Staffing firm masquerading as a consulting firm - Consultant Slalom Employee Review

2.0
May 27, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

1. They hire very talented people like ex Big 4 consultants 2. Great events to socialize and mingle, albeit the format is always completely catering to the extrovert 3. The office is warm and inviting 4. Most people (non-management) are great to work with

Cons

I post this specifically related to the LA office, my understanding is that the culture can be different in each Slalom office. 1. "Consulting" opportunities are few and far between. If you are not in a purely technical discipline, good luck getting staffed according to your skillsets, let alone desires. 2. Management on projects kowtows to clients, no backbone whatsoever when it comes to SOW conflicts, scope creep, etc. I've had management throw me under the bus first, instead of standing up to the client. 3. You will mostly be on projects by yourself, and left to yourself, management doesn't see or really ask about your work, just as long as you are staffed and paid for by the client. 4. You can't say no to a project, or you're toast. Even if the project work is completely out of your wheelhouse. You are asked to "tweak" your resume so they force-fit you into a role. 5. If the wrong person in management doesn't "like" you, you're toast. They all share subjective "feedback" with each other about you behind your back. I was told by a previous manager that your relationships are actually more important than the work you do. To some extent that is true in consulting, but at Slalom LA it is taken to an extreme level. 6. If you're not extremely extroverted you fade into the woodwork, no matter how hard you work or how good you are at what you do. 7. Lastly, the LA commutes are brutal, but management will never negotiate WFH with a client, even on Fridays. They would rather put you through a 2 hour commute each way everyday than negotiate any kind of WLB with the client for you. All in the name of "customer love". Which morphed into "customer obsession" during my time there. Face palm.

avatar
Slalom Response
5y
This is John Tobin. The timing on this post is very strange, given that it is a pandemic and everyone has not commuted in over a year. Also, the LA specific team has changed a lot over the last year and a half - including some of the leaders. I would be happy to share with you some of the things I have seen change or I would also just be happy to talk to you to understand what you experienced while here at Slalom. Simply email me at johnt@slalom.com to set up a time to talk. Alternatively, if you’d like to share more feedback anonymously, please consider doing so via this survey: http://slalom.ws/anonsurvey.

Explore other reviews about Slalom

5.0
May 18, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong local client base, collaborative team culture, good learning opportunities, and career growth.

Cons

Need to adjust quickly to different clients, tools, and expectations.

2.0
Jun 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

•There is an impressive budget, especially for high-level events, ancillary experiences, client giveaways, and premium swag. Management does not hesitate to fund top-notch brand experiences when needed. •The company offers a highly competitive benefits and perks package that remains a strong selling point.

Cons

•The "fiercely human" core value does not match daily operations. Collaboration is routinely replaced by a self-service model of training videos and help articles. •These recurring shifts are designed to manufacture the appearance of fiscal stability for the benefit of external stakeholders and clients, while leaving core operational deficits unaddressed. •Organizational maturity is low. Teams operate in deep silos, the internal tech stack is outdated, and there is a distinct lack of adequate project and event management software.

2
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All