Assistant Programme Manager ( now Research Officer)
Pros
Due to the high turnover, there are opportunities to apply for programme manager positions.
Cons
Internal opportunities available to those that management favour. If you do not fit the incestuous mould of this workplace you will be blatantly outed. Intimidation and harassment is rife by managers toward their staff. If reported, accounts of bullying behaviour are swept under the carpet by management and HR. Probation periods of 6 months are commonly extended by management for a further 3 months with unrealistic goals to meet. Set goals reflect personal biases by management towards selected employees that they take a dislike to. Unproductive use of assistant programme manager’s (now research officer’s) time by countless, repetitive and ineffective meetings, where programme managers attend unprepared and act disrespectfully towards assistant programme managers. Be prepared to be forced to attend social gatherings outside of workplace time, which one always must pay for and then are castigated if you do not attend. Don’t bother putting in extra hours or taking on extra work as it will not be acknowledged by management, whilst praise is flamboyantly bestowed upon management favourites. A culture of blame is rife by PM’s and senior PM’s. You are encouraged to compete with your team members and micro-managed under a process of surveillance techniques and mind games. Mentoring and training, which is depicted in previous posts is non-existent and from your first day you are expected to teach yourself via online instructions which are outdated and unclear. Asking for help or clarification is frowned upon. Empowerment, as mentioned in a previous post is only for those that ridicule and bully lower paid staff as to feed their over inflated egos and pretend they’re doing more than glorified administrative work. Many positions are filled by people that are known to staff or immediate family members. In thirty years of working in many countries this is the worst company, without a doubt that I have worked for. If you want to be treated respectfully, enjoy a friendly and supportive working atmosphere whilst progressing in your chosen career then look elsewhere.
