Pros
Positive mission and impactful programs that can be leveraged to make all aspects of your job a bit easier. Volunteers become like family.
Cons
You are married to the work. The amount of programs that you are required to implement is incredibly taxing on top of responding to local and large disasters 24/7. The workforce of volunteers are wonderful but they burn out quickly because the work they are asked to do could be considered a full time job. As a staff member you are investing your time in energy into volunteers who will eventually leave and you will have to start over again. Its mentally exhausting. The amount of communication is insane. There are regional, divisional, national programs and voices and campaigns that throw new information and expectations on you daily. It is clear that national headquarters has a lot of paid manpower to create work and huge expectations for the few in the local communities who have to execute. If you do not value your personal time or friendships outside of Red Cross, this might be the job for you.