Pros
I started as a stranger and feel I was quickly welcomed to my team. From the very first day I was learning new things, laughing at crazy stories, and bewildered and intrigued by the seeming complexity. After a year I have what many call a work family. I feel like I belong. I love how, as a group, we discuss aspects of the operation, ask and answer each others questions and help each other out. I am constantly learning. A curious persons paradise as there is always another level of understanding to reach for. The GM and management is very supportive. We get fed good food frequently, hydration packets in the summer, the best gear, treats and all sorts of goodies. We are cared about and looked after. It FEELS like management cares, they don’t just say they do. Everything that you could want is made available to do the job right and safe. One of the things that really struck me was reading about how Jeff Broin used to sleep in his car so he could weld on the tanks when he was first starting out. I love that my CEO knows what hard labor is.
Cons
The training is a little all over the place, but that is because the best opportunities to learn usually come when something happens. The scenarios can be complex and vary wildly and so can’t really be simulated in a training. You have to kind of try to teach yourself by watching and paying attention and finding answers to your own questions. The shift rotation is something I don’t think I’ll ever figure out how to comfortably transition, and the temperature extremes can be a little rough sometimes, but nothing unbearable.
