Santander London CAUTION

I joined Santander after being sold what sounded like a strong development opportunity with transaction exposure, credit analysis, structuring and stakeholder interaction. In reality, the role was materially misrepresented.

HR’s lack of transparency was the most serious issue. Before I started, the local team had already changed significantly, with key members having left well before my start date ( 2 months director level positions above) . This was not made clear during the recruitment process or disclosed at a point when I could properly reassess the opportunity. As a result, I joined a team setup that was very different from what had been presented, without being given the information needed to make an informed decision.

The day-to-day job was very different from what had been described. Instead of meaningful transaction work, much of it was administrative, coordination-heavy and process-driven, with limited development or technical exposure.

HR, onboarding and communication were poor throughout. I was effectively left working without the local team, support structure or day-to-day guidance that had been implied. The role felt poorly planned, isolating and stressful.

Rather than feeling like someone brought in to develop and contribute, I felt like a number brought in to fill a gap after the team had already changed significantly.

I would advise future candidates to not go to SANTANDER.. Do not rely on vague assurances or high-level descriptions, especially if the role depends on a specific team structure being in place.