Pros
- Positive work atmosphere and pleasant coworkers - Cross training popular for lower levels (they will train you to do a lot of different aspects of environmental consulting to hopefully match you will different projects/types of clients) - Fair pay compared to other consulting firms - Flexible scheduling (not always an 8-5 day) - Opportunities to work with industry experts in local and global offices - Great insurance/benefits
Cons
- Low vacation/PTO/holidays compared to other consulting and private firms, gov agencies, etc - For lower levels: extremely difficult billing goals. Overall goal to bill 90-95% of time directly with clients that does not adjust for required trainings, admin work, sick time, or times when work is hard to find. Very few lower levels ever meet these goals unless they CONSISTENTLY work unpaid overtime. - Expectation to "find work" - not always supported by management - Expectation to work unpaid overtime consistently during summer months to "make up" for months when work is low - Weekly overtime is not paid or carried over - if you work 50 hours to close out a project, you are still required to bill 40 the next week - OVERALL UNHEALTHY WORK LIFE BALANCE for the majority of lower level employees - Unclear job advancement opportunities