Pros
the people. cross functional colleagues get to know each other and become friends, largely thanks to the company's policy to provide free catered lunch everyday so the majority of people eat together in the lunch room. campus-like atmosphere with lots of sports and social activities funded by the company strengthens corporate culture and identity. the work is high impact. one of the things you come to appreciate here is no one ever works just on a mundane task and you are entrusted with greater responsibilities than you would otherwise have an opportunity to get your hands on elsewhere. you're not just a number and you are accountable for your work. the work culture is young and energetic. the benefits and stability is incredible compared to similar size companies. it's not often you have the ability to get the best of both worlds. the fact that the company did not do any layoffs during the economic downswings of 2008-2009 speaks to the strength of the company's position in the industry and its family-like treatment of its employees. a very strict recruiting policy with a strong emphasis on corporate culture compatibility being as important as competence results in cohesiveness.
Cons
a lot of the pro's put together is actually a double-edge sword. high impact work combined with youthful culture means not everyone thrives at their functions. the great news is that the tools and support of the company is there to guide you, and if you succeed you quickly become battle-hardened and emerge as a professional that your same-age peers wonder how you accumulated so much experience so fast. it is widely recognized there are some groups heavily understaffed. there is always room for the talented and the right fit, but because hiring managers do not want to compromise on talent, the reality is the work gets spread to sidelines or another group. if you get caught in one of those shortages, it can be easy to be overwhelmed if you have difficulty maintaining enthusiasm and productivity while juggling multiple deadlines. fortunately, it's not a common occurrence.