As one of the largest professional service corporations in the world, working at Deloitte comes with a lot of prestige. However, what are the real pros and cons of working at Deloitte?
Some pros of working at Deloitte include the opportunity for rapid career advancement and their reputation and brand recognition. Some cons include the highly pressurized atmosphere, a life of travel, and a strained work-life balance.
In this post, I’ll put forward the 7 biggest advantages (pros) of getting a job at Deloitte, and the 7 biggest disadvantages (cons) of being employed there.
7 Pros Of Working At Deloitte
1. Strong Reputation
The reputation of Deloitte clearly proceeds it. It may well be an attention grabber at parties where you work there!
Deloitte is a well-established global firm. They aren’t going anywhere, and you will be working with some of the largest and most successful corporations in the world.
Deloitte works with some of the following corporations:
| Corporation | Sector |
| Berkshire Hathaway | Finance |
| Microsoft | Technology |
| Procter & Gamble | Consumer Products |
| General Motors | Transport |
| Morgan Stanley | Finance |
| Metlife | Insurance |
2. Talent And Network
I’ve heard from several people who have worked at Deloitte that probably their number one reason for enjoying working there was the level of talent and networking opportunities you get from being employed there.
They recruit a high level of employees, and many of those have a sense of mission or purpose both at work and outside.
Deloitte employees are generally:
- Switched on
- Highly motivated
- Talented
- Engaged
3. See The World!
This one could be either a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it.
But travel is normally an integral part of life at Deloitte, so if travel is your thing (and think business travel), then a job there is for you.
Many employees live out of suitcases most of the year, in all sorts of far-flung destinations. Just be aware that there’s not much sightseeing going on. This is high-pressurized travel for work.
4. Project Based
This is a draw for many people. You get the chance to really get stuck into one project at a time.
I’ve seen this come up on a few Reddit boards and forums. I found a consultant that had worked at Deloitte in Toronto saying, ‘Because it’s project-based, you get to work with different people all the time. You’ll work with someone for a few weeks or months and never work with them again.’ (Source)
Project-based work helps you:
- Meet and work with new people
- Really get fully engaged in a task
- Learn multiple new skills in each project
5. Opportunities For Growth And Advancement
For many, working at Deloitte offers the possibility of rapid advancement.
Deloitte has offices in around 150 countries all over the globe and employs around 330,000 people. (Source)
There is a lot of scope for moving up the career ladder quickly, based, of course, on producing excellent results. There is also the prospect of relocating to different branches or countries.
Because of the complexity of the operations offered by Deloitte, they offer a variety of career paths and many opportunities for professional development.
6. Diverse Range Of Clients And Industries
Deloitte works with many giant multinational corporations, such as many of the Fortune 500.
They work with corporations across different sectors. This exposes employees to a variety of business challenges and opportunities
7. Comprehensive Benefits Package – Particularly As You Move Up The Ladder
There is some debate over whether the starting salaries of employees are competitive with smaller corporations in the same field.
However, there is no denying that as you move up the corporate ladder at Deloitte, there are some outstanding benefits packages and compensation available.
Deloitte offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Health insurance
- Retirement plans
- Flexible time off
- Partners are often paid in excess of $1,000,000 (Source)
Cons of working at Deloitte
1. Long Hours
Deloitte has a demanding work schedule, and prepare to put the hours in.
Employees report that they regularly work:
- Long hours
- Weekends
- Some holidays
2. Meticulous Level Of Detail
This is something I’ve heard a few times from people who have worked at Deloitte.
When you work on a project and write reports, you have to go into a really meticulous level of detail. This can be really time-consuming, and a large amount of effort goes into creating appendices for reports that realistically might not add that much value.
3. High-Pressure Work Environment
Of course, Deloitte’s fast-paced environment can be very challenging.
The decisions you make have a big impact, and so are important to get right. The role can be extremely stressful for some employees.
4. Limited Work-Life Balance
Realistically, because of the stress and long hours, many employees struggle to find a good quality work-life balance.
Work is emotionally and intellectually engrossing, and you will often be left with reduced energy for any leisure time that you actually have.
5. Competition For Promotions And Recognition
The vast majority of employees are looking to rise up the ladder, so competition for promotions is fierce.
It’s a dog-eat-dog environment, however well you get on with your fellow work colleagues.
Only about 4% of employees will go on to be Partners (the Highest Position in Deloitte’s structure). There are many more rungs of management before you get to this point of course. (Source)
But competition for promotions and recognition within the company is a continual struggle.
6. Bureaucracy And Slow-Decision Making
This one is potentially up for debate, but I’ve seen a few ex-employees say that the found that because Deloitte is such a large multinational organization, it often takes them longer to make decisions.
This is because of the complexity of the organization’s structure.
Sometimes you seem to be frustrated with extra paperwork and bureaucracy.
7. Extensive Travel
This is one of those things that can either be a pro or a con – it just depends on how you look at it!
But the reality is, that most employees will be traveling extensively. They travel so they can:
- Meet with clients at their locality
- Assess the business systems and processes of clients at their location
- Attend training events
- Audit businesses
The amount of travel varies depending on the sector you’re working in, but many Deloitte employees travel at least every other week, and many spend more than half their time in distant or foreign destinations.
