Pros
In short: the culture, flat management, relatively small amount of bureaucracy, superior technology, extreme productivity and quest for world domination. I'm proud to work at BlackRock given its growth, reputation and impressive performance during the credit crunch that's killing all of our competitors. Its very exciting to travel the world integrating the various legacy MLIM offices and pitching to prospective clients. BlackRock is a great place to start your career.
Cons
The explosive growth over the past five years has put an intense strain on the institutional architecture. Most functional groups are stretched so thin that critical controls are at risk of failing. The MLIM merger irreparably diluted the traditional BlackRock culture. There are now more than 5,000 people at the company and the previously standard rapid career progression has significantly cooled.