Pros
You gain a great level of experience with coordination and work sequencing. With HP, the standard is set high from the beginning because you're given a great deal of responsibility from the onset of your employment. I was trained well during my early years as a field engineer, office engineer, and part of my project engineer stages of work. We're paid well with incentives once we've reached those levels in the company, something to strive for as a younger person. Health insurance is very good, as well as profit sharing. I also enjoy the fact we're making an effort to change our ways as a company with quality of life. It's very important and extremely valuable.
Cons
The hours, the politics, and the favoritism. I can't believe how many hours I've worked in the last 10+ years with this company. I don't know if it's industry standard because I've yet to work for another GC. But if you average the amount of hours spent working per week and divide your salary by those hours, the benefits don't seem as inviting. I put in an average of 56 hours/week. The politics are also frustrating. We play games and put people in specific position, regardless of experience or skill because it may help in the long run. The key word is "may". We also show favoritism to employees based on their relationship with executives or leadership. It's not what you know. It's who. I understand the mindset of worrying only about yourself, your progress, and not comparing it to others and their positions/promotions within the company. So how do you review your position and talent levels or work ethic when others exude far less and reap so much more benefit.