Pros
The work in Quality Assurance is easy for the ridiculous amount of money being paid. Playing work politics well will lead to success! Stroking management egos will help increase career growth rate. Be sure to have breakfast/lunch with the boss and schedule after work outings that married colleagues with kids can’t attend. Also give praise to your boss on social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn. Improving a process or reducing issues at a vendor site is self defeating and gets no recognition. Allow a problem vendor to have issues escalating to Director or VP-level creates visibility - THEN solve the issue in front of them. Rinse and repeat! Guaranteed fast track promotion! Stay in your silo. If an outside department requests help, just say it is outside of your scope (which is true) and basically say “Not my problem” When boss asks you honest review of their management skills, ALWAYS give positive reviews. Negative reviews will result in below the radar retaliatory actions. There is a Beer community.
Cons
Career development paths and promotional criteria are outlined for each department and job title, but not adhered to. Promotion not based on achieving criteria or doing a good job, but on business need. If there is no business need, no amount of hard work will help. Best to take it easy and wait until next year. “Inclusion” is a cultural belief, but Management fails to make themselves equally accessible to all direct reports. They socialize with the same people over and over, providing the optics that they are not approachable (and have favorites). Transfers to other departments can be blocked, preventing career growth. Successful transfers are always lateral or lower in title (but pay is not decreased). Cannot transfer to a higher title. It does not matter if you have the appropriate skill level and meet the career path requirements for the higher title.