Pros
- Work with people who are as motivated and talented as you are. Of course there are some bad apples, but FAST does an exceptional job hiring people and is doing a better job of taking care of people who don't work out. - Flat organizational structure. This gives you access to senior management and decision makers, and provides a bit of a "startup" feel. - Steep career trajectory. FAST is growing and gives employees a lot of responsibility on projects. On the projects I've worked on, the best person for each role is chosen, regardless of how much experience they have. People are continually challenged to grow and develop their skills. - Make a difference. Compared with traditional consulting companies that generate reams of paper and don't really "do" much, we create solutions and are able to see the difference our work makes for our clients. - Competitive compensation and benefits. While FAST is growing and making more corporate-type employment policies, I think most employees feel that management is "on their side" and is not out to "get them". - Work hard, play hard. We work lots of (paid OT) hours in many cases, but also have a good time relaxing with co-workers on company-sponsored meals, outings, and trips. Most employees genuinely enjoy spending time with other employees. - Future-minded company. While companies like Kodak and Blackberry have been content to ride a good thing and eventually become a dinosaur, FAST has continued to invest in the future and look to where the market is going, not just where it is now. Consequently, our products stay a step ahead of the competition, and we are expanding into new, adjacent markets that are very promising. - Stable employment. The US economy has been a roller coaster ride the past decade, but the nature of our focus (government clients, revenue generation) has insulated us from the ups and downs that have plagued other tech companies. - See the world. FAST projects are all over North America as well as around the world. It is a great opportunity to see new places and experience new cultures. - Feel good about your work. FAST has been successful by doing the right thing for clients, no matter what it takes. From senior management all the way down to the newest person, the message is always to do the best thing for the client. Their success is our success.
Cons
- Relocation and travel. As has been pointed out by other reviews, the single biggest potential drawback is that virtually everyone who is not working in administration in Denver or Boise has to relocate with projects. This can be an awesome experience, but it does mean you need to be flexible. Sometimes people get moved with little notice (a few weeks), but in my experience most people know months in advance that they are going to move, but just don't know the exact destination. Most assignments are between 1 and 3 years. Due to the nature of the work and the sometimes unpredictable process of government procurements, new assignments can happen quickly or can drag out while arrangements are finalized. - Flat organizational structure. Due to how flat the company is and how involved the original partners are in the day-to-day operations, there can be a bit of a bottleneck at times. - No titles or status. While this doesn't bother most people, if you're looking for titles, promotions, and position, this isn't how FAST works. Employees assume whatever role is necessary, so we don't have or need titles to distinguish what we do.