Pros
The work was challenging, and my colleagues were excellent collaborators. I enjoyed my time there and achieved meaningful success across several initiatives. Management valued my input, and I delivered effective solutions to complex problems. Although the pay was below average, the role helped me develop a wide range of new skills. I appreciated coming in each day without knowing exactly what I would be working on, because it exposed me to new technologies and methodologies. I also found ways to improve the organization’s processes and technology by introducing new approaches. For a while, I felt I was making a meaningful difference.
Cons
As mentioned in part one, the more I accomplished, the more responsibilities I was assigned. I was managing five to six highly complex programs within a standard 40-hour workweek, which quickly became unsustainable. The organization often paired praise for strong performance and leadership with additional workload, creating a cycle in which success led to more demands. Contractors were brought on and let go with little consistency, and overtime was not compensated despite expectations to work beyond regular hours.