Pros
I was successful in my interview and offered a position with JGA around a year and a half ago. Having worked as a fire engineer for more than 6 years, I was aware of JGA as a flagship company within the fire engineering community, and one I found were constant competition (and triumphant) when bidding for projects. Although assurances were made during my interview, I was taken aback by the active encouragement, chartership assistance, and progression opportunities I’ve been given to date. I’ve also been blown away by the continued dedication and high standard of work produced from Design Engineers/Associates/Directors alike. This is clearly echoed by the clients I’ve seen returning again and again. All colleagues I’ve met have an active interest in both mine and my partners lives, and we’ve attended the annual JGA conference and odd BBQ, getting to know different team members on a more relaxed and personal level. On a local scale, my Technical Director has been extremely helpful/supportive as I transitioned into my role at JGA. At JGA I feel very appreciated and the salary is generous. The recent acquisition with Jensen Hughes has only improved things further by giving staff the ability to access project servers and work from home if required, more prominent IT equipment and softwares, and access to technical papers/online learning.
Cons
Busy periods of the year and a willingness to satisfy clients/assist collegues can lead to long hours. However, senior staff actively engage/provide advice and assistance where possible to try and help manage workload/expectations. The team dynamic upon a successful project delivery and a couple of beers at the pub after work more than appeases this.