Slalom reviews

1) Lack of strategy and overemphasis on IM If you're coming from a Big 4 and are used to strategy projects, you won't find that here. In Chicago, the work is almost 100% IM implementation/support projects. "Strategy" here means IM strategy not business strategy. 2) Demotion from manager to analyst If you're a SC/Manager and are coming into Slalom - fully expect that your first role will be as an analyst. In a field that you have absolutely no experience in. All they truly need are bodies to fill chairs, they don't utilize or value the analytical rigor that permeates culture at the Big 4 firms. It's a sink or swim culture where they throw experienced hires into IM projects and expect that the natural "leaders" will rise to the top. This makes sense if you are staffed on the type of projects in which you've led in the past. However, if you're coming from a strategy or analytics background you may not have experience in leading a typical IM project and will be staffed (and treated) as an analyst. 3) Tedious staff-aug work Fully expect to be bored mindless and be sitting in a chair with absolutely no clear project goals. They need you to look busy rather than develop interesting client solutions (that are in your area of expertise). Ultimately, if you have subject matter expertise in a particular field (strategy, advanced analytics, etc.), don't expect that your first job be driving business strategy or generating insights using analytics. Instead, expect to be sitting in a seat. 4) Lack of compensation and benefits Read the reviews... they're all true. It's kind of ridiculous.

I was really disappointed with Slalom because they did not live up to the values of being a "family" environment. I was finishing up some schooling, burnt out from being over worked and treated poorly by clients, and my grandmother was in the hospital. I asked to take a 3 month unpaid leave of absence. I was denied this request even though Slalom Consulting claims that sabbaticals and flexible work schedules are part of their DNA. They were particularly unkind when I tried to leave. I was denied the ability to quit because I was very valuable to the client and the project had been in jeopardy prior to me joining the team. I stayed for about 6 weeks after I had requested to quit and considered possible alternative work schedules at their request. I was yelled at by a few upper management people that I did not understand what "true consulting was", and my mentor in the company refused to speak with me. I was really sad about all of this because I had also been running crazy hours (80+ per week), working in areas outside of where I had been hired (aka BA takes on SQL database developer role), and having been verbally abused by the clients (managers did little when our team reported being called "stupid" and "lazy" by a client when the customer was in fact changing requirements and vision altogether - worked until 8pm Christmas eve for this client). I even found notes from my interview prior to joining Slalom where one manager said that he felt so supported by Slalom because when his mother died, he was able to take "all the time that he needed". (FYI my grandmother died a month after I left Slalom). If Slalom had simply given me the time to take care of family matters and regroup, even after being treated poorly, I would have returned and likely stayed and been very loyal because I truly enjoyed the people that I worked with. I was very sad that Slalom forced my hand into quitting; however, given how they treated me in the end, I am so glad that I no longer work there.