Pros
Skills/experience in utility vegetation management and arboriculture. Exposure to related industries. Union wages and benefits (for VMI).
Kontras
If you’re looking for jobs in the Yosemite divisions, consider yourself warned. Small town power play dynamics from inexperienced and petty management - from lower, to middle, to upper management. Boyfriends getting girlfriends jobs in HR. Highschool bestfriends getting their friends hired into management… upper management sleeping with tree crew… no, really. It’s true. But most people who know these things are long gone, were fired, or were bullied out of their jobs. This company had been sued countless times. Look it up. But let’s get to brass tacks: it doesn’t matter how good you are as a qualified, competent inspector/employee. They want you to fall in line and do as you’re told, even if you are more qualified or competent than your manager. Expect small town favoritism and nepotism across the board, both internally and for any career advancement to the local PGE offices. There is a lot of gatekeeping behavior in this industry and in this company. Whether it’s ArborWorks or ArborVista (formerly ArborLine). If you are vocal, ask questions that make the insecure managers look bad, or point out things that could be done differently - they will target you. They hate the union and they hate educated union employees. They are not interested in competence or education. They want you to produce and lick boots. It’s really unfortunate. What is now a money hungry, expansion-focused corporation used to be a respected, privately owned company that was industry leading. If you are fine collecting a paycheck and blindly following management, you’ll do great. If you are passionate about the work, want to grow professionally, and have the gumption stick up for yourself and others - you will struggle immensely, and they will do whatever they can to make you miserable. And if you’re worth your salt as an arborist - forget it. They don’t care about real arboriculture. That is 100% a facade.