Pros
- Fantastic, smart, hard-working peers that will drive and support you. - Exposure to some of the biggest names in PE, Sovereign Wealth, and Telecom. You will work on some headline deals, bigger than you would think at a firm this size - Project work that is maniacally detailed and engrossing. You will learn to see and solve problems in a deep and comprehensive way, and you will realize that not every job will train you in this way (even those at other consulting firms) - By and large a meritocracy, you do not advance based on tenure but rather by proving you can assume the responsibility expected at the next level - No office politics, no "caps" as to how many analysts get promoted to senior each cycle, etc. If everybody in the class is deemed to be ready, they will all be promoted. - Increasing focus on developing more advanced analytical skills (Python, SQL, GIS) which are marketable skills beyond consulting - Low to no travel (a perk, not really a pro)
Cons
- Having 60-70% of clients/projects in high finance means they will expect you to approach, if not match their hours - Very difficult to plan any sort of personal time as a result of hours - Projects are often understaffed, which Management sees as an opportunity for junior staff to "step up", but junior staff are tapped out as it is - Compensation is on the lower end of consulting firms - Path to promotion is clear, but some analysts are lucky to be staffed on projects that allow them to show they are ready for the next level, while others are not - Analysts with clear strengths in areas that are not quantitative (i.e. Research, surveys) get pigeonholed into doing those tasks, and are not given adequate opportunity to develop quantitatively (i.e. the stuff that gets you promoted)