When I said Principal International is separate from the US companies, I meant it. Some departments have a good working relationship with US counterparts, but it doesn't amount to much.
There's no transfer program and little opportunities for advancement. Pay is mediocre; I've been offered twice my current salary by other companies 3 times during my 2-year tenure. I suppose it says something about the company in that I didn't accept the competing job offers, but my decision had to do with false expectations. The company has a nice attitude towards married couples and working mothers, and that's great, but it offers nothing to those who aren't working mothers. There's some training courses, but they don't amount to much. The company will never pay or help you in higher studies, nor offer attractive benefits to young, unmarried people.
Working part-time is fine, but forget about stuff like working from home.
The company has a no-nonsense, down-to-earth attitude. Everyone knows what their job is and what they're expected to do. There isn't much interest in innovation. Every workplace says it's open to changing things, but those who give attention, encouragement or a budget for it are rare. Principal isn't among those rare companies.
It's not a bad company, but there's just not much to keep you in it unless you treasure the ability to keep a nice work/personal life balance. You're not going to get anywhere.
