On the decline - Anonymous employee ZS Associates Employee Review

2.0
Jun 15, 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good culture at the junior levels (Associate -> Consultant) Good yearly raises (but declining) Free snacks/drinks + casual dress code in the office Expertise in sales force ops (if you are into that)

Cons

In the past couple years, ZS has become more of a data shop/temp agency and not so much a consulting firm, at least on the East Coast. 80% of projects are either in operations, or are temporary staffing assignments for clients that have a short term hiring need or position that needs to be filled. Strategy projects are extremely rare. Say goodbye to professional development once you are on an on-site role. The quality of people hired at ZS has declined as well. Projects used to be staffed in the US with some really smart people. In the past couple years, as ZS has tried to grow extremely fast (while cutting costs). Projects are now staffed mostly in India, with very few team members in the US. Be ready for midnight calls with off-shore team members, and be ready to spend your morning fixing their mistakes. Promotions have slowed significantly as the principals look to protect their equity sharing and cut costs. Nowadays, ZS is only good if you want to become an expert in sales force operations. If you are looking for a real consulting role, look elsewhere.

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5.0
May 22, 2026
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CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great firm and leadership, interesting projects in healthcare

Cons

Nothing comes to mind apart from occasional long hours

4.0
Jun 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong culture and collaborative environment with smart, supportive colleagues. Admins are trusted partners and get exposure to senior leadership, which provides great learning opportunities. Compensation and benefits are competitive compared to similar roles.

Cons

Workload can be high, with admins often supporting multiple stakeholders while also providing backup coverage. Expectations can vary widely depending on the team, which can create inconsistency and pressure. Career growth paths are less structured and require a lot of self-direction. Work-life balance can be challenging at times, especially across time zones.

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