Ego-Driven, Ethically Dubious, and Unsustainable Career Path - Senior Associate AlphaSights Employee Review

1.0
12 Aug 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Strong commission potential if you can tolerate the environment - Opportunity to build resilience and client-facing confidence early in your career - A stepping stone for those who can compartmentalize and use it as a short-term launchpad

Cons

Where to start? - The environment is enough to send shivers down your spine. People watching your every move and whispering behind your back of who's doing what. No conversation can be treated as confidential as one way or another it will reach your manager, who will have a stern chat with you regarding whatever has been said by their little cronies. The space itself has casino style lighting designed to keep you awake constantly not knowing what time it is. - The managers fit into two categories: those who absolutely relish the opportunity to bully their associates into productivity by any means necessary and those that cringe at the thought of doing so, but must due to pressure from higher up. - Encouragement and respect for time off is non-existent, expect to be online during your sick-days and bringing your work phone on vacations in case one of the clients needs something. - The clients laugh at the responsiveness you're forced to provide knowing that it's a case of if they hypothetically said jump off a cliff, you would! Half of the work you spend hours doing doesn't even pay off and whatever request they give you have to fulfil, no matter how crazy. - The calls you set up for clients are borderline illegal and as soon as the industry begins to be audited, it will be due some heavy regulations. - Examples of convincing small business owners to engage in calls with PE firms aiming to acquire them are common place along with other similar unethical examples. If you don't have ethics, you will likely do very well here. - They trap people with visas who end up having to make the choice to stay while their mental health slowly declines, or move back to wherever they are from in Europe. - People are constantly fired so you fear for your job, whether that's for stupid things like stopping the lifts to hook-up with fellow employees, or not hitting the ludicrously high targets due to improper training or unfair project allocation. Essentially your manager can assign you projects that will lead to you not hitting quota to push you out. - They only promote internally, which has lead to this toxic echo chamber of ego, where only those lacking ethics and intelligence stay to lead and coach others, seriously laughable. The smartest people at AS leave.

Explore other reviews about AlphaSights

5.0
24 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

AlphaSights has an incredible culture and a highly supportive environment. I recently celebrated four years with the firm, and I've truly enjoyed the combination of high support and high performance. I have a great deal of autonomy in my role, work alongside an exceptional team, and continue to learn and grow every day. I'm so grateful that I started my career at AlphaSights.

Cons

I've truly enjoyed my time. N/a

5.0
22 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Rapid Progression & Recognition: Performance is directly rewarded here. If you hit your goals and show drive, the path to promotion and career growth is transparent and fast. Strong Team Culture: The team energy is fantastic. Everyone is highly collaborative, supportive, and commercially minded, which makes for a great working environment. High Autonomy: From day one, you are given real ownership over your projects (like leading recruitment events, managing candidates, and driving partnerships), allowing you to grow your commercial skills rapidly.

Cons

High Velocity & Pressure: The work is very fast-paced with strict timelines and high-volume expectations. It is not a place where you can coast, and you need to be comfortable working under commercial pressure. Resilience is Key: Sourcing and recruiting require a great deal of resilience. You have to be comfortable with rejection and persistent in finding creative solutions to hit your targets.

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