Pros
There are a lot of organizations and think tanks in DC, but there is no place outside of government that has the impact that C4ADS does. A one-of-a-kind launching pad for early career folks interested in natsec/foreign affairs. That's reason enough to join. Here are some others: - Genuinely fascinating work which junior analysts can completely own from start to finish. That includes presenting on panels and traveling around the world to work with partners. - Interesting technology and plenty of opportunities to develop technical skills if that's of interest. - No middle management and a huge amount of flexibility when it comes to getting the job done. That includes time in office vs WFH. The default assumption from management is that you are getting the job done. -People are all sharp with minimal ego.
Cons
- Depending on what cell you're hired onto, some of the work can get repetitive and some partners can be difficult to work with or aren't overly communicative. - There is far less room to grow at the organization than existed 3+ years ago. A decent portion of management started as interns. That's awesome. But it's not clear that particular pathway is open to people joining the organization. That's amplified by more and more outside hires into management positions. If you're early career, it's less of an issue; a lot of folks join for 1-2 years and move on to new and exciting opportunities. But something to be aware of when you join.