PwC reviews

I believe that management has been ordered to work new hires to death. Since pay is salaried and there isn't really overtime (maybe a spot bonus here and there), i think the motto is "milk them for all they're worth". As a new associate you will be told that you are expected to work long hours and to have a "utilization rate" of at least 80% according to HR policies. That being said, however, as a new hire a likelier story is that you should really be at 100% since other people in the office have utilization rates of up to 150% (or something ridiculous like that). If you have 8hrs of billable hours a day you have a 100% utilization rate, so you can do the math to figure out what 150% would be. "It's not uncommon to work 12-14 hours a day", according to many managers. And if you ask, like me, how does that leave time for the rest of your life?? You might get a similar answer- "well, the work has to get done". Work/Life Balance is a joke! Also, the push on new hires comes from the fact that they have the lowest billing rate and budgets are ALWAYS tight. That can be pretty stressful. So again, the biggest downside would be the long hours. VERY LONG HOURS. If you are okay with that for the rest of your life, and especially as a new hire, then PwC is the place for you. But be aware, for the amount of time you work, the salary isn't that high and the spot bonuses for overtime are weak to say the least. The last thing is that sometimes credentials take precedence over proven abilities. So much emphasis is placed on PhDs and advanced degrees, but having those degrees does not necessarily make the person the best one for the job or even the smartest (it seems like every one at the office is always having to prove how smart they are!). I'm extremely proud to work for PwC and with the people there, because i think they really are very talented and bright, but sometimes it goes to their heads. Eh, most of the time maybe...

For the hours worked, this must be the sweat shop of the 21st century. I will not go into great detail here, as I have spoken enough about the firm on numerous other sites. That said, I have never met such a large number of backstabbing clones with an arrogant attitude. You either fit into the social fabric of the firm’s culture, or you are pretty much dead. The management of people at the firm is seriously lacking. Do not expect to be treated as a human being if you have a problem with a co-worker. Most importantly, the politics at PwC is beyond anything I ever could have imagined. It is in-your-face and accepted at all levels of the organization. In other words, people will sell their mothers for a buck in order to get a promotion. Do not always count on your skill set to get you through the day. Come review time, that club of ole boys will rear its ugly head. Oh, and one more thing: often expect to be pigeonholed into a client or industry for almost two years before having a pick at what you want. You actually do not “build your own career” here. HR builds it for you, and if you do not like it, then try another firm. They have a 30% (being generous here) or lower retention rate, anyway...