Pros
Decent salary: Could be a strong point, though it's always relative; great for some, underwhelming for others depending on expectations and cost of living. Banking perks (loans, mortgages, etc.): If you're hired directly, you might get access to employee benefits through the bank. But again, it depends, contractors (externals) don’t see any of that. Possibility of being hired directly by ING: In theory, if you’re an external, there’s a chance to be brought on board as a full employee after some time… in theory. In practice, some people have been “waiting for their turn” for over 10 years.
Cons
Excessive bureaucracy and pointless admin work: Too much time wasted on non-value-adding processes. Low technical level among some engineers: Slows down progress and compromises servers. Developers who expect you to fix their poorly written code: Lack of ownership and weak technical standards. Toxic environment: Poor communication, lack of team support, and pressure handled badly.
