Bear Stearns Reviews in New York City, NY Area

Pros

Competetive salaries. Great place to be a front office technologist

Cons

Culture needs a little tuning.
Communication across tech teams not smooth enough( siloed )

Pros

Great reputation in TMT, which was a sector of choice for me. Enjoyed the chance to work on some specific deals that wouldn't have been available elsewhere.

Cons

Same as any other investment bank. Senior bankers who's idea of development is to dish out hazing just as they received it.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't bet the entire firm's existence on subprime RMBS credits is the first thought that comes to mind. And the second.

Pros

Was a decent place to get on the job training

Cons

lack of management ran the place into the ground

Pros

Nice severance packages for young employees

Cons

You gave out lots of severance packages

Advice to Senior Management

Relax

Pros

People, learning, culture, and compensation

Cons

Did not survive economic cycle

Pros

Hard work and dedication was favored e.more than a degre

Cons

Sub prime mortgage loans and greed.

Advice to Senior Management

really, take time to consider how your decisions wll affect main street and employees.

Pros

What can you say, just a great place to work and thrive. Credit derivative analysis was my favorite part of the job.

Cons

If you were looking for long term opportunities, maybe this company was not the most ideal place to be at.

Advice to Senior Management

To the management... I just have one minor criticism and request for you: Please pay me my year end bonus... please!

Pros

Pay is good
Prestige is great
Responsibility is high
Network is strong
Always challenging and intellectually stimulating
at the center of the financial universe

Cons

can't trust coworkers
Top Management only concerned with counting dollars
coworkers will do anything to get a better review and better bonus than you

Advice to Senior Management

Try risk management and coming into the office. Try motivating people in ways other than paying the top 5% of people all of the bonuses

Pros

comp, exciting work, middle of financial industry's darkest moments

Some senior management better than others, good, smart people to work with

Cons

It went out of business, threatening to bring the whole financial industry down with it. Some senior management was abusive.

Advice to Senior Management

Next time, cut off the pipeline, sell high, have political connections (a la Goldman Sachs) and don't allow your fund investors to make margin calls.

Pros

Great advancement in the industry, lots of learning, steep learning curve if you like that. Everyone told me that investment banking was the way to go and I can definitely see why. You learn so much and a lot is expected of you right from the start. You are surrounded by very very very smart people and you can learn a lot from them too. Then there is also the pay. You get paid a lot for the hours that you put in and it looks amazing on your resume to have a company like this on there to speak for you.

Cons

The fact that you really have no time for your family and friends really takes a toll on your lfestyle. I was only an intern there but I didn't have much of a chance to see people I cared about or work out.

Advice to Senior Management

Give more feedback to junior people.