Pros
1) Benefits! We have good medical & dental, generous PTO, and other perks such as tuition reimbursement and an onsite wellness program. 2) People - most people I've talked to over the years are friendly, smart, and passionate about the work we do. I've worked at other government/nonprofit entities where that was definitely not the case, and it's refreshing. 3) Leadership styles are shifting in a good way - in the past 2 years, I've watched leaders stand up and own that they need to do better in a couple of categories (see cons below), and they're taking visible, actionable steps.
Cons
1) The new hire training process needs work. The onboarding and training process for some positions (like the coach operators) is very robust. For others...not so much. The experience seems to vary widely based on which work group you're in. Improvement is in the works, but will take some time. I'd recommend asking about the onboarding process (what the first 3 months looks like) in your job interview to get a feel for what it might be like on the team you're interested in joining. 2) Slow change processes. Partly this is due to the regulatory environment we operate in, and partly it's cultural. Again, I'm seeing positive change here. My two favorite changes: - My department is focused on employee driven process improvements. And not just the big changes - little things that make the job easier, more efficient, or more enjoyable are encouraged. Other departments are doing this too. - Everyone is getting trained on how to communicate more effectively, and that includes leadership. I appreciate seeing the shift toward growth mindset and getting comfortable with change. 3) Growth opportunities can be limited. We are a small to mid size agency, which means there aren't always positions available when a person feels ready to move onwards and upwards. For me, the tuition reimbursement program and ability to work on cross-departmental projects that stretch my skills makes up for it.