Goldman Sachs reviews

I have 4 direct managers who have different agendas and don't communicate well with each other leaving me with multiple competing tasks. The firm works people long hours. There are retention problems because of work life balance. The median age is 25 because the older folks with families can't make the hours work and still spend time with their kids. While they claim that their culture is consensus driven, it has shifted over the years to be more directive. They also tote that their employees are a most valuable asset but don't seem concerned with giving them more personal time. Head count reductions over the years have come with no backfill but the same amount of work. Their perception is that you are lucky to be working there among the cream of the crop and that "it's not for everyone". Most VPs I know are looking for jobs somewhere else and are only still there because they haven't found another job.

Expect to work very long hours (jokingly referred to as Goldman hours) Management is all about pleasing your next two levels of managers and impressing the rest Mid level managers often see their reportees as either useful for advancement (cause they have good ideas) or cannon fodder for weekend work If you can fake competence you're set High level of risk aversion unless your back is protected, CYA is an artform A lot of the best people have already left for Google, startups, etc. Only the slow and the ladder climbers remain