Pros
- very bright/ professional people, in some departments you will be working with top professionals in the field accross the whole EU - very international working environment - the cause of the EU is absolutely unique - great colleagues with different backgrounds from all over the EU -you can find yourself speaking three or more different languages within your team, every day - meetings are usually conducted in English (this has changed in the last decade; FR was more prominent then) or EN/FR - everyone makes sure everyone can follow and understand - great missions - work locations not onlt Brussels/Lux but within the EU28 and also 194 Delegations worldwide (the EU is the biggest donor of international aid) - flat hierarchy, but depends on the DG (department) - Brussels has changed a lot for the better in the last decade, there are many green parks (some of them are rather forests), great food, many cultural events, many cool places to go out & meet people; it is a very pleasant place to live in, esp with kids & very easy to get to London/Amsterdam/Paris/Koln (by fast train 2-2.5hrs in all directions)
Cons
- there is no talent management policy; you come in and are left on your own - political interventions into our work...but that is typical for public sector - underperformers are difficult to deal with - some people abuse the sick leaves, there is not much managers can do - the Unions have way too many representants, mainly very high ranking (=overpaid) "old-style" (i.e. don't speak English) officials who are heavily involved in politics; they only concentrate on issues which might bring them points for the next elections and are always quick to attack/ refuse any changes