Pros
Decent pay Flexible schedule (for managers) Great benefits package Good number of paid holidays (5 days at Christmas is wonderful) Many frontline staff have to work through the holidays taking them as double time pay as opposed to time off
Cons
Different people are held to different standards. The CIO is not a technology veteran. His background is in film. He is easily wowed by poor but popular trends in technology. The CIO will lie to protect himself and his cronies. Expect big ideas with too few funds and people to complete the project. Be prepared to engage in toxic politics at every level. There is a definite "cover your ass" mentality. Be prepared to face burnout both in yourself and in other staff. Senior leadership is out of touch with frontline staff and the challenges those staff face. Forget internal promotion unless you can maneuver your way into the "in crowd." Expect emphasis to be on level of education as opposed to experience or skill set.