When choosing our first job out of college/graduate school, we should always think a step ahead - where can your first job lead you to. From my experience at NERA, I feel joining the firm is the biggest mistake I have made.
First, as many reviewer have mentioned, NERA's management style and its culture is the biggest problem existing in both security/finance practice. I have seen people working many hours, including myself, with little respect given. Day to day life is very unpredictable and makes people feel insecure. Despite of working so many hours as an IBD banker, the pay is meager (low 60k for research associates, high 60k for associate analysts, 0-1000 bonus the first two years for securities practice), exit options are dwindling after being there longer, and work gets repetitive/boring and learning curve flattens quickly after the first 8 months. As the most junior person, it is not surprising to find people dumping data entry work on you even you are an ivy league graduate and your seniors couldn't care less how much you learn and how happy you are.
Second, the company does not really have a clear path for promotion as it claims to be. At least I have seen people stuck as an senior analyst for 6 years without being promoted to consultants. If you check linked in, you will find very few people promoted from researchers to consultants in recent years.
Third, NERA is deemed as a prestige economic consulting firm and a lot of people are saying that the experience at the firm can lead you to a good MBA/law school. I think it is a fact being observed but not explained. NERA likes hiring Ivy League graduates to make itself to look prestigious and also to buy smart labor for cheap (NERA really look into your transcript). Unlike other consulting firms or investment banks, which will usually give graduates a few months till December to make a decision, NERA will only give you 1 or 2 weeks to accept the offer. I guess part of it is due to arrogance. But still, some smart people will accept the offer. In turn, those Ivy League college graduates with very good grades in collage of course will get into Ivy League MBA or law school. If that is your route, then 2 years will be an optimal for your experience at NERA before going to graduate school. Otherwise, I do not see experience at NERA can prepare you for the competitive candidate pool in MBA school since most of your classmates will be coming from well-known management consulting firms or investment banks.
Yet I know NERA still has its ego after seeing abnormally high turnover and low offer acceptance for the entire 2014.The company is very short of people because of its pay and practice and if you choose to join, I cannot offer an opinion how busy you will be. Everyone wants to be happy at their first job, and I definitely don't see happy faces at NERA.
