Pros
-flexible schedule- you can come in anytime between 6am and 9:30am, after you get out of class which is about 9 months coming in at a FIXED time of 7:30 A.M. - great federal benefits (like any other agency) - realistic work expectations - EASY classroom training - fairly good direct managers - some good instructors during training - management wants to see you succeed and will help you - great mentors - relaxed work environment
Cons
This is pretty much an underpaid ACCOUNTING job in which you figure out how much to pay beneficiaries. If you do not like/are not good at MATH, FINANCE and ACCOUNTING you need to RUN away from this position. Promotional opportunities here are non-existent. Like someone else already mentioned this is a GS-9 job and you WILL stay in that grade level for at least 3-5 years after you are done with training.. This position starts at a GS-5 for people with bachelors and a GS-7 for the people who have masters degree. The pathways program is TWO years and what they fail to tell you during the interview is that you will be stuck at a GS-7 for at least TWO years if you hired at that level (if hired as a GS-5 you will be promoted to GS-7 automatically after year 2) since training is long (10-12 months of classroom training) and your review period after that is AT LEAST 6 months but they will not dump you up to a GS-9 for a few months after that. If you are fortunate enough to be promoted after 3, 4 or 5 years you will only be promoted to a GS-10 (instructor or PETE which are like the experts at this job). Basically your gonna be stuck at a GS-9 or 10 for a LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG time. My advice to you if you have a private sector job that is paying you more to think twice before taking this job... you will regret it. If you don't have a job right now or have a job that is paying you less AND you like accounting, math, and finance then go for it. If not, again RUN.