• Nepotism
• Hostile work environment
• Tremendous political undertone
The firm is wrought with cronyism that starts in the three big departments (Portfolio management, Product Management, and Account Management). If you are not part of those departments, you are a peasant. The arrogance exudes even from those in the elevators. Appearance is everything as is your school brand. If you are brought in on the correct nepotistic path (generally MBA from top 5), you will have guaranteed promotions to VP and SVP on a certain time frame regardless of your overall contributions or often times lack thereof real investment experience.
For those departments outside of the trinity (PM, PdM, and AM), you have a series of middle to senior managers that are holding on to the cash cow while trying to hold back younger employees who are looking to advance. Managers in non-anointed departments have been there for 10+ years and desire to only keep the relatively high paying checks rolling in. This means anyone that threatens the system by improving it or trying to advance (changing departments or getting promoted) is discarded or cast aside. Managers use fear tactics to keep you in line via mind games and the collective attitude that you "owe" them for allowing you to work there.
