Pros
Working for DeKalb County Parks & Recreation is a mix of positives and negatives. On the positive side, the benefits and health insurance are great, and the work itself is meaningful (though it's often not recognized by upper management) and community-oriented. Most teams are made up of dedicated, supportive coworkers and supervisors who genuinely care about the work and each other. The schedule is stable, and DeKalb offers some training opportunities and certifications that can help you strengthen your resume.
Cons
The pay is modest, enough to live comfortably (on a tight budget), but not much beyond that, and there’s very little room for advancement. Promotions are rare, and salary increases are minimal, which makes long-term career growth difficult. DeKalb Parks (and DeKalb County in genera) are very disorganized at higher levels, with communication and decision-making often feeling inconsistent or unclear. Overall, it’s a good place to gain experience, build connections, make an impact, all while bringing home decent pay to be stable, but you’ll likely need to move to another organization for meaningful growth or better pay.