Jun 13, 2008
Bain & Company reviews
4.3
89% would recommend to a friend
Christophe De Vusser
93% approve of CEO
77% positive business outlook
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Bain & Company has an employee rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, based on 8,362 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The Bain & Company employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Management et conseil aux entreprises industry (3.7 stars).
Reviews by job title
8K reviews
3.0
May 22, 2008
The real deal: What it's like to work at Bain from an AC who's been through ups and downs.
Current employee
Chicago, IL
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook
Pros
(In no particular order) 1. Prestige/Brand: Bain has a brand name that is tough to beat. It's a real advantage for MBA applications as well as other career opportunities to have Bain on your resume. 2. Networking: If you are looking for access to well-networked VP's in the business world, you will find them at Bain. Keeping in contact with current and former Bainees is easy to do and frequently a means to future opportunities. Once you've worked at Bain, getting an "industry" job (rather than consulting for the industries) is a pretty easy goal, since all of Bain's clients need smart, business-minded employees, and Bain is very good about "match-making" in that sense. 3. Education: Bain provides a great understanding of how the corporate world operates (e.g., challenges faced, internal politics of clients, supply/demand challenges). From the nitty-gritty (using excel spreadsheets and statistical tools, etc.) to the highest level (understanding growth strategies and developing client skills), Bain will educate you very, very well. 4. People: The difference between Bain and the other "big-name" Management Consulting firms is the people. Bain is far and away the most "fun" place to work, despite it being just as challenging and lucrative a job. If deciding between Bain, BCG, and McKinsey, know that the clients are the same caliber (McKinsey tried to convince me otherwise, and they were false), but the people you spend all of your time with are the consultants themselves, so choose the people you feel are the closest match to your own personality. The reputations that guide most people correctly are as follows: Bain is for fun/social types who like to work hard and play hard, BCG is for intellectual types who are comfortable in their more "nerdy" personalities, and McKinsey is for the most cut-throat types who tend to have egos and who don't mind the overly-political environment & staffing decisions.
Cons
As with all consulting firms, the quality of your experience is largely dependent on the type of cases to which you are assigned, and, even more so, on the people with whom you are working. Certain Case Team Leaders (CTL's) and Managers are devoted to developing well-trained Associate Consultants (AC's), while others are more focused on their own reputations. The worst case scenario is having inconsistent/short-lived reporting relationships and/or supervisors who are not invested in professional development. Having had both, and having seen peers with the opposite, I can attest to the difference it makes in one's ability to advance within Bain as well as one's quality of experience. The fact that an AC's assignments and roles are determined by fairly arbitrary/random decisions by the Staffing Dept makes this downside especially frustrating, as there is nothing an AC can do to impact whether he/she get's lucky or falls through the proverbial cracks. At the end of the day, even "bad" experience at Bain is considered good experience by other employers, but it can be frustrating to be in a competitive environment and feel "neglected" by your superiors, particularly when those individuals are determining your eligibility for promotions and write your recommendations.
4.0
May 8, 2008
Strategy powerhouse that provides great professional development opportunities in a supportive and fun environment.
Current employee
Singapour
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook
Pros
Excellent culture - meritocratic, open, driven. Translates into ambitious yet down to earth people who are a pleasure to work with and also spend time with outside the office. Prioritizes results, which means no needless face time and manageable hours. Top notch reputation and wide-ranging alumni network provides many exit options. The vast majority of those seeking MBAs go to top-ranked business schools (Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton). Private equity firms also recruit heavily from Bain, including firms with deep Bain roots like Bain Capital, Golden Gate Capital, and Berkshire Partners. By far the most established private equity consultancy. Opportunities to transfer temporarily to other offices. Some partners and managers will stand up to the client for their team and their findings. Very strong brand in North America and London. A conscious effort to minimize travel. Generalist model at Associate Consultant and Consultant (and Manager, to some extent) levels allow for broader-based experiences, and staffing is done with an eye towards this aspect of professional development. Extensive training programs - annual worldwide gatherings and also on the job.
Cons
Because we get along so well, Bainees tend to spend much time outside of the office together. Though there is no overt pressure to follow along, it can be difficult to branch out beyond colleagues. Diversity can be lacking, though this probably has more to do with self-selection and the strong culture. There is some variability between managers/partners. On a whole they are quite respectful of underlings' work/life balance and other concerns, but there are a few exceptions. While offices tend to be consistent on culture, there is also variability on some issues: e.g. international offices do not all offer the Habitat for Humanity option prior to start nor are equally generous about leave time. The focus on private sector work means that there is no government or non-profit done in-house (spun off to Bridgespan), which may or may not be appealing. Airplane trips under 5 hours are economy class. Finally, the brand is weaker outside North America and London. In Europe and Asia, lags behind McKinsey and BCG.
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