Pros
The learning curve is very steep. You are given a ton of responsibility right away and there are a vast number of resources and mentors that support you along the way. The level of exposure to a variety of industries and functions is also a big plus, especially if you are not sure what your long-term career goals are. The perks are great. In addition to a good base salary, BCG offers high performance and signing bonuses, profit sharing, 15 days PTO, and a generous expense account. Expect to stay in the nicest hotels and eat at the most expensive restaurants on a regular basis.
Cons
Although BCG prides itself on a strong work-life balance, this is hardly the case. 70+ hour weeks are the norm, so on a per-hour basis, we are definitely under-compensated compared to our peers in investment banking. Also, in the San Francisco office, there appears to be a lack of strategy-oriented work. Most of the work has recently been operational and process-oriented for non-Fortune 100 companies. Also, there is very poor communication from upper-management regarding staffing, promotion decisions, bonuses, the business pipeline, etc. This has led to a toxic office culture characterized by rather unhappy employees (especially at the more junior levels).
