Arrogant and superior attitude towards junior staff
Overall degrading experience as a working professional coming from the private sector with substantial work history and skills
No respect towards working professionals coming from a different field rather than political science/international relations
Huge cost cuts in hiring (on demand by the Member States) and therefore limited job opportunities
Jump on demand: constant brown-nosing and desperate “pushing” by junior staff to grant them a short-term contract extension. Don’t do it, the dragging along is disgusting and you will not be able to plan your life long-term
Low energies and productivity level, general atmosphere is to avoid actual work and all they do is drink coffee and write emails to sort out their own internal processes
Pro-activity and high work ethics are frowned upon
Colleagues are very work shy
Colleagues complaint when projects were executed and required additional work hours, which are normal in private sector
The colleagues are not professionals in their respective fields but more than often “project managers” with a limited skill set. Frustrating and often chaotic execution. Unprofessional
Team Leader/advisors will not know what a development plan is
Majority of people are political scientists or have studied international relations at LSE/College of Europe and are too arrogant to expand their horizons. They are resistant to fresh, new ideas and have very closed minds.
Level of English of some colleagues is desirable
Run down offices, old, carpet, one water fountain for the entire building, small kitchens are a catastrophe
Overpriced canteen and low quality food, no discounts for trainees/interimaires
They do not produce any work themselves, they “handle” external contractors for executing the projects
Very bureaucratic, it is not allowed to make own decisions and you have to ask permission to actually breath
Degrading attitude, arrogance and low work moral/ethics yet constant pressure to stay in the EU institutions
Hire only if a position is available and you have to undergo an IQ test which is based on your ability to fast clicking and not on your actual competence & work experience
The preparation books for the IQ test cost 200 EUR
Colleagues regularly abuse the generous annual leave/childcare allowance and some can’t even work a single full work week without taking time off
Long work hours until 6pm
When work from home, you’re often just “on call” rather than given tasks
Life/People who do not work at the EU Institutions do “not exist”
You get completely consumed by the EU Commission and the daily dramas, there is little time to actually switch off and get emotionally a distance to it
