Pros
•The CEO seems to genuinely care about company and his employees versus the previous CEO only caring about having a legacy. •COVID response went well. Most people were already semi-remote since they have hoteling •Being a government contractor makes it a fairly stable market for employment. •A staffing agency pretending to be a consulting firm. By augmenting the government staff, the only asset is the employees so the benefits are good. •By not manufacturing or providing anything of significance to the DoD, the job is a lot easier than the traditional DoD contractor. •Does not perform traditional consulting services so, it is less cutthroat. They do like to refer to Booz Allen as the “firm” with such pretentious. •To stay ahead of competitors, Booz Allen is continuously scanning for the next thing. Regardless of your own ambition, you can get exposure to a number of different areas and ideas. Whether you will be to apply is highly unlikely. You’ll know the buzzwords and will need use them since your managers will be using them. Don’t worry, they won’t really know what they mean or how it is to be applied either. •By working as part of the government staff, the work demands are very diminish compared to other DoD contractors. It really allows for a lot of flexibility such as going back to school, starting a side hustle, being an involved parent, realizing your tax dollars being wasted, pondering how did that person get promoted, etc. •Very Niche market. Only certain areas of knowledge can be gained when supporting the government. Most of what you’ll learn will only be relevant when working for the government. •If you are looking to get a government position, Booz Allen is a lot easier path in getting into those positions than the US job boards. •As long as you don’t have a dedicated seat on the client site, you have a lot of flexibility as long as you get your deliverables done. If you do have a seat, you can only hope to have a good client because you’ll be sitting next to rats. Figuratively, metaphorically, and literally •Overall, it is an easy job. As long as you are willing to take the abuse of clients and know your only road to promotion is through attrition or kiss up to the right people.
Cons
•Two things to keep in mind: Technical skills are not required or very little is required. Optics means everything. Optics is referred to in Booz Allen speak as “shaping”, “booz allen fit”, “likeability”, and “managing up”. Your persona will need to mimic Smithers from “The Simpsons”, Dwight from “the Office”. This is especially true for any non-engineering type roles i.e. Program/Acq Mgmt, Cost Estimate, Data Science (yes this isn’t what is advertised), BFM, etc. •Client relationships are more important than your employment. Sr. Associates and above would rather see you leave Booz Allen than lose the client. Basically, the clients can treat you as they may as long as it is legal. Yes, there is a high turnover. Most of worse clients are former Booz Allen. •Your all-round experience at Booz Allen will be determined by your client and Job manager. Your Career Manager may not be much better because they will pawn you off to the Job Manager. •If the client, Job Manager, Career, or Senior Associate do not care for your personality (yes, it is a big deal), you will be considered “not Client/Booz Allen fit”. Your future will be either a PIP, Lack of Work, or ignored all together. You can also wait 2-3 years. By then most people will have left and overnight you’ll now become invaluable. •If you’ve spent any time with a DoD Contractor such as NG, Lockheed, Raytheon, etc. Two years at these employers is equal to 25 years at Booz Allen. •The government and Booz Allen are really behind on the most fundamental levels to include the technology. Do you know DOS? •Management and client will use all of the buzz words. Do not trust or assume they understand what they are saying or talking about. •Unlike the CEO, most of the management is focused on “Managing Up and Kicking Down”. There are very few leaders in the management chain between the Principal and Lead Associate levels. Most of the Lead Associates and Senior Associates are not very knowledge in their area of expertise. •Any of your ideas is up for grabs by your clients and leadership. They will take the credit because it was through their great leadership skills of walking around, ignoring you, saying “I’m working a proposal”, and kissing up to those above led you to do great things. Enter Data Science. •Here is what to expect: Engineering – BAH does not manufacture or build anything. If you want read and write reports. This is your gig. Cyber – Big Push by the clients. You might get lucky and do something useful. Contracts/Install Support – A cog in the wheel of paper work. PM/Acq Mgmt: A glorified Executive Admin that manages a client’s calendar and updates PowerPoint slides. No PM skills gained or needed. Cost/BFM/Data Science – Learn Pivot Tables, watch your team turn over every 1.5 years, and most importantly flatter your leadership. Poof.. you’re Principal or Senior Associate. •Career Progression: Consultant to Sr Consultant takes 1 to 1.5 years – Time card approvers hate having to authorize your overtime; Sr. Consultant to Associate takes 3 to 4 years – still don’t know much but you’ve successful faked someone in believing you know something by now; Associate to Ld Associate takes 5 to 7 – wow you are still around so Sr. Associate needs you to manage their team while they work to get promoted; Ld Associate to Sr. Associate takes 10+ years – which client and Principal did you sell your soul to or make look good; Sr. Associate to Principal takes TBD – The Principal you sold your soul to either got promoted to VP, retired, or clients are growing your capability. You might get lucky like Cyber or Data Science.