Dull job in a poorly managed, mediocre, and bureaucratic organization; no place to build a career/ grow valuable skills
Pros
If you need a job, Morningstar's ok. Expect little more from your time there. What the company doesn't offer in interesting work, industry avg. compensation, bureaucratic competency, or enjoyable social events, it attempts to make up for in: 1) Management that seems reluctant to downsize 2) Promoting those that stay at the company the longest 3) Casual Culture 4) Solid benefits (Medical, Dental, 401K) 5) Partial tuition reimbursement: CFA & MBA ($17,500/ year + 2 yr post-graduation commitment to work for M*, or all tuition $ must be paid back). High placement at Booth & Kellogg (Part-time only). 6) Bagels on Wednesday's, soda daily 7) Generous vacation/ sick day/ sabbatical policy (Can somewhat vary under different managers) 8) Nice mission statements
Cons
Many departments are slow moving, dead end, and don't care to develop employees. Most positions are uninteresting, unfulfilling, and inadequately compensated. Despite office congeniality, morale is low, team work mentality rare, and back biting common. Real incentive/reward for hard work, or growth of earning potential, doesn't exist (except on some sales teams). Business is challenged and in an awkward stage of development. Confused and/or false messaging from upper management is persistent. Same as any other company, you can't trust the rhetoric. The execution of principles and policies is inconsistent across departments and managers. An innovative and entrepreneurial spirit no longer exists, having been replaced with an attempt to maintain status-quo. Value-creating start-up has been traded for an institutional deal-making culture. But, the transition has been managed poorly. The realities of daily business are very different from the recruitment pitch and stated principals. It's no longer a "think different" type of place; it's products are not all that excellent. Expect a difficult time transitioning jobs in house or progressing beyond your present position.