Gates Foundation reviews

It is more likely that you will work alongside people who are just trying to do their job and stay under the radar. Too many reorgs, too many bad managers, and too much political lobbying for too few promotions from within the organization. Program staff can only get so far and then they just get more work and more responsibility dumped on them and support staff have nowhere to go. When opportunities do arise, it is always a cattle call and survival of the fittest. The most politically well-connected win the day. Skill, experience, competency, commitment don't always mean anything.

-The mandate is always expanding, but human resources are closely capped. Always asked to do more with less. -Happiness here really depends on your team. A few teams are really well-managed, and those folks are very happy. But that's the minority. -Really top-heavy structure that focuses on bringing in top talent at the top but does not work to grow their people from within. -Many technical experts put into management positions that are not in their skill set. -Tendency to gloss over the root causes of staff dissatisfaction by having more "team-building" and parties, but not fixing fundamental flaws. -Program assistant and contract staff are often treated wretchedly. We hire all these bright, enthusiastic kids in their early 20s with MAs already who think being a PA is a foot in the door here, but it isn't, and then they are so unhappy in assistant roles.