Awful Associate experience - Associate Consultant Capco Employee Review

1.0
Sep 9, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You can apply to other jobs while at work.

Cons

I simply wanted to confirm what the other reviewer said in "Undignified for associates". Every word is true. I was an Associate at Capco from late 2012 to mid-2014. The things I saw there were shocking, but by far the worst was the treatment of Associates by partners; they are absolutely abusive towards these entry-level hires. The entire structure of the Associate Talent Program is run by politically-motivated partners who delight in playing games with people's careers, holding them back from promotion simply because they don't like them. It is biased, wrong, and completely pathetic. I saw many of the same things the other reviewer witnessed while I was employed there. Associates who were preselected by management would shoot up the company ladder, making more money, gaining new responsibilities, etc. Those who were not - no matter how hard they worked - were never promoted; all they got was a "Maybe next time" from the partners. There never is a "next time" for these people; they are eventually let go. Politics is all that matters; work accomplishments, a happy client - these things are of no consequence at Capco. Because conditions are so horrible for Associates here, you are constantly encouraged by management to refer your friends, your family, even random acquaintances for their "Talent Program". This is when I began to wonder if I was working for a scheme instead of a "management consultancy"; I felt pressured to suck people into an opportunity I knew was sub-par in every way. Please know that if you are taking an Associate offer here, you WILL be abused by upper management and made the plaything of the partners. They do not care in the slightest about your career progression, and love to see you squirm as they repeatedly talk down to you or send you passive-aggressive emails. I would never recommend Capco, the bodyshop, to anyone, but especially not Associates.

Explore other reviews about Capco

5.0
May 28, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great people and atmosphere here

Cons

No complaints in this company

1
4.0
May 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Varied client work — Different clients and project types, which keeps things interesting. Real project mobility — You can move between projects when you advocate for yourself (within reason). Approachable leadership — Senior leaders are open to conversations if you reach out. Good development resources — Plenty of training and growth opportunities if you take advantage of them. Strong teams — Colleagues are smart, capable, and great to work with. Entrepreneurial environment — New ideas are encouraged, and there’s room to take initiative.

Cons

Long hours vary by project — Like most any professional job, some engagements require extended hours for prolonged periods, but work–life balance really depends on the client and team. Additional internal responsibilities — Depending on level, there can be a significant amount of firm‑support work outside of client delivery. Domain alignment not guaranteed — You may not always be staffed on projects that match your domain expertise. Coaching alignment constraints — Coaching relationships are tied to domain, which limits flexibility in choosing formal mentors. Long engagements (sometimes) — Some projects run for long durations or through multiple extensions. It can provides stability but may reduce variety in client and project experience depending on what you’re looking for.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All