Overly Hyped Consulting Company With a Tarnishing Image
Pros
Booz Allen manages to employ some of the most intelligent and outgoing folks in the industry, and they support some of the most important and overarching government programs contracted out. They push their employees hard to be the best they can be, which helps develop them into very competent professionals. They push their culture to be the best consultant pretty hard, and also really drive home good ethics.
Cons
It's a very aggressive, self absorbed culture. The 360 degree review process is excessive and very broad, essentially forcing anyone with an inclination to move up in their career to get their hands into many pots. This is great for developing experience, making a name for yourself, and extending your wings, but most employees do just what it takes to check the box on their assessment. It's extremely difficult to change contracts or industries, and some programs (mine was like this) actually try to sabotage this by playing mind games with you and internal political games. I was part of the interview team and heard several stories by former employees that expressed distaste for not being able to move within their career. Management can be self absorbed, political, and they are more concerned about profits and developing their career due to how agressive the culture is. Thankless environment. No matter how hard you worked and innovated, there was always a reason you could have done better and why you didn't make the cut for a promotion. Even worse is when you worked to develop a product or solution, only to be told good game andhave it moved on for someone else to manage because they need you billable. Benefits started out pretty good, but since then the ECAP program has been cut and employees no longer get the 10% gift into their retirement account. Copensation was 20% or so less than competitors. Unless you drink the punch and fit in to the "good ole boys" club, its going to be very difficult to advance.