Great to be a part of Dow again after working for Big Oil
Pros
-Safety is of most importance, and I can vouch that leaders are held accountable for safety performance. I have always been given resources when asked concerning safety issues. -Dow's mechanical integrity program is 20+ years ahead of the major oil company I worked for. I appreciate working in a safe and well-maintained plant compared to the refinery I worked in. -Training is excellent compared to other companies. Dow will train you on technical skills, leadership, financial acumen; just don't be afraid to ask. -Work-life balance is decent for plant life. Some weekend call-outs, but that is the industry norm if you work in manufacturing. -360 accountability on leadership. You evaluate your leaders just like they evaluate you. As a leader myself, I can vouch that leaders are held accountable for what their employees say about them. -I/T is good for industry. No, it's not Google or Facebook but compared to the major oil company I worked for it's superior. Documents and procedures are easy to find. The intranet is up-to-date.
Cons
-Like any major corporation, promotions and opportunities can take longer than your expectations. Sit tight, as Dow will come through in the end. You must chart your career path and make sure leadership knows what you want to do. -Lots of change right now with mergers and acquisitions. In the end it will mean more opportunities but currently there is a lot of fear of the unknown. -Dow uses the Vitality Curve (rank-and-yank) system all other companies use for Performance Management. It's time to replace this outdated 1980's annual performance review system.