Pros
HSBC has a very big Brand name and value, which is one of the most prominent reasons to work. Once you get in, keep looking for the right opportunity within, and make moves at the most opportune time and it will help you climb up the ranks. HSBC is a leader in making use of the latest in banking technologies and also it has a huge IT infrastructure. It has adopted a global offshoring strategy where it has support and development centers spread across different Asian & Latin countries. It is really a magnum opus managing such a giant. It is a great company to start.
Cons
Ratings and reviews of one employee might not truly reflect the company as a whole. For example, an employee's job satisfaction might depend on how his immediate manager treats him. One such example is my rating of the company. It is also necessary for such a huge company to devise a mechanism to identify pockets of inefficiencies and problem areas. HSBC recently bought Household Finance on 2003. Household finance is one of the pooly managed companies. HSBC made a big mistage on that. It's totally a mess. Other business units like HSBC Bank, Investment Banking, Capital Asset Management and also HSBC units in other countries like India, UK are good to work for.