Pros
-Great insight into private equity.
-Manageable workload.
-Opens the door for plenty of other opportunities in the industry.
-Promotes progress of the CFA and MBA.
Cons
-Toxic environment starts from the top and works its way to management. They make it clear early that you need to work excessively, but you are easily replaceable.
-You can hear upper management screaming and cursing at employees on a daily basis. You will be safe from this as long as you speak when spoken too, and even then you might be asked to stop talking.
-Management is full of control freaks and large egos that will micromanage your every move. None of your work will be your own and they are so conceited no suggestions of improvement will be considered.
-The pay is substantially below market and benefits are poor. You'll have to fight for vacation time and be ready for it to be rejected. You'll be required to work some Saturdays even though there is not enough work to warrant it.
-The work itself can be interesting but most of your time is spent waiting for old systems to load, or repeatedly editing insignificant details of a report that will be glossed over by management.
-There are a few people that care about you but overwhelmingly most people are antisocial and look dead inside. Management will know nothing about you as a person and frankly don't care to ask, which only supports that you are only valuable as long as you being productive for the firm.