David’s Honest Take on Life as a Graduate at PortSwigger

Starting Your Career at PortSwigger: A Grad’s Honest review 

If you’re at the start of your career and wondering where you’ll be stretched, supported, and still enjoy the day-to-day, here’s my honest take on life as a graduate at PortSwigger. I joined as a business generalist and, nearly two years in, I’ve seen most corners of the company up close. What follows isn’t a sales pitch. It’s what has actually helped me learn fast, enjoy my work, and feel part of something good. 

Why PortSwigger worked for me 

I came in with raw skills and a lot of curiosity. From day one I was paired with a development coach who met me weekly, helped me set clear goals, and adapted onboarding to my learning style and pace. That meant I was stretched without being overwhelmed. I always knew where to focus next, and I always had someone trusted to sense-check my approach. It sounds simple, but it’s rare: specific feedback, given kindly, in time to use it. 

Learning here isn’t an annual training budget or an e-learning login. It’s built into how we work together. I sit near people who are brilliant at what they do. I watch, ask, try, ship, and improve. When you can get unstuck in five minutes at a teammate’s desk, your cycles get shorter, your confidence grows, and your skills compound. 

Rotation: breadth before depth 

As a business generalist I started in our Growth Tribe, including time with the Special Operations team, then rotated across almost every team in that area over about 10–12 months before moving into the Culture team. The rotations gave me two things I couldn’t have got any other way. 

First, context. You see how different teams think and how their work fits together. You learn what “good” looks like in marketing, operations, data, culture, and more, not second-hand but by doing the work. That context makes your decisions better. It also makes you more useful to others because you can translate across teams. 

Second, self-knowledge. Rotations are a clear way to test fit. You’ll discover what gives you energy, where you add the most value, and which skills you want to deepen. Maybe you choose to specialise. Maybe you keep operating broadly. Either way, you’re deciding with real data from your own experience, not guesswork. 

A side benefit is momentum. Switching projects and teammates keeps things fresh. You get regular new challenges without losing the safety net of a supportive culture. For me, that mix—variety plus guidance—kept me learning at a pace I didn’t expect.

Kindness first, performance always 

If I had to summarise the culture, I’d use a few words: kind, empathetic, supportive, high-performing, collaborative, and genuinely fun. Those aren’t just pieces of corporate propaganda and jargon. They’re core elements of being a Swigger, which show up in and around the everyday life of a Swigger. 

Kindness and empathy are non-negotiable. From the recruitment process onward, people act like people. Off day? Ill? You’re told to rest and come back strong. No one asks you to “push through.” Boundaries matter. Core working hours are respected. That baseline of care makes high performance sustainable because you’re not constantly running on fumes. This is one of the key, foundational, elements that sets PortSwigger apart from other companies, the people actually care about you. 

High performance without heroics 

High performance here isn’t about heroics or vague pressure. We use a High Performance framework that spells out what excellence looks like. It gives language and guardrails for expectations, and it shows up in quarterly reviews. You’ll see where you’re strong, where to stretch next, and how that links to your goals. The intent is growth, not stress. It’s steady pressure in the right places, backed by support when you need it. 

I’ve personally found it incredibly helpful when trying to wade through my own development. Being early in my career, it wasn’t clear which areas I should focus on, or even why. The framework, combined with mentorship, gave me clarity while still leaving room for flexibility. Development here isn’t a box-ticking exercise. It’s a genuine process of learning, supported by people who want to see you succeed. 

The result is a rising tide. You’re surrounded by people who are both capable and generous with their time. That combination lifts your standards without making you feel alone. It’s easier to take on something slightly beyond you when you know someone will help you calibrate. 

Flat, collaborative, and social 

The structure is quite flat, which makes collaboration the default. We work across teams often. If a problem needs a different lens, you pull in the right people quickly. Work flows to where it can be solved, not where an org chart says it should sit. That makes the company feel nimble, and it means you get a lot of practice communicating clearly with different disciplines. 

It’s also a social place in the best way. One of our sayings is, “If it’s not fun, we’re not doing it right.” That spirit shows up in team rituals, company sessions, and impromptu moments during the week. People are warm and funny. Laughter is normal. It’s easier to do hard work when you actually like the people you do it with. 

As a grad, you’re trusted early. You get real ownership with a safety net. You’re encouraged to frame problems, propose approaches, and see projects through, with experienced people on hand to guide you. That balance—autonomy plus backing—builds confidence quickly.

Why on-site makes a difference here 

Remote work has clear upsides. I understand the appeal. For me, being on-site at PortSwigger has been a clear net positive.

Speed is the first reason. A five-minute desk chat beats a five-day message thread. You can untangle assumptions, draw something on a whiteboard, and leave aligned. Decisions come faster because context is shared in real time. 

Ambient context is the second reason. You pick up helpful signals just by being around the work: the shape of a problem two desks over, the constraints another team is juggling, or a new idea being tested. That background awareness helps you make better calls without scheduling a meeting for everything. 

