Vantaggi
The team of account managers & support staff are super friendly, good to work with on a daily occasion. Away from the stresses of the job, they are a good support unit to rely on away from the pressures written below. Many are young (1-2 years out of university). The location is also good, situated at the heart of the City in really nice & smart offices. The work is interesting and stimulating. It looks good on your CV, working for a global start-up, and talking to big companies around the world.
Svantaggi
Significant bureaucacy hinders much of the work that you do. Nearly everything must be signed off and/or discussed with senior management. It's made worse under the illusion that you have autonomy in what you do. While that is understandable, the need to document every single thing takes a lot out of your time. Management are really cut-throat and arbitrary. One thing is said, another is done, under the pretense that the 'company is growing'. The same soundbites are said over and over again to reassure direction, though this simply isn't the case. On many occasions (too many to count), you walk in on a Monday morning, and there is change across the table - either your work process is changed, somebody is fired etc. There is no fluidity to your work. While professionally, management are suspect - it is worse personally. There is always an aura of distrust from above, which makes you feel that you are worth nothing. After more than a year in the job, you feel that this will never change. They always ask you about whether your CV is up elsewhere, asking you to 'rat' on colleagues, and on a few occasions, being downright nasty to some employees. In the building, there is a rooftop available to all employees of every company based in the building. You do not have access, for no specified reason - the only company in the building not to do so. There are no benefits in addition to remuneration. No pension contribution schemes, no healthcare, no season ticket loans, etc that you may see in most other roles. As remuneration is not nearly as high for similar roles, especially given you are working in Central London, many people become quickly disillusioned. It is not a place you feel you can remain for very long. You feel that you cannot question or say anything to management, even if it is for the benefit of your work with clients. You also feel that you cannot criticise in any case, as you will be reported by an individual. The management are very confrontational, and do not like/cannot take criticism. This shouldn't be the case in a rising company, but it makes you feel like you're in school. In any other company, criticism breeds good change for the benefit of all.