Pros
IM provides a comfortable work environment, predictable workflows, sufficient training to do the job, and good benefits (pay left something to be desired, but it was honestly comfortable enough, especially for an entry role). It was a good way to make a basic paycheck and meet some interesting people. In addition, the 100% employer-covered health insurance (or $5000 cash if you chose to use separate insurance), PTO policies (3 weeks, unlimited sick time, occasional surprise days off, summer Fridays, plus the week between Christmas and New Years), ESOP and retirement accounts, tuition benefit (up to $5000), bonus, and predictable hours. It made for a comfortable job.
Cons
Isaacson Miller has a culture problem which heavily needs to be addressed. It came down to a game of insiders and outsiders, where insiders get ahead, and outsiders are pushed to the company's margins and eventually wash out, are let go, or lose faith in something better being possible for a company that *can* improve itself. I often heard highly specific stories of employees from non-traditionally privileged backgrounds being diverted from fast track advancement opportunities, given smaller bonuses (and, some inside favorite employees being given shockingly large bonuses), and generally overextended across many projects and under appreciated for their time at the firm. Pathways to promotion are opaque and expressing interest in advancing (or even expanding) your role as a non-insider risks any standing you manage to attain with firm leaders, despite there being no need for that. HR seems to be absent in proactively building a better culture, despite calling themselves 'people and culture'. At the end of the day, a job is a job and a paycheck is a paycheck; however organizations who espouse great ideals of equity and social betterment bear responsibility to live up to great ideals. IM is certainly no exception.