Waste of time - Anonymous employee Booz Allen Hamilton Employee Review

1.0
May 3, 2012
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pay & benefits Work-life balance Junior employees are sharp and helpful Occasionally interesting work

Cons

Biggest problem: the enormous amount of sitting around "on the bench" that often occurs because of lack of client work or fed bureaucrats not moving contracts quickly. Result: I've only had actual work for for about 1/3 of my time at this company, which is bad for my career development and a waste of tax dollars because that's what pays Booz. As an MBA, I expect to be challenged. That hasn't happened. I've seen a LOT of people at my level leave because they are very smart, very motivated, and this place wastes their time and talents. Government consulting is a misnomer. It is NOT consulting. It is contracting out what the feds don't want to do or aren't staffed for. Booz has become a "butts in seats" place, where they just try to get you client site basically doing the same thing as a bureaucrat. And trying to help entrenched, unmotivated career bureaucrats make progress on important national issues is frustrating. Management: Senior Associates usually SUCK, and they are the middle management you'll likely work for. Principals are usually good, but there's limited interaction because they're senior to the Senior Associates.

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5.0
Jun 23, 2026
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CEO approval
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Pros

Usually no overtime. Diverse job assignments are available.

Cons

Many job assignments are at military sites, and must be done in person.

3.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Strong mission-focused culture with meaningful work supporting national security missions. Great exposure to diverse projects, talented teammates, flexible work arrangements, and opportunities to develop skills across security, intelligence, cyber, and consulting. Benefits and professional development resources are solid.

Cons

The company culture and employee experience have changed significantly in recent years. Earlier years felt more mission-focused and employee-centered, while recent organizational shifts, government spending pressures, and increased emphasis on becoming a technology-focused company have created uncertainty for some employees. Frequent changes in priorities, restructuring, and business decisions can make job stability feel less predictable. Employees may sometimes feel disconnected from leadership, and concerns raised through HR or management channels do not always appear to result in meaningful action or transparency.

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