Pros
You have the opportunity to engage the community around you. At the end of the day, it's not about how much you've made, it's about the lives you've influenced. There are many career opportunities within the YMCA. Most of the upper management began their journey through the YMCA ladder of success by first becoming an afterschool counselor or sports worker. Over the years they work they way up by becoming a Sports or Afterschool Coordinator. Then they are eligible to receive training through the association to earn a certification to become a Director. From there, the Director can become an Executive Director and that is the highest position within a particular Branch. There are more opportunities even outside of a particular branch.
Cons
It isn't a high paying job at the lower levels and it takes time and patience if your goal is to reach the higher level jobs within a YMCA branch. The benefits are weak as well, but you are able to receive them even as a part-time employee. Sometimes working with families at the YMCA, you learn about the people in the community. Working in the afterschool program, you may see children who have difficult living situations or who have suffered from abuse. The YMCA works very hard to see that each employee is trained to look for signs of abuse of any kind. It's tiring at the end of the day, but necessary.