Pros
You can learn how to handle large amounts of stress and how to deal with rude customers. Also, since you're on your feet all day, it is good for becoming more active, almost like a paid diet program. The work schedule is also reasonably flexible.
Cons
1. You need to beg for breaks, and sometimes they forget to give you a break or reduce it. You need to get permission just to go to the restroom. 2. DSTs cannot work independently. You have to always follow the demands of the bossy phlebotomists. There are no exceptions, even if you are in the middle of doing another task that was assigned to you. Phlebotomists are de-facto bosses, and you’re just their slave. 3. All you do all day is stand, setting up and disconnecting the donation machines like a robot. 4. If you’re part time, they will make you take an hour (unpaid) lunch when it’s not busy or even tell you to go home early. There is no way to predict how much pay you’ll take home when they reduce your hours like this all the time. Sometimes they sent me home after working just 3 hours when I scheduled to work at least 6 hours. 5. The work schedule says 12-close (8hr), but the closing shift never ends at 8. Closing time is not fixed, and sometimes you can't leave until after 9. 6. You work 35-39 hours a week but you're still part-time without benefits. 7. Many donors are rude, smelly, or both. 8. If you’re a man, you are always tasked with heavy-lifting. 9. If you want phlebotomy training, you have to brown-nose the managers. They play favorites. 10. You receive way too little pay for the amount of work involved.
