Pros
I applied to with Apex after leaving a very large corporation where I dealt with high level executives and government mandates on a daily basis. I was ready to step down and away from the stressful life of Corporate America. Along came Apex which was highly recommended by a friend of mine. The interview process was easy, and did not take long at all. BUT… Apex is looking for a very specific person for each role, and they are not in the business of handing out jobs to just anyone. From the moment I walked in I felt like I belong here, and the vibe/energy I received from the employees and management during the interview process is what made me say yes. Taking the position meant a large pay cut for me, but I was optimistic this was the right move. I could not have been more right. Medical/Dental benefits go into effect very quickly and are affordable. I do not feel like my whole check is pulled for insurance premiums. There are also many daily office perks as well: LOTS OF COFFEE, soda, juice, fruit, snacks, occasional meals, and Apex is always hosting something to give back to the employees. When listening to David Baker speak about Apex you can hear the passion in his voice and see it on his face. David and Dean do so much to keep the culture alive, and ensure we are always doing the right thing. For someone who came from Corporate America it is difficult to believe a business owner would turn down an opportunity to make big $$ because it doesn’t feel right. But hey that is how we do things at Apex. I thought this was going to be a place to temporarily hang my hat while I reevaluated whether or not the money was worth the stress of a corporate job. Well, too late. I fell in love with Apex and the people of Apex before I ever received my first pay check.
Cons
What are the cons? Well, my con is a temporary one. The starting pay is pretty low and for some people this may be a deal breaker. After 6 month there is a performance review that is accompanied by a raise, and then at 1 year there is quarterly profit sharing. Little is said about what the potential 6 month raise maybe so it is flying blind for 6 months hoping that the raise will be enough to get you by until profit sharing. For someone who is new and has not received a profit sharing check it can be a little frustrating that everyone else is getting so excited about something you can’t have…yet. But once it is here it can make up for the first year of lower pay.