My time at MetLife UK so far
Pros
There’s a genuinely positive culture here—regardless of grade or level, people get along well, and there’s a real sense of team spirit. I’ve felt incredibly welcomed by my immediate team, which has made settling in so much easier. It’s also been lovely to hear encouraging feedback from other areas about the work I’ve been delivering. That kind of recognition really goes a long way. And while you don’t always get to choose your boss, I feel pretty lucky to have landed a great one. It makes a big difference knowing you’ve got someone supportive in your corner.
Cons
I’ve found myself feeling a bit frustrated with some of the projects lately—particularly with how things unfold on certain calls. There’s often a sense of misalignment, and at times, it feels like we’re all reading from different scripts. The way we work can be a bit convoluted, and it’s not always clear who’s steering the ship. There are definitely moments where egos seem to take up more space than ideas, and that can make collaboration tricky. Personally, I don’t always have a clear sense of what’s expected of me or when, so I tend to forge ahead solo and hope something useful lands. The volume of meetings and the constant swirl of jargon can be overwhelming, and I’ve noticed a tendency for requests to come in ad hoc—without much thought around impact or whether it’s actually the right move. It can feel like we’re reacting more than we’re planning. I also find Agile really difficult to understand and sometimes the PI is just so confusing.
