Pearson Associate Editor reviews

Term of project positions, TOPs, are exactly that. Most low to mid level positions always start as these contract positions. It is the pathway to becoming a permanent staff member, but budgets often stand in the way. You are strung along for a year or two and then can easily be shown the door.

Despite being a solid employee--I was given the overflow work from other PMs because I could work more efficiently than some, and I was also given the more complicated projects because I could manage them thoroughly and under tight deadlines--I was stymied whenever I attempted to discuss the possibility of moving up. AND, regardless of my good work, I received only the same 3% raise as everyone else at my level. Hard work was NOT rewarded, there was no reason for anyone to attempt to be more than mediocre. And when I left, they didn't even open a discussion of trying to get me to stay. I never felt valued, and I wasn't the only one. Turnover was high, and the best people were the first to leave when they realized they were going to get nowhere by staying.