Work is unrelenting and thankless - Principal Consultant Mercer Employee Review

1.0
22 Nov 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Colleagues were highly intelligent people with strong skills. Great camaraderie. In over five years at the firm, I never met a single person who was unpleasant to work with.

Cons

Billable hours and sales targets are so high that you need to work 40+ hours per week to meet them. Everything else expected of you - managing junior consultants, training, admin like time entry/invoicing, special projects - is extra. Turnover (and burnout) at junior consultant levels is so high you are constantly getting new analysts on your projects who need extra guidance; often you have to do the junior technical work yourself. In addition to leading your projects as a Principal, you will also end up evaluating jobs, pulling comp data, drafting reports, and scheduling client meetings. Working from the office is now mandated two days a week (as of Oct 2022). If you fail to do this, your performance rating and bonus will be impacted. And the technology they stick you with - incredible.. Your laptop repeatedly shuts down? Camera won’t work on Zoom calls? Won’t connect properly? Expect it to take 8-12 months to get a new one.

Explore other reviews about Mercer

5.0
1 Mar 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Strong Network Experience with many industries

Cons

Lighter-touch conceptual learning rather than industry-specific mastery

2.0
2 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Remote flexibility, which is nice.

Cons

You will not get a raise and if you do, it'll be 1%. Managers will not help you with escalating issues, you're on your own. It'll be blamed on you. You'll work so much overtime you won't have a social life.

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