Avantages
Some nice team members. Some interesting perks. Some interesting projects every so often.
Inconvénients
There's nepotism around every corner. Some very hopeless and untalented people sitting in important roles thanks to said nepotism. I bumped into people crying in the toilets almost daily - I was told by managers that this was completely normal, and in fact - something to be expected when working at the BBC. Now if that isn't a red flag... Career progression is at a snail's pace - if at all. And good luck getting a credit for all your hard work - I know other people who only got their first credit after working on shows for THREE YEARS. The culture is toxic, overly competitive, and soul-destroying - if you don't fit the typical "BBC box" you are ostracised and bullied - which is obviously completely ridiculous and backwards. You'd think the company should be encouraging creativity and diversity in order to make the best programmes possible. Instead they just want a room full of "yes-men" - and if you aren't exactly like everyone else, they want nothing to do with you. The majority of managers are unsupportive, patronizing, rude, two-faced, or just plain horrible. I heard horror stories of certain all-female teams that would treat newcomers - especially other women - terribly. I even saw this behavior first hand. It was like something you'd expect to see back in high school, not in a "professional" working environment. One manager took me aside at one point and told me that in order to succeed at the BBC, I should never have friends, get married, or start a family. Basically - sign over your entire life to the place and maybe you'll get somewhere. I wish I was joking. If you're higher up in the company you may have a nicer experience - but if you're in one of the junior roles expect to be treated like dirt (and expected to be thankful for the experience). I met a number of runners and interns during my year at the BBC and they were all burnt out and deeply upset at how they were being treated. They felt like they weren't supported or appreciated in the slightest. The abundance of red tape kills creativity and originality. I often worked shifts until 1am with no overtime pay. There's a general arrogance of the company - due to its history and size - that it's perfect and can do no wrong. To the company - you're just a replaceable cog, and you're made aware of that fact at every opportunity. Money wasting like there's no tomorrow. It honestly made me sick - especially considering that everything is funded by the taxpayer. If people knew about the huge waste of money I saw first-hand on a daily basis - the license fee would be cancelled tomorrow. Within the rest of the industry, the BBC has a god-awful reputation - the general advice is, work there for a year and then leave - which is exactly what I did. All in all, I hated every day I spent at the BBC - and came out of the experience with a lack of confidence, anxiety issues, and a general distaste of corporations. Luckily I got out and found nicer companies and people to work with.