Pros
I joined Berkeley after working for a large global consulting firm for many years. Berkeley is different because you are genuinely the architect of your own growth and development. All of my colleagues are bright, interesting people who enjoy collaborating and there is so much to learn from each other. The opportunity to work across industries and disciplines is an important distinction from the big companies, where you tend to get stuck in a particular part of the organisation (this was a frustration for me as I wanted to do more strategy work). We work hard and play hard at Berkeley, but in a positive way - there is an active cycling group and regular team events like the recent Three Peaks Challenge and Tough Mudder event. Berkeley also gives the opportunity to do 5 days a year of pro-bono work with a preferred charity or community group. Lots of people in the firm are foodies (myself included) and so we make a point of catching up regularly for discussion groups with our colleagues over lunch in one of London's many restaurants. The key thing that I love about working at Berkeley is the fact that we take pride in delivering successful change for our clients but make sure that we have fun doing it at the same time. Our clients love working with us and this is seen in the high amount of repeat work that comes through the door. As a consultant, there is no bonus structure for selling work - unlike some other consulting firms, our focus is on doing the best job for our clients and I think this is why Berkeley is a highly respected firm in the marketplace.
Cons
- The company has a flat structure - just partners and consultants. If you want a shiny title and rapid progression, this may not be the place for you. - There is no performance bonus, which some people may find off-putting (personally for me I like this because it provides more financial security and we are paid competitively) - The collaborative approach can sometimes turn into 'group think'. If you are an ambitious and entrepreneurial person who wants to innovate and move quickly, this could be a frustrating environment - As a consultant, I manage people in client teams but not internally. Therefore if you wanted to move back into a big consulting firm as a partner or senior manager, this could be restrictive