Pros
Not very difficult to get hired there. Pretty sure they post up in college towns so that there’s a steady flow of cheap, relatively unskilled, college-aged labor. Work is not that difficult. A SOC Analyst 1 is basically just a body that needs to be there acknowledging various SIEM alerts, and to answer the phone if someone calls. In theory you can promote and work your way up to an Engineer position and make decent money. I didn’t really want to stay with this company after seeing how the SOC guys get treated. Coworkers are usually younger (college students or recent grads) and laid back, Did not get a stuffy corporate feel. They will pay for your certification exam if you pass. You have to pay for it upfront, and then they’ll pay you after you show the test results, so you’ll break even. You’re on your own for study materials.
Cons
Very high turnover. One guy quit in the middle of his shift after he heard his relief called in sick (which meant he’d have to work for another 6+ hours). They had to scramble for someone else to show up and of course everyone else had excuses (or straight up ignored the text messages). I ended up volunteering for the overtime, then I quit soon after. Because the work is not that difficult, you would probably struggle during the interview for your next job. So use the downtime to learn whatever you need to, because they don’t provide any meaningful training. Low pay. You make as much as someone who works at In-N-Out. Maybe you could afford a small apartment if you worked in the Michigan or Kansas offices due to cost of living differences. Forget about it if you work in Santa Barbara. I remember my supervisor was roommates with a few other employees…did not send a very hopeful message to me.