Pros
Good place to learn People are generally hard working and knowledgeable Very technology driven Good brand name in the industry Client focused for large clients who contribute significantly to AUM Generally very social
Cons
Pay is not great compared to the rest of the industry, particularly for a company that prides itself on being the best and largest asset manager. Sometimes has a blame culture so learn to cover your own back. Tons of office politics so be prepared to play the game if you want to get ahead unless you're lucky to end up in a good team (there are a few). Things are not always done with purpose. A culture of having meeting for the sake of having meetings. Management prefers to have "yes men" rather than people who challenge status quo and think outside of the box. Claims to be a meritocracy, but its not. At BlackRock, you will constantly hear about the importance of "raising your profile" and networking, which is important, but with some management it is more important than actually being good at your job. Some shockingly bad leaders and people managers who do not actually know how to lead, but rather pass the buck on. I would not recommend getting an operations or process driven job at BlackRock in London. More jobs are being moved overseas in a major cost cutting exercise.