Pros
Staff. It's a tight knit group. We call it a team, but it feels more like a family. It's a small group, so we all wear a lot of different hats. It's a very collaborative space as we're constantly knowledge sharing to help provide our clients with the best experience. Therefore, we all have been forced to learn a ton very quickly. It's a smart bunch ... and a bunch of smart alecks.
Vibe. The level of sarcasm, combined with the level of creativity involved with problem solving creates a fun environment to work in and be a part of. It's a dog-friendly office with really good coffee, a ton of food, and monthly fun events that create a fulfilling culture. We have a surprisingly diverse range of interests outside of work among us, which makes for dynamic dialogue, additional knowledge sharing opportunities, and an expansion of horizons. With two decades of hosting experience and being perfectly positioned as a managed services provider and managed security services provider as well, the feeling that we're getting in on the ground floor of something exciting is palpable.
Pace. Days absolutely fly by and there's never a lack of things to do. Because we're small right now, we're able to be quite nimble, and there is almost always something new each day. I've worked at other places that say you have an opportunity to advance within, but it doesn't take long to actually see it happen here. We bring in a class of Level 1 engineers and within a few months they have grown so much that they graduate, so to speak, into other departments that fit them best, and we bring in another class behind them.
Location. It would be hard to match the amenities of living in St. Louis and still beat the cost of living here. Our offices are located in Fenton, right off an interstate, and are surrounded by parks, restaurants, and fitness centers. There is ample, free parking available at headquarters and at all of the data centers.
Resources. There is a clear career track for each of us and a path for us to achieve those goals. We're supplied with the tools we need to be successful, from technology, to books, to office furniture, to caffeine.
Cons
People don't immediately understand what Fpweb does.
We emphasize professional development, continuing education, and there's incentives in place to earn certifications, but it's harder than it sounds to carve out the time to do that around the workload.
Because we have engineers responding live to tickets 24/7, someone has to be on call after hours, every night.