Decent place to gain experience but not a place to stay long term - Data and Policy Analyst Acumen Employee Review

1.0
May 18, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Acumen hires people from a wide variety of backgrounds and the hiring bar is really low as well. Almost all of the openings are at entry level. If you are looking to transition to a data analysis, research, or policy field, Acumen is a decent place to get that initial experience.

Cons

Don't stay at Acumen for more than a year or two. It is an extremely mismanaged company. Depending on who your manager is, you will either be underworked and bored or so overworked that working on weekends and late nights becomes the norm. The pay is low and Acumen has been coming up with new ways and excuses (such as delaying annual promotions and bonuses, etc) for not giving employees a raise/bonus. As people reach higher positions, Acumen will overwork employees to the point of quitting so that they can be replaced with cheaper fresh out of school graduates. Bonuses range from 0 to 2% of salary which is pretty much the same as non existent. Benefits suck.

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Acumen Response
9y
We are sincerely sorry that you have such an impression. We feel that it does not represent who we are as a company. Despite your perception, we are taking the comments left here into consideration and constantly striving for improvement.

Explore other reviews about Acumen

5.0
Apr 18, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- The work is intellectually engaging and gave me many chances to grow technically. - I learned a lot from talented coworkers and appreciated being part of projects with real-world relevance. - There was also good exposure to translating technical work into clear, usable takeaways.

Cons

- The work can be intense and detail-heavy, and deadlines can sometimes feel demanding. - Priorities may shift quickly, which can make it hard to plan ahead. - At times, the volume of revisions and fast pace can be stressful.

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Acumen Response
2mo
We've heard that this type of feedback is helpful to new graduates and prospective applicants, particularly your perspective on the pros and cons of working here. Please continue to share your experiences during your career journey with us. We wish you the best!
2.0
Jun 26, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great people to work with overall

Cons

Management is disorganized No incentives to want to continue working there

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