A lot of good talent with strong potential to make a difference, but terrible middle managers - Anonymous employee BlackRock Employee Review

3.0
May 25, 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The top executives do genuinely seem to care about the employees, in terms of wanting to do the right thing most often than not. They do solicit feedback and action on them. - Flexible time-off - Good health, vision, dental care options - 50% + annual ~5% 401(k) match - Compensation is ok, lower end of hedge fund rates and mid-level of sell-side

Cons

(This is probably more relevant to my specific team. Although, I would not be surprised, if it did extend beyond my team.) - Middle managers are accustomed to sitting on their high horses and dictating to the junior staff - Lots of talk, little value creation (not to be confused with brain-storming, intellectual discussion where each member thinks objectively) - Each one is in a rat race to "make it seem" like they are doing "work"; say they moved mountains when in reality they blew the dust off the sill - Long hours: not because there is good quality work to be done, but rather because the manager hasn't left yet - You are expected to overshare your personal details since everyone around you is doing it - Visible favoritism, promotions depend on tenure more than performance (contrary to what the company promotion readiness criteria suggests)

Explore other reviews about BlackRock

5.0
Jun 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Surrounded by top talent, Lots of opportunities for career growth

Cons

Large organization, so decision-making and processes can sometimes move more slowly than in smaller firms.

2.0
Jul 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Branding branding branding!!! an incredible brand, and having it on your resume opens some doors but not all.

Cons

The Preqin acquisition never really found its identity after becoming part of BlackRock. It felt like the focus shifted from listening to clients to fitting Preqin into a broader BlackRock strategy. As AI changes how firms access and analyze private market data, simply being a data provider isn’t enough anymore. My impression was that Preqin’s long-term value is likely to come from being integrated into the broader Aladdin ecosystem and APIs, rather than remaining a standalone platform. Leadership would benefit from spending more time listening to customers and the teams on the front lines instead of assuming they already know what the market wants.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All