Pros
- There can be lots of opportunities for more junior team members because management tries to cut costs / penny pinch by loading up the more junior (and therefore inexpensive) employees with work. However, don't expect a raise or promotion for your hard work or lost sleep. - Cool clients (although that is not to say they are all friendly or easy to work with). This obviously only applies to non-overhead employees.
Cons
- No job security. You never know when a wave of layoffs (and there have been many over the years) will hit, or when entire departments will be eliminated. For example, the entire Recruiting, Organizational Development, and Education departments were all eliminated in a single afternoon without notice! That sort of sudden, unexpected change can be extremely disconcerting. What kind of company -- no matter how small -- doesn't have a Recruiting department?? - Fear mongering and intimidation seems to be the preferred method of managing employees. - Don't bother trying to volunteer even the gentlest helpful suggestions on how to make things move more efficiently or smoothly because such suggestions are not appreciated by those trying to build their own departmental empires. You will only be publicly insulted in front of your entire department and everyone who happens to be seated nearby. - Management is not open to new ideas UNLESS they come from third-party consultants that the Finance department brings in. These ideas usually result in sweeping layoffs, which further deteriorate morale. - Don't expect sizable (or any) raises unless you are about to leave and management decides they want to try to keep you by giving you more money. - No career development. You'll be working in the same position you were hired for for years without promotion. BUT you will be doing more work as your skills progress -- but neither your title nor salary will reflect that. - Employees aren't aware of how much they are appreciated until they announce their departures. - Despite the massive layoffs during the past few years, there are a few USELESS employees who inexplicably have job security either because they are related to someone important at the company or are so inexpensive they are worth keeping just so management can treat them like dogs.