Avantages
Fun atmosphere sometimes, beautiful HQ, brand recognition/passion, interesting and enjoyable co-workers, passionate senior executives. It really depends on what department you're in though. Marketing? You're gonna have a blast working here! Pretty much anywhere else is just a plain old office job. I'm a HUGE HUGE fan of Scott Gilbertson - I'll be sad to see him go. Richard McDonald is pretty much "Mr. Fender". Why he's not handed the keys to the company is a mystery to me. Everyone - EVERYONE - adores him... employees, suppliers, musicians, dealers - everyone!
Inconvénients
Directors and department managers are mostly part of the "old guard" - people who have been promoted due to either who they knew or how long they've been with the company, NOT measurable success indicators. Fender can't seem to decide if it wants to be the big, modern company it should be, or the old fashioned little group of old washed up rockers that it actually is. Employees get motivated and excited when Scott, Richard, Jim or other C-level execs call a town hall, issue proclamations and share company performance indicators... they ask for input, they rally the troops, but when we go back to our desks and start sharing our ideas, our managers and directors basically say "just keep doing the same thing". The pay is relatively low and the review process is an absolute joke. consistent high performers get the same 2.5% increase as those who barely make ends meet.