Pros
Some of the smartest and hardest working people I've ever met. I am blown away by the talent here. They tend to treat people right on the way out - there are just a lot of people that leave. Multiple colleagues that figured it wasn't for them (or vice versa) and the transparency allowed for an open discussion with managers to transition out so the employee could land on his/her feet. Despite what I've listed in the cons - I would hire this agency for my internal comms/change management needs because I know how smart everyone is, how hard they work, and how they treat their clients.
Cons
There's a big long review previously that I cannot add more to. It hits the nail on the head. No 401k. Constantly reminded that our paycheck, benefits, and everything come from MDs and Partners so we can be so thankful for it and don't ask for anything more. Everything here is scrutinized, even if you're just responding to an internal email - typos are unacceptable. It creates a new level of anxiety and stress that I didn't know existed. Wouldn't time be better spent on client work rather than proofreading an internal email 5 times? You're also afraid to ask questions because you feel dumb asking. I've heard colleagues answer things like 'you should know that already.' It's just not a welcoming environment. There is no such thing as work/life balance here. You're expected to respond to everything in a timely manner - even if you're on vacation in another country. Clients come first - mental health comes second. We hear stories all the time about how they used to sleep under their desks to build the company and how great we have it now. They always say the right thing - but it's because they know it sounds good. Once you're not around, they'll throw dirt all over your name. They call it "feedback." There's no line to this feedback. It's one thing to use it and help others get better but they encourage managers (and others) to find something negative to say about someone. There are limits to everything. Employees can improve but they need to work on a couple things at a time - not 27 things at a time. Simply put - most people will get burnt out here.