Portfolio Management (Direct Lending) – Save Yourself - Anonymous employee Ares Management Employee Review

1.0
Mar 3, 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Ares is a great firm beyond this group. I highly encourage people to seek out roles across the Ares platform outside this group.

Cons

If you’re reading this, don’t make the mistake of joining this group. Ares is a great firm, but this team is an absolute mess. Poor leadership, no skill development, and a dead-end role. Do not be fooled by the job description or possibility for internal opportunities. ***The only people who stay are the ones who can’t leave.*** • No Skill Development: The work is mindless data entry with no real analysis or learning. You’ll gain no transferable skills. • Disorganized & Poorly Managed: Leadership is out of touch, workflow is chaotic, and there’s no real structure or direction. A revolving door of chaos. • Toxic & Fear-Driven Culture: Promotions are based on compliance, not competence. Mid-levels are too scared to push back on bad decisions and too incompetent to make an impact. • Weak Team, Weaker Work Product: Most team members lack basic technical skills (Excel, PPT, etc.). I could have done this job in middle school. This group *WILL* be automated. Ares should bring in consultants to offshore / deprecate this function. • No Future Here: The idea that this role leads to growth or better opportunities is a myth. ***The only people who stay are the ones who can’t leave.***

Explore other reviews about Ares Management

5.0
Jun 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Amazing work environment and benefits.

Cons

Expectation to be in office four(4) days

2.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Prestige, Good Benefits, snacks in the fridge Some teams are very good. Ideal for someone in their 40s or 50s who is looking for stability.

Cons

All teams are different at a company of this size, but working in the middle office technology team was the worst experience of my career. Day to day work was either completely free of directive or projects would be completely blocked by bureaucracy. When a project I was working on went well, there was no celebration and when it was late or had issues there was no reflection. The culture is going into work to a cubicle to sit in zoom meeting straight from nine to five or eating lunch alone each day in a ghost town office. Other teams will speak poorly of each other and gossip. My boss's boss was a bully and would threaten people constantly. Everyone I worked with was "living the dream", overworked and bored to death but making a ton of money. Every team outing they had in three years was just a golf simulator. It just doesn't have to be like this. We've moved on from this cubicle farm company since the 90s, work should be encouraging and fun. Unless you're looking for stability above all else, you can find a better place to work.

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