Booz Allen Hamilton reviews

The company has moved from a diamond level consulting company to one focused only on profits at the expense of their employees to meet shareholder expectations (partners and Carlyle) at all costs. The pay is generally less than competitors in the same industry. Personal growth is determined by the 'old boys network' of advancement. If you can get brought into an inner circle you can go far, otherwise be happy with a static career.

1) Not much consistency for determining if new hires should be Lead Associates or Associates; and little consistency across the firm for promotion to one or the other. Many Lead Associates seem to have been promoted due to technical proficiency, but they have poor people and project management skills. 2) There is a feeling that to be promoted you must 'do your time.' Highly skilled new employees often are placed into less impactful roles; those who have experience managing large teams or thriving in entrepreneurial environments are placed in more junior 'doer' roles where their strengths are left untouched. 3) The firm claims to value diversity but this does not seem to be true for diversity of perspectives (e.g., general management consultants who have worked outside of government, in smaller organizations or even internationally). 4) The culture, opportunities for growth and promotion are hard to figure out. There is a strong "you take control of your career" ethos. However, there's also a very fine line between encouraging employees to do all the work and poor management. 5) Internal communication at market and team level isn't great. I don't feel my team has a vision to rally behind and I can't see how our work fits with wider firm strategy. 6) I feel like 75% of my time is spent developing decks and thinking for folks 'up the chain.' -- half of which never see the light of day. Many Associates are stuck in 'content-generator' commodity roles and it's really demotivating.