Pros
Pay for you to take the series 7 and 63 licenses. They offer a 401(k) and good insurance options. If not working a lot is a "pro" for you, then you'll work 37.5 hrs per week. The biggest pro about this company in Charlotte is that the avg age for an employee hovers most likely around late twenty to early thirty year olds. For coming into this job out of college, it was nice being around peers for most of your day.
Cons
Let me start by saying this: Any individual who has rated this job at Vanguard's Charlotte office above 2 stars has lowered the bar for success tremendously. If you're accountable, responsible, outgoing, aspire to be somebody/do something in finance, or have any sort of personality whatsoever, you will hate working this job at Vanguard. If you're literally the exact opposite of the traits fore mentioned, discontinue reading this and apply to work here. Vanguard is a great place to INVEST. It is a terrible place to WORK. First of all, Charlotte office (all 5 buildings) are call centers. Enjoy saying that you're on a recorded line and asking security questions 40-60 times a day. And that's if the company is fully staffed. If not, like in 2012-2013, then your looking at taking around 75+ calls per day. A lot of talk on here about Vanguard being ethical. You will be lied to in order to get you in the door and start answering phone calls. They promised countless new hire groups including my own that there would be "tons of projects and opportunities to take advantage of off the phone." Nothing could be farther from the truth. Once you are on the phones taking calls, you stay there. Your time at Vanguard will be spent explaining to clients the definitional difference between an exchange and a sell transaction. You'll generate temporary passwords for at least 25% of your calls. You'll help fill out self explanatory forms ("yes client, you sign your name in the signature field"). THE most mind numbing work that a FULLY LICENSED individual in the industry can do, you accomplish. You are "managed" by individuals who really have no business being in supervisor roles. You are micromanaged to the point that you are fearful of doing basic tasks wrong. Furthermore, these "managers" will not know nearly as much about investments or how to relay their topics than you, or work as hard as you. Yet, they are still entitled to criticize you on how you're handling calls. The constant monitoring and evaluations are enough reason to quit. What's worse is that the company hires college graduates as managers when they have no experience talking with clients on the phone, or Vanguard systems or what its like to work in a call center. They hire them because its cheaper than promoting an individual who has faithfully worked on the phones for 3 + years in the trenches. You know, someone whose earned a supervisor role. Question: When you have a job, do you prefer to be paid in monetary standards, or with compliments and many thanks? When you work really hard and go beyond company expectations do you prefer a bonus check, or a goodie bag with candy? If you prefer the latter options, again, you're a perfect fit to work this position and many more at Vanguard. Why? Because they hate paying you what you're worth. Your merit salary increases barely beat inflation. Someone on this site said that all Vanguard cares about is a warm body to answer the phones. Nothing could be more factual than this statement. "Oh, but they contribute to your 401(k)....and the benefits!!!!" Benefits don't pay the bills tuts. "We are the Walmart of mutual funds"--said by all managers and those idiots who drink the Vanguard kool-aid. "This company is really going to take off." Too bad none of us will ever see our fair share of the profits. I went to Walmart recently and every employee there had that expression on the face and that tone in their voice--they hated their job. Then it hit me....in that moment. Vanguard is Walmart. If I had a choice between a lifelong career at Vanguard and the electric chair, I'd be like "so where do I plug this thing in?"
