A place to get experience but don't get stuck here
Pros
Relaxed atmosphere, flexibility with time off and start times. Days go extremely fast because you are often running around like a crazy person to even realize what time it is.
Cons
Everyone does what they want with no consquences. There are MANY people (in and out of the lab) who should not have jobs there due to lack of skills, failing at the job time after time, and even harassing other employees. However, they are so desperate for employees due to extreme turn over that management refuses to fire anyone. Apparently people who mess up constantly, making the few analysts who do their job correctly having to fix the mistakes time and time again, are better than noone. Not true. If you are going to pride yourself on integrity and correct results, actually produce this. It is very hard to hire someone who knows what they are doing due to lack of pay and long hours. Therefore, most of the employees are straight out of school lacking the knowledge and work ethic necessary for a lab to run smoothly. The hours are unbearable and you quickly become married to your job, even as a recent graduate just starting your career. The pay is laughable for what you are required to get done in a day and the chemicals you are exposed to. Local managment is too worried about everyone liking them and being friends with the people in their department (20+ years younger) to actually be a BOSS and reprimand when necessary and instead makes other analysts do their dirty work. There is not one person (minus upper management) in the building who actually likes their job and doesn't want to work somewhere else. Even the people who are in management positions are comfortable but hate their job. However, there is no free time to job search. This is solely a job for the desperate, to build your resume. Put a few years in and GET THE HELL OUT before you get stuck here like so many others.
