Get in with the cool club, or your advancement will be stifled. - Anonymous employee Protiviti Employee Review

1.0
Mar 22, 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

If you're fresh out of school, Protiviti is a great place to start your career. They will give you the tools to become a successful consultant. Salaries are very competitive and are on the higher end to firms around the same size as Protiviti. Bonuses and raises are also above the industry standard.

Cons

The individuals in the Chicago office were very cliquish. There seems to be a "cool kid club", as well. If you didn't get in good with certain members of Senior Management (ie - Managing Directors), your advancement from Consultant to Senior Consultant, to Management, etc., will either be stifled, or you will be quietly forced out. Additionally, there are individuals in middle management who seem to exploit their title over their staff. This, combined with the aforementioned cool club, can be detrimental to those who don't "fall in line". The Chicago office's (and perhaps the rest of the organization) attitude: They have a big 4 mentality. They try to act like the Big 4, despite being significantly smaller in numbers. Then there's the work/life "blend". Translation: expect to work long hours, and expect to be at every beck and whim of your Manager/Sr. Manager. It could be 11pm in the evening, and if they email, it is the expectation that you are monitoring your email and are to reply in a timely manner. Don't expect much respect for your personal time, which is a result of the work/life blend described above. Finally, the periodic work from home (standard for the consulting industry) is frowned upon.

Explore other reviews about Protiviti

5.0
Jun 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good WLB Great Bosses Health insurance & benefits are awesome Very flexible workforce Easy to climb up in promotions

Cons

Pay is below standard (Although I feel you still get paid decently for the area) If you're put on a production project, be ready to feel stuck. Management is very lost on where they want to head into the future. I am worried this company won't last much longer (Former arthur anderson) Can feel clique-y at times amongst peers (but this is not a problem of the company specifically)

3.0
Mar 29, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

1) Chicago office has a good culture, overall. It’s not perfect but most of the people are great. 2) Work-life balance score has been solid (about 5+ years of insights here) 3) Although it was not great this year, Incentive compensation has overall been pretty good over the course of 5+ years. Much better than big 4 in my experience.

Cons

1) Since 2023, the culture hasn’t been great for a variety of reasons (mainly due to sluggish performance and growing too fast) 2) It feels more like a temporary staffing agency versus a consulting firm for a lot of the time. 3) There has been an awkward push for a return to the office and more business development focus that is in stark contrast to what most Protiviti people value. 4) Most people I talk to say they are not motivated by most of the MDs they interact with (this is significant in my opinion).

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