Pros
- Talented and hardworking colleagues who supported each other through challenges.
- Opportunities to develop skills quickly due to the fast pace and variety of projects.
- Exposure to high-profile projects that could be exciting when given the right resources.
- Work-life balance was surprisingly reasonable, though it depended on the team.
- Some leaders genuinely cared and tried to improve things, even if larger systemic issues made change difficult.
Cons
- Disorganized leadership and shifting priorities—one hand didn’t know what the other was doing, and projects were frequently paused to make room for new ones, only to be dumped back on employees as urgent, high-priority crises.
- Lack of accountability from senior leadership—instead of providing clear direction, senior leaders often bypassed the chain of command, assigning work directly to employees without informing their managers.
- Constant moving goalposts—expectations and responsibilities changed mid-project, making success difficult to define and achieve.
- Job descriptions weren’t stable—roles and responsibilities were redefined without input, setting employees up for failure rather than growth.
- Lack of recognition and support—hard work often went unnoticed, and employee concerns about workload and priorities weren’t always addressed.