Pros
- In an effort to give credit where credit is due, Palladium underwent a lot of transformation following the merger between Futures Group and GRM International. For that reason, as other reviews have previously noted, the firm is constantly innovating to improve systems, processes and ways of working. This creates a culture that upholds the 'mistakes are a part of learning' motto - even if existing legacy IT systems tend to be inefficient and cumbersome, there's an ongoing effort to reorganize the way the firm operates. This applies not only to, say, employee feedback but also HR/recruiting practices (e.g. introducing the entry-level graduate Analyst scheme). -Additionally, Palladium does recognize people's need for work-life balance so overtime is more of a personal choice than an unspoken rule. This varies across teams, but rarely deviates from your regular 9-5:30 pm workday unless a major project is underway. -As is the case with other international development firms, Palladium attracts progressive, worldly and well-travelled professionals who share a passion for tackling social and economic inequalities. Managers and Associates in the Operations and Practice Areas teams regularly travel abroad on various assignments, which makes lunchtime discussions exciting and engaging.
Cons
- While Palladium does hire competent, passionate and dedicated professionals, I've noticed a significant split in the quality of hires within the corporate office versus project teams. Project teams tend to be significantly more cliquey in that hiring seems to revolve around social networks/personal ties rather than expertise. There's virtually no policies that mandate upholding Palladium values within these teams. Having worked on both ends of the spectrum, I was taken aback by the lack of professionalism and the appearance of petty social cliques within specific projects. - Palladium's IT Support Department is virtually non-existent which is further exacerbated by the recent staff turnover. I believe they've outsourced it to an external vendor, which will hopefully help. - In line with many other NGOs and social impact consultancies, Palladium's salaries are low and barely keep pace with inflation. The entry-level compensation package for Analysts/Associates (approx. 24-25 k) can easily take you to the brink of starvation if you are, say, repaying student loans or living in Central London. - Lastly, professional development opportunities are confined to the field of international development and in rare circumstances, middle-tier management consulting. If you are considering transitioning to top-tier consulting/finance/engineering firms, your resume will be a tough sell. The professional skills you develop generally boil down to generic soft skills (communication, project management, languages) unless you are a PhD-trained Practice Area leader or Impact Investing professional.