Great people, frustrating politics, and constant strategic whiplash - Vice President BlackRock Employee Review

2.0
25 Jul 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Beautiful office and amenities: The workspace is modern, clean, and well-equipped, with great views and solid on-site facilities. Work-life balance is okay: While hours can be long at times, there's generally some breathing room compared to other firms in the industry. Collaborative culture: Most people, especially at the junior and mid-levels, are genuinely supportive, respectful, and open to working together. Remote flexibility: The 2-day remote work policy is nice and makes a noticeable difference in managing weekly schedules.

Cons

Frequent strategic pivots: The firm seems to change direction every few months, often chasing buzzwords or internal mandates rather than executing on a coherent long-term plan. Lack of clarity and consistency in leadership: It’s often unclear what the firm’s true priorities are, and that ambiguity trickles down into teams, undermining focus and motivation. Excessive internal politics at senior levels: Advancement often depends more on managing optics and internal alliances than on delivering results. Directors and MDs spend significant time on positioning rather than substance. Compensation below market: Total comp—especially for high performers in competitive areas like private markets—lags well behind comparable roles at peer firms. Need for greater inclusion: While the culture is friendly on the surface, there's still work to be done in making the firm more inclusive and equitable for underrepresented groups, particularly Arabs/Muslims and women. Representation at senior levels remains limited, the war in the Middle East revealed a strong bias against Arabs/Muslims, and inclusion efforts often feel surface-level or reactive (e.g., donations were collected only for pro-Israel organizations through 2023-24, common gas-lighting comments by MDs towards hijabi employees).

Explore other reviews about BlackRock

5.0
30 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great exposure in financial markets

Cons

Can feel too big at times

4.0
30 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Respectable company, working with smart people for the most people.

Cons

Huge company, can be hard to navigate, almost impossible to get fired so good workers pick up slack for bad works. They need to trim fat faster and better

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