Serendipity is the third reason. Coffee chats and hallway conversations often unlock solutions you wouldn’t find alone. I’ve bumped into someone from a different team, described a knotty problem in passing, and left with a better approach. You can’t plan those moments, but you can make them more likely by being present. 

Great amenities 

The on-site setup supports all of this. We’re lucky. Breakfast and lunch are free if you want them. The kitchen team runs a four-week rotating menu with cooked options, a solid salad bar, and made-to-order sandwiches. There’s always something I’m happy to eat, and after nearly two years I’m not bored of the food. Good meals remove small daily decisions and keep energy steady in the afternoon. It seems minor until you notice how much more you get done when you aren’t hungry or hunting for lunch. 

There’s also an on-site gym with showers and quality toiletries. You can work out before work, at lunch, or after. Instructor-led classes run most days, Pilates on Mondays, Box Fit on Tuesdays, HIIT on Wednesdays, Yoga on Thursdays, and the occasional sound bath Yoga on Fridays. It’s easy to fit movement into your week, which helps your focus and your mood. 

None of these perks define the culture, but they do enable it. When practical needs are handled well, you have more attention for the work that matters and more energy for the people around you.

Social clubs and societies 

I’ve found our societies a simple, low-pressure way to have fun with other Swiggers outside day jobs. They make it easy to meet people from across the company, try new things, and switch your brain off after focused work. 

Chess society. I dip into tournaments and casual games with other chess fans. Some people play serious lines, others are learning. It’s relaxed, open to all levels, and a great midweek reset. Drop in for a single game or stay for a few. You always leave having learned something. 

5-a-Swig football. I’m a loyal member of our weekly kickabout. We self-organise 5–7-a-side matches on Thursdays after work, roughly 4–5 pm. Teams are mixed and friendly. The vibe is “have a run, have a laugh, no egos.” It’s a good workout, an easy way to meet new faces, and a highlight of the week. 

What I like most is how informal it all is. People start clubs when there’s interest, share a sign-up, and get going. No pressure to join every week. Come when you can, bring a friend, and enjoy time together that isn’t a meeting or a deadline. I’ve found it strengthens the friendships we’ve built through work, lets you meet people from other parts of the company you wouldn’t otherwise have spoken to.

How feedback and development actually work 

Feedback here is frequent, specific, and delivered with care. In 1:1s with my coach, in project reviews, and in casual conversations, I hear what worked, what didn’t, and what to try next. We connect feedback to the High Performance framework so it isn’t personal or vague. It’s actionable. That matters. Early in your career you don’t just need encouragement; you need to know exactly how to get better. I’ve found people here are good at that balance: positive intent, clear messages.

Development isn’t only vertical. If you want to deepen a skill, there’s room for that. If you want to broaden into a new area, rotations and cross-team projects create those chances. If you’re pragmatic and take initiative, sharing drafts early, asking good questions, and shipping small slices, you’ll get more responsibility because you’re showing that you’re interested, engaged, and willing to take on the challenge. 

What this has added up to for me 

I’ve experienced most parts of PortSwigger life: the coaching, the rotations, the feedback loops, the food, the gym, and the social side. I’ve genuinely enjoyed most days. I’ve learned faster than I expected. I’ve been supported when I needed it and challenged when I was ready. Being pragmatic is valued. Going above and beyond, whether to learn something new or to contribute more deeply, is encouraged and greatly appreciated. Another standout element of PortSwigger I’ve found refreshing is the lack of politics, we’re all working toward a shared goal, as a team, there’s no cliques or conspiracy, just shared visions and collaboration. 

If I’d started somewhere more hierarchical with fuzzier culture and less access to experienced people, I think my development would be a fraction of what it has been. Here, the combination of trust, clarity, and community lets you take bigger steps sooner and still feel safe enough to stretch into new areas.

Who tends to thrive here 

You’ll likely enjoy PortSwigger if you value both kindness and ambition. If you like working with others in person and want to learn. If you’re curious, pragmatic, and comfortable asking for help, and if you want real responsibility. None of those qualities require you to be loud or arrogant, one of the standout quotes from when I applied was “We’ll always prefer an anxious over-achiever over an arrogant genius.”.

A note on balance 

Sometimes “high-performing culture” gets confused with “always on.” That hasn’t been my experience here. The combination of respect for core hours, empathy on off days, and clear frameworks keeps things sustainable. There are busy weeks. There are also boundaries. The north star is growth over the long term, not burning bright for a quarter and fading out.

Closing thoughts

I still have moments where I catch myself thinking how lucky I am to have started here. Not because everything is perfect, no company is, but because the important parts line up: people who are kind and capable, clear expectations, real trust, and practical support that makes good work easier. It’s been a positive place for me to begin and to grow. 

If you’re a grad who wants autonomy with support, values in-person collaboration, and is happy to learn, PortSwigger is worth a look. You can build range through rotations, specialise when it makes sense, and develop faster than you’d expect, without losing yourself in the process. 

If that sounds like a fit, check the latest graduate roles and start a conversation. Ask direct questions. Share what you want to learn next. Bring your curiosity. You’ll be met with empathy, support, care, and work that matters. I’m looking forward to meeting you!!