Pros
I am extraordinarily grateful for the privilege that Bain unlocks for their AC class. Bain basically gives you everything a child of a rich, generous parent would get. Examples include: - signing bonus and break before starting allowed me to travel abroad for the first time, which I immediately fell in love with - Bain launched a temporary policy during a lull in the consulting market where they offered 20% compensation for people voluntarily taking a "Take 1" (i.e., an opportunity to take a month off of work which historically was unpaid); this was a genius approach to save money, boost employee satisfaction, and avoid layoffs - going on an externship to Kenya where I could take on an unpaid, social impact project because Bain offered a stipend - pursuing an MBA at a top school that I would never even consider going to without Bain's financial sponsorship And outside of the money, additional privileges include: - structured professional development support to help me grow - exposure to a variety of functions and industries - fantastic mentors who have guided me along the way!!
Cons
Work-life balance is tough. While there are strategies you can employ to improve it slightly, your power is limited, and your life can be fully overridden by a tough project. Bain leadership seems to overstate the power that employees have to control their work-life balance in these high-demand cases. While the up-or-out policy ensures high-quality employees, it also contributes to unnecessary stress and politics. It is not uncommon to be working alongside someone who is actively at risk of being let go, which adds a new layer of stress onto projects that are already intense. While LinkedIn showcases the cutting-edge, flashy projects, many projects are not sexy. Trying to squeeze another ounce of financial power for a traditional incumbent client you've never heard of is a common case structure.
