Prós
Really unique business with tech infrastructure. Best thing to do is get some experience at E.E. Reed, then bounce to work in-house with a tech company building data centers. That's what I and other APMs are planning in a year or two.
Contras
The compensation at EE Reed is significantly below industry standards. For instance, Project Engineers start at $60K annually (nonnegotiable), whereas comparable roles at competitors like DPR pay $72-$75K. This was the case when I joined as a PE fresh out of college, and Assistant Project Managers and Project Managers are similarly under-compensated. Additionally, I perceived instances of unprofessional conduct that negatively affected team morale and client relationships. In one situation, a client partner reported overhearing inappropriate and offensive remarks made by members of the management team about her and a female colleague. Management later downplayed the incident, reportedly bragging they only had to sign a document to "get away with it". The lack of accountability in response to such behavior impacted my perception of the company’s commitment to maintaining a respectful work environment. Another concern is the handling of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). EE Reed has a group called “Young Guns” for younger employees, but participation is effectively mandatory. Employees are automatically enrolled and expected to attend every event, which contradicts the standard purpose of ERGs as voluntary support networks rather than obligations. This approach feels more like forced participation than a genuine effort to foster inclusion. As someone who came to construction with an HR background, this always struck me as odd and uncomfortable.