Pros
-High-quality strategy work: projects are varied and intellectually stimulating, mainly consisting of quantitative analysis and industry research. -Very sharp, motivated and social employees: from Tokyo to London I've found Marsians to make for great teammates. It's a small but deep network. -Great travel opportunities (pre-covid): international clients = frequent international opportunities, especially for an SF-based consultant who can be pulled onto Tokyo- or NYC-based projects. -No bureaucracy: you're almost entirely free from red tape, which is like a breath of fresh air after a B4 internship. -Solid pay and nice benefits (gym, WFH stipend, etc): in line with industry standards except for there being no bonuses at S/AC levels
Cons
Standard consulting cons: -Long hours -Not a lot of autonomy re. staffing (can't stick with managers, industries, etc) Mars-specific cons: -SF consultants are consistently undervalued. It's more difficult to get on high-profile projects and promotions are slower out of this office vs. NY. -Very uninspiring senior leadership. This is an old-school style shop that's not going to change anytime soon. Looking for a firm that value D&I, mental health, 360 feedback, entrepreneurship etc? Look elsewhere. Mars is laser-focused on providing their clients (the majority of which are F50 companies they've been serving for 10+ years) maximum value, and presumably they don't think internal culture matters for their bottom line. -No bureaucracy. You're on your own to build a learning experience, support system and career path here. Esp in SF, you must be proactive to succeed.
