Pros
To work at CHIEF is to be surrounded by a large group of young professionals who are generally very driven; striving to advance themselves and build their respective skill sets. The types and scales of active engagements vary greatly--from long-term, fixed-fee government support contracts with large dedicated teams, to fast-paced branding and web site projects made up of 3-10 person teams. Mid-to-senior level professionals will do well here with equal parts skill, drive, perspective and patience. Ultimately, good output on your part WILL be rewarded. And after-hours stuff... the company hosts/sponsors all kinds of industry events; happy hours all the time and a bunch of urbanites who find common interest in their passion for all things DC.
Cons
The high project volume mixed with the atmosphere of what is essentially a young and growing organization is at times chaotic, break-neck intense, and a tad dysfunctional--a proactive and positive spirit is a must. Some obvious downsides to the pace and chaos is the negativity that festers amongst those who are not quite in the flow of things, or are dealing with burnout. Some simply may have expectations for the potential path of the organization that differ from the actual course or what may have been communicated/understood during the recruiting/hiring/onboarding process. With all of the above said, the culture is a bit manic and the morale may suffer at times.