Pros
The work is satisfying and varied (I'm never bored), and the team is helpful and willing to come together to figure out solutions. It never feels like an imposition to ask for help, which is good since the problems are varied and complex. There is some degree of variability in the work you can do, outside of the core responsibility, meaning you can find your expert niche in areas you enjoy. Other pros include office spaces (no more than 2 people per office, you can decorate them, the break rooms are well supplied), the pay and benefits are great, Madison feels like the perfect balance of city and suburb (you can live downtown if you prefer that, or in the middle of nowhere if you prefer that), there are lots of events happening downtown if you enjoy that sort of thing. Also, it may seem silly to add this, but the fact that almost all the work parking lots are underground is absolutely marvelous for avoiding boiling hot cars in summer, frozen cars in winter, and 99% of the time you will find an open spot.
Cons
As a salaried employee, there are no set hours and some weeks you will definitely be working more than others - this isn't going to be a regular 9-5. Be sure to set your boundaries early because this job will take as many hours as your willing to sink into it - there are always things to do and you will need to be ready to prioritize and say no to requests/projects if you are already busy. This isn't a great fit for a people pleaser who cannot say No. Other downsides include needing to live within 45 minutes of the work campus. Please be aware of this when looking housing (renting/buying), and that prices will be a higher within this radius since all Epic employees will be looking for housing in these areas as well. Make sure to find housing with a garage, if at all possible - I love snow but trying to unbury your car in the mornings gets old, especially if you have an 8am meeting! Finally, not a con, but a heads-up: be ready to be self-driven. You will be expected to be able to be proactive in searching for solutions, setting up meetings, and owning issues. You will always have someone to ask for advice or help, but it's hard to do well in this job if you're the type to sit back and wait for someone to tell you what you should be doing.
