State Street – “Get the Experience and Then Get Out!”

Pros

Well-established institution with a 200-year old history
Opportunity to work overseas
Good place to learn basic financial reporting and pricing skills

Cons

Not an intellectually stimulating environment; corporate culture is anti-intellectual, more oriented to sports (especially golf tournaments and the like)
Quality of middle-management uneven at best
Company doesn't retain the most talented people - they become bored and frustrated
Company balks at paying overtime, despite the heavy work load
Senior management too isolated from the rank and file

Advice to Senior Management

State Street doesn't seem to attract the best minds or retain its most motivated staff. The work force is pleasant, but mediocre. To remain competitive, you need to recruit more talented people, and pay them better wages. Otherwise, the company's future will be jeopardized.