Pros
When it comes to the day to day, Etna is a wonderful place to work. Overall, employees are bright, funny, friendly, and approachable. I have yet to encounter anyone who is truly hostile, dull, or difficult to work with. There is a lot of integrity throughout the ranks, and people generally aren't afraid to admit when they've screwed up. Each person's individual passion and drive is evident in the quality of the work we produce -- I'm very familiar with our competition, and it's plain to see that our work is head and shoulders above in both appearance and function. In my experience, management is quite flexible with scheduling and differences in work styles. You never feel chained to your desk at Etna. The office is comfortable and fun. There's a weekly cocktail hour on Fridays, a "zen loft" for when you need to rest your brain, a fully stocked pantry, and a monthly luncheon to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. I also really appreciate Etna's support of and involvement with the wider community. Recently there has been a lot of talk about Etna's culture. The truth is, "culture" fluctuates wildly from department to department, and your mileage may vary. Yes, the marketing department is full of bubbly, fresh faced SLO types. But that doesn't tell the whole story. There are a lot of personalities at Etna -- though they may be in the minority, the shy, the geeky, and the eccentric all have homes here. As someone who tends towards the introverted, Etna hasn't always felt like a seamless fit for me. But I respect my coworkers as professionals and I'm consistently impressed by their talents. In return, I feel respected and valued for my skills and ideas even if I skip out on the weekly cocktail hour.
Cons
Other reviewers are correct when they say departments are isolated. There are few opportunities to interact professionally with people in other departments, especially as a lower level employee. This can occasionally make even simple projects feel chaotic. One of the biggest hurdles Etna must overcome is the disconnect between account executives, managers, and clients. Getting everyone on the same page in terms of what makes a client succeed is an ongoing battle. Some AEs can be too quick to sell half-baked, pie-in-the-sky ideas without fully understanding how they'll help or hurt our clients or the demands these promises put on copywriters, developers, and designers. Similarly, spending excessive time and resources on clients who have unreasonable expectations or those who are too passive or unfocused hurts everyone and yet still continues. However, there seems to be some movement towards being choosier about clients, which is a step in the right direction. Finally, finding a balance between the ever-important billable hours, professional development, and personal fulfillment continues to be a challenge.