Pays roughly 30k below average for same jobs at other firms - Associate DRT Strategies Employee Review

1.0
Jul 23, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Plenty of PTO and ability to front-load hours on certain projects. Women owned and run.

Cons

Low pay- my friends at other firms doing the exact same job are making nearly twice as much starting out. We have the exact same experience and were all hired in the same 6 months. Salary was also non-negotiable and I was told if I wanted to negotiate they’d give the job to someone else. Management is one giant clique that only cares about themselves. My manager often took credit for my work and the work of others on my team to advance themself. I was also frequently asked to work 80 hours a week and only allowed to bill 40 hours per week. I was asked to work late at night or on vacation then reprimand for it and told I “wasn’t on that level yet”. Which just implies to me, the more I advanced with the company, the less respect for work life balance they provide. The annual review process is set up to prevent promotions and keep them from having to give raises. The two years I worked there, I wasn’t even provided a cost of living adjustment, even though individual living expenses in DC averaged over half my monthly salary (with multiple roommates!). You’re also not eligible for any raises or promotions until your second review cycle if you’re hired after May. So if you’re coming right out of college, you’ll be there for almost two years before you can get a raise or promotion, since the review cycle is February-April. No financial assistance was provided during the 5 week government shut down and in order to get paid you were expected to use your PTO, if you had none you had to take leave without pay.

Explore other reviews about DRT Strategies

5.0
Jul 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I enjoy building solutions that are both practical and useful. The projects are interesting and keep me focused. Another big plus is the knowledgeable and supportive team. People share expertise and ideas when there’s a complex issue to tackle. We also have a smooth collaboration with analysts and stakeholders, which makes it easier to work efficiently.

Cons

Flexibility is important here, so be prepared to make quick decisions and adjust your plans as you go.

1.0
Jul 1, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Individual project assignments came with clear scope. Management stayed out of the weeds on daily work.

Cons

• Every diversity training session repeated the same message about inclusion, yet nothing in daily operations reflected those promises • The leadership team looked exactly the same as when I was hired despite constant claims about bringing in different perspectives • Candidates from underrepresented backgrounds were hired but received far less mentoring and advancement support than others • Diversity initiatives were heavily advertised during announcement weeks and then completely disappeared once other priorities took over • Leadership positions repeatedly went to people from the same backgrounds despite having qualified candidates from other demographics available

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DRT Strategies Response
2w
Thank you for your review. We value feedback from employees and strive to serve our clients and the communities in which we live and work. We are disappointed to hear that this was not your experience. If this was brought to our attention during your employment, we would have addressed your concerns as soon as possible. Again, thank you for sharing your perspective and we wish you well in your professional endeavors. 
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