Limited professional development, no careers, salaries only going downhill
Pros
Satisfaction in helping to build Europe, multinational work environment, opportunity to improve language skills, good leave entitlement, some people may enjoy Brussels (others not so much).
Cons
Weak corporate culture, in many areas lack of visible leadership, management tends to shirk responsibility and brush off criticism. Limited training and mobility. No induction program for new staff. Terrible career prospects, employees should have no expectation of middle management responsibility before late 40s/50s. Situation likely to get even worse with current negotiations on the Staff Regulations. Deep cuts in 2004 means that salaries for new employees are not competitive with many of the richer member states (although old staff have kept their generous salaries). In the current fraught political environment, another severe drop in salaries (>20%) can be expected. Work often subject to whim of member states.
