Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.

Wages are dependent on your certifications. Get more certs, get more money. Management is friendly and easy to communicate with, though sometimes they’re stressed and a bit impatient. The flexibility goes both ways, so if you’re willing to help them out, they’ll help you out. I haven’t had a single issue getting my time off when I need it, even when it’s been last minute. 

The biggest issue with HCEA is the lack of training. If you can walk, talk, and chew gum they’ll send you to a site, and sometimes you won’t know what you’re doing. If you’ve never worked as a tech before, most of your first few months will be asking LOTS of questions and feeling dumb. 

The work itself is not bad, but can be very high stress when you know what you’re talking about and trying to explain to a contractor that’s six months behind why they can’t take the shortcuts they want. You might feel frustrated and annoyed and when you have to write down how stupid they might have been (in nicer words of course), submit you’re report, and then face them the day they get to read i, it can be really stressful and it can be tough knowing that they don’t like you. But that just means you gotta try harder to watch what happens because they might try to do some stuff under the radar. It’s a tough balance. Besides that, half the job is sitting around waiting for stuff to do and just being flexible. The good news is that if you’re looking for long-term employment, these guys will give you employee stock!

I've worked for the company for nearly 2 years. In my time there I got to know so many incredible people. They all work hard, are determined, and are some of the kindest people you will meet. I wish I could have stayed there longer, but due to my husband's job transfer, I had to leave. 
My co-workers were really more like my family, and the one I worked most close with became basically my big sister. My boss was the most caring, self-sacrificing person I knew, and she is the head of Human Resources if that tells you anything...
 I talked with the company's founders, branch managers, engineers, and technicians. Everyone struggles differently, but what you soon realize working there is that everyone takes care of each other. It is the most beautiful, celebrated thing about HCEA. 
The industry the company is in is getting harder and harder to maintain and find employees. Laborers are the forgotten underdogs that keep the world spinning and growing, they really should be considered heroes.  The company continues to grow, and expand with many wonderful plans for the future. Definitely, a company that you should keep your eye on for greatness.

A typical day involves dealing with lots of moving parts which would be manageable if the supervisors actually cared about their employees. However, between equipment not being kept up and therefore being unusable at times, project managers not answering when you have important questions, being made to do some questionable things while on site, lying and faking results or tests to make contractors happy, having to deal with supervisors trying to make you look incompetent on sites just to please contractors, almost no work/life, no company vehicle, and terrible pay and benefits it makes it hard to want to stay here. There is no room for growth into higher positions. There is also no apparent rush to get proper certifications for the people going out in the field to do the work. Overall, this job is more about what you learn outside of the company and from others you meet on site. Those are the things that will propel you into a better company and position.

everyone met up at shop 6:30 and went to job sites instructed to by management. work days were 8 hours plus.monday through friday. paid bi-weekly.

 I learned basic laborer skills such as, using hand tools, power tools, and machinary operational safty skills.

 The Management was very flexible towards family events. also leanient but fair for tardiness.

 co-workers were helpful in everyday work day whether it be physical assistance or step by step guidence on tasks. good group of guys.

 hardest part of job was that the job is extremely physically demanding. i wouldnt recomend employement for those without a strong back. 

 the most enjoyable part of this job was the constant change of senery. most jobs were able to be done with 2 or less days so youd be on to the next place before the next week.

I work at HCEA for 10 years and in that time I got just three  Pay raises in that time I was  there. I first started in the down turn of the  economy as a  engineering technician and work some of the biggest Projects in Dover with my hard work I pulled my self to the top but I won’t moor money for my efforts so the management in delmar ask me if I work and drive a big truck and  maintain the geo prob they had in ther office me being a master ASE tech I Said ok boy I was in for a treat would call the manager jj he never wanted to fix the rig or put money in it or the truck unless you stuck at the scale house or broke down on the job site some of the old tech on this site that say that they have to use there cars good for you because the truck that delmar hade are unsafe and jj will or was unwilling to fix the Vehicles

What is the best part of working at the company?
The atmosphere and the people. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
You wear a lot of hats, but it makes the days go by fast and you are appreciated for your efforts. So stressful yes, but worth it. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Every person I have dealt with at corporate has been understanding, patient and kind. They understand that life happens and encourage you to take care of yourself and your family. They are really good people to work for. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Busy! I always have something to do and it makes the days fly by.

State College, PA office does not promote from within. Minimal training provided to get you on to jobsites but nothing for intellectual or career advancement. Pay below average and work life balance is non existent. No bonuses other than employee of the month which requires managers to submit paperwork, State College managers will not do this. Threatening to quit is the only way to get a raise. Corporate values profit over employees. Employees stock is the only real benefit to working at Hillis.

Overall, working at Hills Carnes has helped me get hands on experience on a variety of projects in the area. Corporate management should work on improving compensation & benefit packages for employees in order to assure quality services and employee satisfaction.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Excellent field support,  good field training. Good benefits.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Job schedules sometimes hectic.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Excellent, supportive. Training support, helpful co-workers.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Go to the lab, get a nuclear density gauge, on site testing, return gauge to the lab.

Pay is decent, especially being paid milage. However you have no support and little training and are expected to have everything figured out in a very short amount of time. Your day is very dependent on who your on site supervisor is. And how well they train you or expect you to have it all together will determine your employment length. There is very clear favoritism and biases towards certain employees.

Working at Hillis Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.: Company Overview and Reviews

Hillis Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.

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