Pros
Coworkers, pay and benefits ...but mostly coworkers, because you'll need their support and shoulders to cry on daily.
Cons
I can only speak on Northern New England, when they aquired Fairpoint. This company has no idea about the value they had/have in their employees that have been there since the "Ma Bell" days. These employees were trained when there were impeccable customer service standards and procedures. They were also trained on the original network that still exists. There is SO much that a customer service rep needs to know beyond a couple systems when dealing with this old infrastructure. Back in the Nynex/Bell Atlantic/Verizon days, we were trained for 16 weeks for this job, then had to pass a test. That tells you how intensive this is. The infrastructure hasn't changed, only the main systems that Fairpoint brought in (which are a JOKE and cause half the problems). Consolidated believes they can just bring in new people, train them for 4 weeks (if that), and then let the newly-trained people start training! It's insanity! And the poor customers are paying for it! Their head management claims that they "value their customers", but that is CLEARLY bogus. Four month waits for installations? They have been told about that year after year by the employees that CARE and SPEAK with the customers, and still, after years, they have not rectified their issues. Multiple missed due dates, requiring customers to stay home 8 hours day after day. If you want to get blamed for managerial failures and cry with customers daily, then this circus is for you!