Pros
-Good exposure to world-class technology -Good experience to have on resume -If you are productive and technically sound, there is lots you can do in terms of IP, writing publications etc. -Company enjoys a good reputation in the oil-field, thanks to some good work done by people in the 1900s ... current crop of people leaves a lot to be desired
Cons
-very, very politically oriented. Unless you're part of the "club", you will not get promoted or even get career opportunities...during lean times, people who are not part of the "club" are most likely to get laid off. -Company says that "You own your career" .. in reality, the company owns you .. don't speak up about what you want to do .. I have been told by a Technology Manager that many times you have to do what the management wants you to do. -Everyone who is a Team Lead and up, wants to run the show their own way, and are only concerned about appearing in the good books of those higher than them. -Too much of a top-down culture.. people below the team-lead position are essentially slaves who don't get much say -Very senior management may be good, but the middle management across the board in Technology are horrible ... only there to dance and shine in the eyes of the higher-ups. -Some of the technical folks are really dumb, but that could be true anywhere.