Pros
Great pay. Got a shift differential and living wage adjustment every year unless you got a bad rating. Also a bonus unless you got a bad rating(depending on how they felt that year)
Cons
In the lab, a lot of samples come through. You are expected to give results in a certain time. That time isn't based off of the time the operators need it by, it's based off of other technicians. If you are a girl, you have a slight advantage because the operators flirt with them. Your rating for the year is almost solely based on how the operators feel about you. You can literally sleep on the job and be slow if they like you a lot. If not, then you will get a bad rating no matter what. They go by a system from 1 to 5 for yearly rating. If someone in the plant gets a 4 then someone has to get a 2. They will make up any excuse to give someone a 2. There is no upward mobility unless you are willing to be there for 10 years and they, again, like you. Some people with way more experience get passed over for someone who has the biggest mouth. Also, 12 hour shift work is great and awful all at once.