Pros
There is still a brand value associated with BCG, so that, plus some perks around travel(lavish travel/stay + points) that are slowly fading away Driven people wanting to get ahead in life which definitely contributes towards the style and quality of work Decent exit opportunities when the market is not suffering
Cons
There is a lack of meritocracy in the firm and it's more about who you know or who can fight for you when the time comes. This can make or break your BCG career. There are pyramids with ladders and there are pyramids with high speed elevators with little say on which pyramid you end up in. The driven and competitive nature of the workforce is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it fosters a culture of high achievement and collaboration to get things done. On the other hand, it can breed an undercurrent of 'I am better than you' attitude. Collaborations often tend to be transactional, with long-lasting relationships and goodwill being contingent on continuous working engagements with the same individuals. Additionally, many employees grapple with imposter syndrome, a byproduct of the intense competitive environment and high expectations. People expected to become experts and advise on concepts net new to the world. For example, with the world's focus Generative AI, I have seen a colleague overnight become an AI Expert. This was a shocker and does not sit right with me personally.