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Morgan Stanley

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Very good as a first workplace, not so good for a senior - Software Developer Morgan Stanley Employee Review

4.0
Apr 7, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The graduate program is an excellent experience. Many grads join because of the grad program. Fairly good compensation for a grad in the beginning. High prestige, looks good on your CV and on Facebook. Excellent work-life balance.* Innovation is encouraged and managers listen to employees.* Range and quality of work to be done varies between good and excellent.* Good performance is recognized (but not necessarily compensated).* You can learn a lot about the business as a developer. You'll be able to hold job interviews after two years, even interviewing candidates more senior than yourself. * Points marked with an asterisk vary greatly across teams and reflect my experience only.

Cons

If you join as a grad, your compensation will lose its competitive nature within two years. Salary increases don't appropriately reflect your increase in experience while at the firm. Grads are treated as juniors indefinitely. If you aim to earn a lot, look for another company even as a grad. Bonuses are unpredictable. The kind of work you'll get is excellent for your professional growth while still a junior. Senior employees will find the work dull and not challenging enough. Overall, salaries are just mediocre. Since it's a bank, the cult of management and business is very strong. Engineers are treated well but as second class citizens. You'll have to work with some incompetent people who will turn a good project that would otherwise be a joy to work on into a hell of bug fixing.

Explore other reviews about Morgan Stanley

5.0
May 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Large, well-respected firm that looks good on a resume

Cons

Hard to climb/move silos/mobility opportunities

1
3.0
May 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Very good co-workers, Great technology stack. Lot of new technologies and integration with current work.

Cons

They dont even give you a MS cup. They ask you to buy it for 5$. So cheap! Management big on "Giving back", Immediate managers do not like it and are not supportive. Lay off employees twice a year to show profits. Only worried about shareholders and clients. Don't know the criteria for lay-off. So, you are always worried if it is your turn. They boast about mental health and wellness. No good, when they layoff employees like this. HR = Horrible Resources. When you are laid off, they shoo you away as if you are a fly. You feel miserable. They themselves say - "We are better than Facebook or Oracle. We dont fire you at 6 AM over email." Gosh! What a comparison!

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