Pros
Cabot can allow for a decent work-life balance. The peer-to-peer interaction (in contrast to is senior-level interaction) can be collaborative. And for those living in New England, Cabot provides one of select few career opportunities in materials / chemicals. Special call out for a well-meaning CEO (although his refusal or inability to shake up people or things around him have allowed the ills to prosper).
Kontras
I would STRONGLY dissuade my friends and family from working for Cabot based on my 4+ years of experience in the company in various positions and teams. Some of the reasons include (a) the company's low level of integrity in customer dealings (shipping sub-standard material knowingly hoping that the customer does not find out), (b) cold and indifferent treatment from HR for employee concerns or grievances (HR function may as well not exist in this company; when HR does something it usually is to harm the employees rather than to help them... and things have become worse with org changes recently), (c) rock bottom employee morale as became evident in employee engagement surveys conducted by Corporate, (d) ZERO chance of career development, and as if all that was not enough (e) extremely poor business strategy & execution versus competitors. (please note that you can attribute most of the business performance to oil price movements with only detrimental contribution from business management) The company needs some serious surgery -- which I hope it gets -- because I think it can thrive given its legacy and access to talent globally (especially at mid- to senior-management levels in the Boston area).