Pros
My time at the British Council has been bittersweet. As many other reviewers will mention, it's the people that keep you coming back. You truly feel part of a wider family and there is always a welcome for you wherever you are in the world. While the mission is somewhat confusing from an external perspective (Government body? Cultural institute? Language School?) you do feel like you are genuinely contributing to something worthwhile, whether you are frontline or support. Pros: * The people - genuinely friendly and welcoming * The mission * The international element - horizon broadening travel if you are lucky enough to get it * In theory, work-life balance, but this depends entirely on who your manager and department is
Cons
There are serious health warnings that come with this organisation. There is a genuine need for change in many areas. Over the years, many highly paid experts and external consultants have been brought in to fix things, only to find that the organisation is not ready or willing to accept many of their proposals. Said highly paid people move on, only for a fresh push to get things fixed a few years later. Change fatigue syndrome kicks in, making staff that have been around for a while very cynical to any fresh attempts to make things better. Couple this with a chronic inability to make a decision and stick to it and you'll find that staff will either hang on and put up with it, hoping for something or someone to magically come along and make things better, or get out as quickly as they realise what's up. Internal politics also play a major role in wearing people down. Nepotism is rife, and it becomes a game of who, rather than what you know. Speak out of turn and you will be shot down, often in public. Dare to break out of your silo and you will be exiled from any form of decision making influence. There will be exceptions to these behaviours, where Heads have worked out a way of shielding their staff from the constant negativity, but good luck in finding whether your manager-to-be is one of the good guys before you start. Cons: * Internal politics, nepotism and a lack of decision making ability * Horrendous IT and systems - just mention the desk booking system to UK staff and see their faces drop * Relationship with UK government adds an extra layer of bureaucracy to an already complex picture * Outside of the UK, huge differences in salary and package between UK and locally-appointed staff leads to resentment and a lingering stench of colonialism