A learning experience. I have worked at two locations and been with the company for a large number of years.
Pros
For the time I have been with the company, my pay is not bad. However, the overall pay rate is below the national average for this job type. The current starting pay is low, and they have reduced the ability to get good raises for cross-training to other areas. The environment is stressful and fast paced, though I enjoy that in a job. I have learned more than I ever expected working here. The training is on going and they are more than willing to help to ensure you understand what you are learning. Most of the employees, other than management, are more than helpful and look out for each other. The co-workers are what have kept me at this company this long. There are many great benefits offered to the employees other than medical coverage. However, management (or possibly corporate) is not good at communicating these. I have found most of them on my own, and when asking management about them they do not know what I am talking about. The company does offer good growth opportunities IF you have a bachelors degree - does not matter if it is related to the industry or not. The company used to be a good place to "work your way up". That is no longer the case. If you don't have a degree, you will be hard pressed to move up, regardless of your experience or years with the company. I have seen many employees not get promoted because they gave the position to someone "more qualified". Then it turns out that "more qualified" person has no experience in business, customer service, or health care, but has some crazy degree in sign language or something completely unrelated. If you have experience in the company and a degree, you can go far very quickly. Especially with the amazing amount of growth the company is having with opening new centers all over.
Cons
Let me first say, I have been with the company for a number of years, and worked at two different locations. There are pro's to the job, hence my tenure. However, there are many, many con's. Lately the con's have started to outweigh the pro's. Lets start with hours - the hours are either super early or late night. Weekends and holidays. I do not mind weekends or holidays, but after so many years with the company, I would think they would help out with allowing better hour opportunities. This is regulated by center management, which is another negative in my experience. I have worked at two locations, and been with three different center managers. Management in both locations have focused on the little things that would resolve themselves, and ignore the larger issues that need attention. They do not appreciate their staff, other than if they meet the threshold to not get attention to higher ups, and to make their bonuses. In the years I have worked for the company I have never received a thank you or a good job from a center manager (this does not include assistant managers). I have had GREAT assistant managers who have been more than willing to do what is necessary to make it a better working environment and a better experience for the donors. But every instance was held back by the center manager. This company would rather hire someone off the streets with an unrelated degree than to promote someone who has been with the company long term and knows the inner workings. This seems to be across the board with all corporate companies. I agree that schooling and education is important. But throwing someone into a management position that has not worked with the company and expecting them to deal efficiently with producing better processing times, employee retention, and address donor complaints does not work well. Management tends to let donors get away with anything - including threatening employees. Anything to get their plasma.
