Pros
The only positive aspect of this organization is exposure to the sports industry for young professionals who need a few years of experience before they move on to work for a better team. They have a great unpaid internship program.
Cons
There are so many downsides to this place, I'm not sure where to begin. First off, if you’re not a fanatic of soccer or FC Dallas and can’t commit to attending every game, don’t accept the offer. Despite their claim that they hire candidates who are fans of any sport, I was told that the owner has an expectation that everyone support the team and not attending basically shows your lack of loyalty. So expect to be treated differently if don't "drink the Kool-Aid" even if it means sacrificing your health and personal life. Let me be clear that you can be absent from your normal work days Monday thru Friday, but missing a game is not acceptable. I wish I were exaggerating. If you do choose to accept an offer in middle management or above, be aware that this company caters to entry-level employees and interns so growth potential is extremely limited. FC Dallas is not a place to build a real career, but rather a place to hold a transitional role that provides the experience you need to obtain a better job somewhere else. They have little to no focus on career development for full-time staff since all that energy goes to the internship program, so middle management is the highest you can reach for most departments. Additionally, the rates of pay are embarrassingly low despite the overall wealth of the Hunt family who own FC Dallas among other professional teams and of course their business in oil. Somehow they have money to pay for chartered flights to championship games and weekly catered lunches, yet they have wages that are comparable to late 1990's, early 2000's pay scales. I personally heard employees complain very openly about how they don't care about receiving recognition and trophies for their work, they want pay that is competitive. The HR department is very out of touch with current best practices and runs like the antiquated "Personnel Office" of yesteryear. They are siloed, by choice, from the rest of the administrative and executive staff in a completely separate building. When asked why certain forms and processes have not been updated to meet current standards, I was told that they simply "aren't that sophisticated as an organization." Their words, not mine. If this is the attitude from the HR department, you can imagine how the remainder of the company is operated. My advice to prospective employees: Be cautious. The impression you're given during the interview may not be the same as what you're actually signing on for once you're there. The organization's definition of flexible is their own version, so depending on which department you're hired into, be sure you understand what that is before you accept an offer or you may be in for a fight to continue employment. Trust me, it's not worth the stress.
