Pros
Free books, Congenial fellow entry-levels who are eager to help, Summer Fridays
Cons
HC has the lowest entry-level pay in the industry, meaning unless you're being subsidized by a fairy (god)parent, take advantage of the book parties, launch & planning meetings, author toasts, writer conferences, etc. Take advantage even if you are; they're excellent opportunities to network across departments and industries. Practice brown nosing. Otherwise, you'll be assigned three times as much work and/or watch sycophants with less seniority and work ethic outpace you--and then, to be told by management that you should be grateful that you even have a job. Doing a great job is not what matters at HC. Management's attitude is that everyone is expendable. Stay at HC only as long as it takes to pad your resume and learn the ropes. Go digital for more staying power. The company is more interested in hiring new staff for the digital initiatives they're constantly announcing than investing in current employees. Your managers will range from hands-free to micromanaging. There is a severe disconnect in some departments about the rest of the company; network across departments so you know what's going on in the rest of the company. HR is not here for the employees. The review process, not unlike HR management, changes annually and is a long-standing joke. Working at HC is a learning experience, but don't forget to keep your escape hatch in sight.
