Pros
-40 hour work week because it is all government contracts, and very rare cases you'll get overtime. Although I don't know of anyone that has been approved for their extra time, so its all off the clock. -The "underlings" and middle management are some of the coolest guys* you'll ever meet. They will be fairly open about their opinions, and be super helpful to you. It took me a while to get to know more people, but I really like the people here, but that is the only reason this gets 2 starts. My super visor, PMs, and the guys sitting around me.
Cons
*I asterixed the guys because there are 0 women who work here that are not family of the CEO. I think it is pretty difficult to reach 55 people without a single female employee. Rumor has it, they will bring in women for interviews every couple of months just to say they tried, but in all reality they don't want women for who knows why. "distractions" I don't know. -Pro and con, majority of people will be hired within a week of contact. This is good if you are desperate for a job, which most people are when the reach this company. I think they recruit people who have been down on their luck so they can get them for a steal. They rush the contract process because they don't want to negotiate. Ask for a copy of the contract prior to making a verbal commitment, you probably will not receive it. Everyone here is under paid, and they want to catch you off guard so they can get you for a bargain as well. -leads me to a point about money. The administration is the largest set of penny pinchers I've ever met. Look around and you will see many examples of it. Furniture is from Ikea, Chewy Granola bars are rationed in the break room, coffee has a cover charge per cup, and a recent happening, a company picnic happened during office hours. We were told to make up the time for when we were at the park because it was going to last longer than our normal lunch hour. Also, lunch is not paid. 40 hour work week, 45 if you take an hour lunch every day. -Be 100% clear in any negotiating you do if you choose to get hired on (not recommended). I have heard people asking about getting more education and they will say "we support you getting your masters" and by support they mean they wont stop you from getting it, not that they would support you financially. Heaven forbid they invest in their workers. -But they do highly care about their personal "company" resume to sell themselves for more contracts. But the badges they are trying to put onto their website and proposals are just for show. I hear they have full intentions of not following up with processes once the whole company becomes "certified" with various programs, and just faking data every year after to maintain their certification. -Overhead: Anyone who becomes a Senior level/ Project Manager/ Supervisor will be micromanaged. Its how upper management works. Also I hear they don't give adequate time for any task which use overhead hours. Again, to cut back costs. If you are not willing to put money into the foundation of your company, you probably are not planning of being around long. -The handbook is dated for 2007, and is terribly written. This allows for management to make up the final ruling based on the situation and their opinion of you. Hardly any of it even is relevant any more. It references people who no longer work here and forms which no longer exist. They say you are going to get a 90 day review, but as with all policies, this can come at 60, 90, 6 months or even never. I have found that you only get called into a meeting if they found something and are going to ream you a new one so they can justify your lack luster salary. There is never any praise, if you are not getting attention, then you are doing well. Otherwise you are feeling wraith. (these statements are for upper management only, you direct supervisor will work with your and mentor you. Either that or this is the best game of good cop bad cop I've ever seen. I'm sorry if you are applying for an overhead position, aka non-developer) -Benefits are lackluster.
