Pros
Not many anymore....Used to be great pay, benefits and the chance to grow. Today, not so much anymore. Jump ship before it sinks completely. It actually used to be a great place to work, with pensions and good benefits. Then it transitioned into the sunset retirement for people hired between 1996 and the 2000's, and now is just 401K if you are permanent. But mostly now the place is now staffed with temps, who still have a spark in their eye thinking they joined a great company. Pay is average/OK, but mediocre when you take into account it is a hazardous environment.
Cons
Since last year with the oil prices down this company has been dramatically reducing staff and where needed, added temps with no real benefits through a staffing agency. In light of massive layoffs and a lack of real product innovation, the president will dress as Batman (yes, that is right) as Batman, to address factory employees and dispense advice to employees that are on the brink of losing their jobs. He will talk about how to face the challenges ahead and some personal stories that do not relate. Some directors who have recently left Solar had it right when they saw the downfall coming and left that once glorious organization. Before, Solar was riding on this prosperous windfall of high oil prices, but now that oil is down to $30 a barrel, all the ineptitude starting from the top and cascading down to middle management is going to really suffer from a lack of business acumen. If you are fresh out of college, don't think that this is the organization your parents joined. It is a sad remnant. If you are employed there, you already know it is a matter of time before this old technology company implodes with all the regulations and cost cutting pressures enhanced by its mediocre performing Caterpillar parent implodes. At a recent meeting, one of the directors for O&G was asked what the incentives to stay were for younger engineers. He replied that he did not know, since he was already very close to retirement and that "it was a different environment now" Amazing, that coming from the leadership. What a lack of it! The problems at Solar are compounded by Cat's troubles. Google this, it's public information: they bought Bucyrus and Siwei. Bucyrus purchased in 2010 has not turned a profit yet and Siwei was a Chinese deal were they cooked the books. So again, if you are a bright young fella, don't join here. You will just grow frustrated. Do your research based on the above listed facts, add to the mix that only families and nepotism rule, and you will soon realize its better to leave this company to rot.