Pros
- You get to learn (and appreciate) a lot about manufacturing. So the next time you buy a computer you can have more empathy for the people that worked hard to get you that product. - After one works there for three months, it takes something incredible to get one fired. I'm talking breaking economic sanctions, purposely setting property on fire, etc.. And somehow, that's a pro.
Cons
- The higher-ups "talk" about believing in work-life balance, but it's just that: talk. - It is far better to be "seen" working then the actual results. - Work hours and incredibly horrendous. 9 to 9/10p is common, and for some reason the CEO has the ability to take note of this. - There is little to no training (and the little bits of "training" consists of ferrying new-hires to unrelated departments for three months and doing unskilled labor - regardless if you are salaried or not, so no overtime if you are). - Middle and upper management cares more about turning a profit than the quality of product that leaves the warehouse. - Shouting matches between department heads is all too common. It's like watching bad soap operas, except you get paid to watch them. - The titles people hold are just that: titles. Most - if not all - of the people in professional roles hold titles that they are not even remotely qualified for. - Seniority (and sucking up) are sure-fire ways of getting promoted, not by merit. - CEO is surrounded by yes-men, so change happens at a glacial pace. - Home to some of the most unprofessional "professionals" I've ever worked with. - Incredibly inefficient work system and stupidly bureaucratic. The CEO has to sign-off on every little thing that - combined by the fact that only God or the CEO himself can fire you - people rarely report catastrophic inefficiencies or much-needed changes to the existing system. - Hourly employees can potentially make 50% more than salaried employees since they receive overtime and work the same hours salaried employees do. - It is better to ship broken products to customers on time - and then blame other departments when the customer returns them - than it is to spend time making quality plans. - The amount of inefficiency and disorganization at the middle management level is astounding. And there is little hope for any sort of change. - There is a reason for the high-turnover rate. Highly skilled people are lured in by the idea of working in a Silicon Valley tech company, only to be swallowed whole by the: 1. Low wages 2. Resistance to change 3. Politics (spies reporting to the CEO on bad behavior, inter-departmental bickering and finger pointing, etc.) So when they figure out the secrets of this place and what goes on behind the glass doors, they either: 4. Stay low, suck up, and collect their easy money until retirement. 5. Learn what they need to learn and jump ship to a better company (which, honestly, anywhere would do). 6. Work themselves to death/alcoholism/former shell of a what they once were. - God help you if you don't speak a word of mandarin. There are instances where people in the middle (and even upper) management level using Google Translate to translate mandarin to English when messaging English-speaking customers. - Actually, I take that back. Be glad you don't speak mandarin. That way, you can keep your head low and stay out of the politics (see 3.) - Incredibly unfair to those not familiar with US labor laws regarding exempt employee status and being given work appropriated for hourly workers. - HR is as ineffective and powerless as a wet napkin.