Pros
• Kroll is a company that rewards innovation – no question about that. I was awarded numerous opportunities that have shaped my career due to the welcoming attitude of management and team members towards new ideas and processes and, because the division is relatively small, change can move more quickly than at a large, less agile firm. • It is hard work and can take over your life at times, but there are significant opportunities if you spend the time, cultivate relationships, and do quality work. You will get exposure to a ton of different types of firms and countries as you gain more proficiencies in research and it is a great job for improving your writing and analytical skills. • It is a great first job as it provides a robust training program, will let you practice your foreign language skills, and provides a path for recent grads (especially International Relations grads) to move their skills from the theoretical to the concrete. • The firm offers a good amount of vacation days and, if you plan ahead, the company has no problem with you using the full allotment (unlike some other firms that have limits or a culture that discourages taking vacation). Also, they let you work remotely twice a week (which is just generally fantastic) and have very generous telecommuting policies during holidays. • The people are generally great to work with when you are able to take time away from day-to-day work. • I recommend Kroll to work for – I left because of the commute more than anything else; that and the long hours is why I deducted a star.
Cons
• The main office is in Reston. I cannot overstate how much worse the experience is working in Reston vs DC. It’s easier to get to now than it was in the past, but it’s still in the middle of nowhere which hurts employee camaraderie (limited happy hour opportunities) and creates ridiculous commutes. The company recognizes this and tries to ameliorate it with telecommuting days, but it is still a significant issue. • Generally, most people will be working 45 - 50 hours a week on average, but it can get busier during a crunch or if you get behind on your work. • Some of the cases can get monotonous, but as you build skills and a good reputation, you will be given more interesting work. • Support services are understaffed, which causes backups in hiring, HR matters, and IT support. If these positions aren’t filled, then it’s much more difficult to find and retain quality candidates to increase researcher headcount.