Forrester reviews

2.8

35% would recommend to a friend

(1,731 total reviews)
avatar

George F. Colony

24% approve of CEO

22% positive business outlook

Forrester has an employee rating of 2.8 out of 5 stars, based on 1,731 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The Forrester employee rating is 20% below average for employers within the Management & Consulting industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews
3.0
May 2, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I was an analyst at Forrester for many years, so please take my review from the perspective of someone in research. To me, this is the best role at Forrester. As an analyst, Forrester has many pros: -Excellent work/life balance once you master the role -Exposure to some of the biggest and most influential companies and executives in the world -A brand name that punches way above its weight, though it is under scrutiny right now -Smart and mostly motivated colleagues -Opportunities to travel the world on someone else's dime -The chance to seek and tell the truth - unless you're a judge, this is a super rare in the world of making money -The ability to create and shift global tech markets

Cons

Over the past few years, Forrester has gotten in its own way. It's trying to transform the business, but it often feels like the product the company is trying to deliver is not what customers actually want. Rolling out a new product during an economic downturn (see 2022) was a bad idea - the stock price is evidence of a company that seems to be losing relevance to buyers. Over the past few years, being an analyst has felt much less like doing world-class research and much more like being a consultant. It's getting more hands-on, making time for research even more limited than it has been in the past. Many employees (especially in Research) complain about how hard it is to get promoted at Forrester. Forrester talks a big game about its high performance culture, but there are too many coasters in the analyst ranks, which can be demotivating at times. People have used the term "Forrester Country Club".

avatar
Forrester Response
1y
Thank you for your detailed and candid review. It’s clear you had a deep connection to the analyst role, and I appreciate you highlighting the meaningful impact and influence Forrester has in the world. We remain committed to creating an environment where our employees can do their best work. Your feedback on the evolving nature of the role, and opportunities for recognition and support are points we take seriously. I really appreciate you taking the time to write this feedback. I see you’re a former employee. Thank you for your past contributions to Forrester and wishing you the best in your career. Jobina Gonsalves Chief People Officer
3.0
Apr 30, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Very clever people to work with, great team and support across different functions. - Great industry and different varieties of clients and industry to work with.

Cons

- Very unstable atmosphere for about 3 years, with constant layoffs (with very unclear reasons) , promotion and bonus freeze, an entire department relocated to India to cut cost without thinking of the collaborators and the CX impact. - Unclear promotion ladder, even if they claim to have worked on clarifying it. It seems as if whatever your performance, they would always find an excuse not to promote, and at the same time they are hiring externally for hire level to later complain that those people are incompetent. Managers have a "I am not in charge" attitude sometimes, which is very discouraging to open up about challenges. I have been working hard for years, taking in on feedbacks to improve my skills, but there is always something to justify not to promote. It looks as if they are confuse between skills requirements and processes management, which by the way change every 6 months/year, due to Leadership turnovers. - There is also a double message/inconsistency when it comes to compliance with clients and processes management , whether you are US or EMEA based, or for sales team. US folks seem to be above the law and can do wathever they want. When it comes to sales, as long as they sale they are not even required to know how to use the CRM properly , creating extra workload for other functions as someone has to do their admin job and train them on they own responsibilities.

Viewing 94 - 96 of 1,731 Reviews

Glassdoor has 1,798 Forrester reviews submitted anonymously by Forrester employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Forrester is right for you.