Pros
+ Work / Life balance in most non-consulting positions + Death-march projects are rare to non-existent. Putting your career on cruise-control is possible while still inching up the compensation ladder. + Benefits + In all but one role I've been in, the immediate co-workers and managers watch your back
Cons
- Career advancement is slow paced; much like the environment. - Autonomy has to be fiercely fought for and defended at every turn. - Technologist culture is still stuck back in the 80's, but at least now pays lip service to modernity. - Sr. Management still has no good way to accurately value knowledge workers. In-sourcing to India is an overall improvement vs outsourcing, but still can't compare to real, co-located development teams in the US and EMEA where the majority of development is done. - Many of the highest value employees have found that the only way to get proper compensation is to leave and come back, or leave and become a consultant; many just simply leave.