Pros
Coming from having spent a couple years in a few different offices, as well as the headquarters, I can tell you this is a company that has no connection to its branches. The previous offices before going to Seattle are not important, as things have changed since the good old days. Seattle used to have a great vibe. Everyone worked for McKinstry and drank the kool-aid. Gym was a great way to spend an hour during lunch or after work. The cafeteria was also a plus, but the food is just so-so. The managers here are also very approachable. Portland, well, scroll to the cons.
Cons
The disconnect that the Portland office has is unnerving. What is even more ludicrous, is Seattle sits back and lets them roll with it even when they are crumbling. This is proven by the vast amount of group "lay-offs" that have happened over the last couple years. They have lost control. HR will not listen to any concerns. In their eyes managers are always right, no matter the issue. Since Mari Anderson departed, HR is more focused on building from outside of the company than from within, which brings me to my next con. There is almost zero vertical movement from within. They tout the horizontal and vertical growth opportunities, but it's near impossible to actually be successful in doing so. I tried. They would rather pigeon hole you than give you an opportunity. That's why so many of their upper level managers have not come from within. Salaries are so-so. This has been changing, but change is slow. They don't believe in cost of living increases, but they give them to management. Sell yourself high because it will be a few years before you have a chance for a raise or a bonus. If you have a manager, you can guarantee you will get thrown to the wolves at least once. Especially when they believe somehow, someway, you've affected their performance. Any good manager would know that's not how it works. Then again, they don't have many great managers.
