Pros
Geocent is the first place I have considered a company for which I would want to continue working for years to come. I started as a tech writer and, through hard work and willingness to learn and adapt, have been fortunate to move up through the company in the four years that I have been with Geocent. In those four years I have had the opportunity to learn a tremendous amount about numerous different aspects of software development and business in general. I believe that growth and knowledge benefits me as much as it benefits the company. Because of the company's willingness to find places for people willing learn and adapt to different positions I have been able to work on six different client side projects, as well as, at least eight internal projects. I have been a tech writer, data manager, QA tester, automated test suite manager, Scrum Master, business analyst, team leader, and the list goes on. Because I was willing to challenge myself to learn and excel at each new task, Geocent continues to find new opportunities for me to expand my potential. The executives and management team have always and continue to do everything in their power to take care of this company and its employees. I personally have a great respect for each and everyone of them because I have seen how much they care for their people. Even in the midst of tremendous economic turbulence in the current local and national environment, the Geocent team continues to do everything it can to help employees build great careers for themselves while still keeping the company successful and an industry leader. This I can speak to personally because they have been supportive and extremely helpful to me both personally and professionally. I truly believe that the management team at Geocent works everyday to ensure both their employees' and company's success. I have seen it first hand.
Cons
Though company-wide communication has been inconsistent in the past, over the last year I have witnessed every effort being made to provide all employees with as much information on the company's status as possible. There are many different ways to get this information whether it be at a company-wide meeting, viewing the recording of that meeting at a later date, or emails sent by executives and management to all employees. Communication is definitely getting better. Especially if we as employees choose to make time to listen to those communications and participate in the dialogue. I do find that some employees have an outlook that is more focused on them and as a result can negatively impact the team and the company. If more employees were willing to learn new things, grow, and be a part of the team, I believe that those employees would be more successful long term because of their value to the company's success and reputation as a team player who can be counted on to do what it takes to ensure success. It is after all the employees who can make the magic happen and build the company's success. That being said, one challenge I believe the company faces, because it is growing so fast, is hiring and keeping employees who do not perform in a manner that meets the high expectations of the company and many of its long term employees. In an effort to be a contracting company who tries to find new positions for their employees instead of terminating them after projects end, Geocent sometimes keeps under performers around a little to long which can affect the performance of a team even if it also has high performers. While I admire their loyalty and resolve to be a place that tries to avoid layoffs, keeping people who don't live up to the quality and standards Geocent expects and their clients deserve can breed frustration among other employees and clients.