Pros
Northern offers great benefits such as day care, fitness center (for a fee), good health, dental and vision plans. It also offers a 401K and a pension plan. The company has a very laid back culture and it is easy to talk to upper management, open door policy. There are always classes/training being offered for those who like to learn more about the job. The company is very stable due to its conservative nature which is good in this economy. There is a good work-life balance and hours are semi flexible i.e. you don't have to come to work at exactly 8:30am.
Cons
The company might be too conservative, so it might miss some great opportunities to grow. There are a lot of people who do the minimum required and keep their job. There are way to many hard working people out there with no jobs right now for people to do an average job. However, they get to keep their job.The pay could and should be better in order to keep good talent. Also bonuses for entry level based on performance will help keep the talent. A clearer career path will be helpful to plan for the future if one decides to stay at northern.