culture with enthusiasm and confidence is key to making the most out of any experience abroad!
If you are interested in interning abroad in Colombia, please contact a member of our expert team.
This blog post was written & published by Intern Colombia on 28 January 2025
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