Good for some corporate experience, networking, but the working conditions are deplorable
Pros
The company will have no problem in identifying me. I worked at TransPerfect Translations for 2.5 years. The following is my honest, unbiased opinion with no personal agenda- I had two positions here. Vendor manager and project coordinator. Vendor manager was good - i learned quite a bit, had a good team. I made some great connections with freelancers around the world, many of whom I am still in contact with. It was a bit monotonous, but overall, happy enough. Project manager was completely different, of which I will talk about below. 1. If you want a corporate career, this is a good way to get some experience 2. Multicultural, highly educated workforce - great for networking
Cons
1. TransPerfect systematically targets fresh or recent graduates who are eager to please and usually naive and gullible. This allows them to pay low salaries and push their new recruits beyond their limits. It was not uncommon to see female employees crying at their desks at 9pm or 10pm (once a week or every two weeks) 2. There are simply never enough project managers. This means that those that are there are given an unfeasibly high workload. Stress levels are nearly always high. 3. Management don't listen to employees. They are out of touch with what is happening on the ground and undoubtedly justify low morale / stressed employees with some excuse or other, blaming anyone and everyone but themselves 4. The Life Sciences department (40% of the Barcelona office) was changed into a military-like structure, with two newly appointed managers who micro-manage your every move and are constantly pushing you with new projects. It's akin to the old-style prison courtyard, where a watch tower was at its centre. There was usually no watchman in the tower. The tower was there to remind the prisoners that they were constantly being watched. That's what life science felt like ,with the 2 sentinels watching your every move. They themselves have pressure to perform. It all essentially comes down to the fact that there is way too much work.
