Pros
- VSI is a great place to work to get experience. It allows people with little experience to get going on work quickly, and managers place enormous responsibility in your hands. - At the lower rungs of the hierarchy, employees are mutually-supportive and friendly. We joked that the work culture was like going to war: you're forced to support one-another because you are trying to survive. That sort of camaraderie is rare among teams, but it's also rare that it's actually caused by such a poor corporate culture. This causes a poisonous attitude toward department supervisors, which is both frustrating and exhausting -- it would be easily remedied if it were addressed. - It's a small company, so you'll get a taste of what every department does.
Cons
- As others mentioned, VSI pays its employees much less than its competitors and has enormous turnover (around 25%). This turnover exists in all departments, regardless of work duties or experience level. This seems to be because upper level management wants to burnish its widely-known reputation as tough. Fear is not the same as respect, though -- and the long term cost of losing so many employees simply isn't greater than the benefit in money saved from fewer raises, having fewer employee salaries, or ensuring current employees are as docile as possible. - There are few expectations given, so be sure to seek them out and establish them early if you decide to work here. Make yourself indispensable.