Fast-paced work environment for hard-working college graduates
Pros
Epic doesn't hire just about anyone, and it shows. Even though many of my colleagues are on the younger side (with most people joining the company after their college graduation), everyone is whip smart and engaged. It makes for a fast-paced, yet fun work environment. The benefits are also quite good, including a 4-week trip to a country you haven't been to before every 5 years of service, in addition to regular vacation time. While your college degree drives which role(s) Epic initially considers you for, there is quite a lot of flexibility once you are hired. TS can take classes at UW Madison to earn computer science credits and transition to R&D, QA can apply to help out on implementation projects, and trainers sometimes support end users at go-live. As long as you have a baseline interest in software and healthcare IT, there is something for you to do at Epic, and regardless which role you are in, there is always something new to learn every day. Especially if you work with non-US customers, there is never a dull moment.
Cons
I wouldn't say that there are any deal-breakers, just some things to be aware of. If you go in with the right expectations, Epic is a great company to work for. To get the obvious out of the way: Expectations are high. This isn't a bad thing per se, but if you are already prone to perfectionism and working hard, it might result in stress and lack of sleep as you take on more work than you can handle. Especially on the implementation side, where travel is an additional factor, it can make people miserable. Know yourself, and escalate early if you feel like you can't handle the workload. Most of the time, people are receptive to such feedback and will try to get you help. Another obvious thing to point out: Epic is now very far from the start-up they were 40 years ago. Don't move to Verona expecting a small, tight-knit community. While there are certainly smaller buildings and teams within the overall company that you will become close with, and everyone is friendly and happy to help, the overall feel of the campus is that of a mid-size university.
