Pros
* Good pay; skilled colleagues * Exposure and perceived brand
Cons
* Perceptions are more important than clear results * a select chosen few are given many chances to succeed despite data on reviews suggesting the contrary; the quartiling process is a joke. Seen situations where a Q4 was bumped to Q1 to support "diversity". * The process to promote and reward people can be skewed like the elections in many nations. Propoganda cane be created to support a person and promote them and vice versa. Its probably the most "cult" like organization I have worked in. * Lateral hires, beware of joining this firm, as they treat you on par with some one with zero experience, as they call it a "Flat organization". Any experience outside GS is treated with disdain and scorn. For example all people introduce themselves " Started with GS during XXXX and currently working as ..." It forces people with significant experience to not even mention that experience! Really works like a cult with "group think". The lateral hires are considered a "risk" in that they are likely too dilute the GS DNA or cult culture. * People are constantly played against each other * Expats are treated as "culture carriers" with no further work expected from them. Its amazing how expats walk in to BLR, not contribute much at all, stay for two years and move to a greater role, a promotion many times afterwards leaving the employees wondering if this is true meritocracy or a cult that promotes purely based on how long you have been at the firm and your choice 10-12 godfathers .