Pros
Pro: Warm, friendly staff made the interviewing/hiring/onboarding process easy and fun! Pro: Regular hours, stable environment without many unpredictable fluxes. Ellison values planning and preparing: something that prepares employees for that next turn in the road and enhances the working experience. Pro: Team-work. You won't work alone at Ellison. If you're the kind of person who does, good for you, but here it's all about working together. People will help you and, if you're a good team-mate, you'll help them too! Pro/Con: Pacing. This isn't a start-up-type or a boutique company. If you've worked with those in the past, you'll immediately notice the change in pacing. Slow down and be ready for a multi-step process to get things done. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on what you're looking for. It also seems to vary depending on the various departments and/or department heads. Each one operates a little differently and has different requirements. Pro: Equipped for success. There is no expectation for you to get the job done if you don't have the right tools. Depending on the exact job, they'll provide you with the hardware (laptop, phone, etc) that you're likely to need; other things, such as job-related memberships, are available too if you have the need.
Cons
Con: The Consensus Requirement: While independent thinking and new ideas are actively encouraged, the process of championing an idea from conception to execution can be challenging. This isn't an Ellison-isolated critique. The best companies, often with the most to lose on new ventures, encourage action as a group. If you have an idea, be ready with a pitch and plenty of statistics to get the group to agree. No one's going to take your word for it and they shouldn't - you're a professional: prep like one. Cons: Different departments have attitude differences. Walk around the office and you'll notice. It goes from Bright and Sunny to... the other end. Keep an open mind and a "listening" attitude and, like anything to do with interpersonal relationships, you'll be fine. But it is strange. So lucky to be in the department I am...
