Forrester Research Reviews

Pros

flexible - can work from home, make your own hours; interesting work; high profile with perks of the job including top treatment from vendors

Cons

Too much emphasis for analysts to sell themselves and meet consulting numbers; not enough time or resources devoted to actually doing research; create unneccessary stress and overlook contributions that don't tie back to consulting like high volume of inquiries, meeting publishing deadlines and writing quality research, media presence - none of that seems to matter. Treated like a widget instead of an individual - and there's way too much middle management; For a tech company systems seem outdate - Windows XP, IE6

Advice to Senior Management

Recognize that analysts bring different skills and backgrounds to the role - it's all about numbers - Many in senior management have been here too long, need outside perspective, not enough research leadership - analyst role driven to sell clouds objectivity; client groups create barriers to collaboration and roles have gone too far - overlooks that not everything maps neatly into a single role

Pros

If you dedicate your life to work while at Forrester, you can really build your own professional equity within the industry. You have ample opportunities to learn from others and connect to top people at Global 2000 companies. You can either be a 'lifer' at Forrester and stay and grow in the analyst industry, or after a few years at Forrester have your choice of senior/executive level opportunities at top companies that you worked closely with as an analyst.

The ramp-up training is really, really good, though very intense.

Cons

Tough grind and ramp-up for people new to the analyst world. You have be able to find your rhythm quickly, doing research, consulting, presenting, and working with customer calls each day. At times it seems those responsibilities are in direct conflict with each other. They have aggressive quotas for each area, and you must course-correct quickly or they'll show you the door -- admittedly they do their best to to help you get back on track.

Advice to Senior Management

Analysts and research groups need to be encouraged and incentivized to work more collaboratively, combining ideas from team members to synthesize better research. Also, analysts should be allowed more flexibility in balancing their quotas to suit their abilities (more research, less consulting, etc.)

Company-wise, Forrester has a great administrative and technology infrastructure to support the analysts.

Pros

Forrester gives you the opportunity to work with a very smart bunch of analysts, has a great data library and it's a very good place to start your career in the market reserach world.

Cons

the managemnet at Forrester is terrible, the atmos[here is one of competition rather than collaboration and the focus is on winning advisory and consulting work than delivering syndicated research.

Advice to Senior Management

The management nees to communciate better with employees, understand their day-to-day responsibilites and issues and provide support in developing their careers

Pros

Very smart people. Motivated and performance driven.

Cons

Way too much work for the pay scale. The analyst role is two full time jobs as a researcher and billable consultant.

Advice to Senior Management

Change compensation, incentives and controls so analysts don't get burnt out.

Pros

Surrounded by many thought-leaders
Young, energetic culture
Well respected organization
Good benefits

Cons

Lower end of pay scale
Promote people to management that should stay individual contributors
Analyst departures disrupt "business continuity"

Advice to Senior Management

Keep challenging analysts to make the call and stay on their toes. Company is only as good as the analysts.

Pros

Good company culture and people. Great place to get exposure to multiple industries, topics, analysts, marketing research, marketing techniques, Fortune 500 clients, and contacts.

Cons

- Limited growth and career opportunities.
- Path to promotions is sketchy at best and never clear.
- Senior Management tends to live in their own world and never practice what they preach.
- Unless you get hired from the outside to a certain position, the only way to grow , get promoted, or get into other roles are if people leave or move elsewhere within the company (which isn't very often).
- A lot of managers (including senior management) aren't qualified to run the company and often have convoluted and opposing strategies.
- Your ideas will likely be ignored unless someone in a management or principal analyst position comes up with it.
- If you save the company millions or save a million dollar account or two, the company won't care because according to them, "you are just doing the job you were hired to do".

Advice to Senior Management

Senior Management is always praising the talent at the company. However, they overwork their talent and offer little reward for doing an outstanding job with clients (including saving million dollar accounts). While benefits are good, employees are severely underpaid (especially if you are in lower level positions). Because of this, Forrester has lost a good number of talented individuals over the last 3 years alone. Forrester hires extremely talented and capable individuals at ALL levels. You should listen to all of them rather than just the usual suspects.

Pros

Analysts are very smart and good to work with - care, in spite of politics and metrics. Good work/life flexibility.

Cons

Most of those reporting to CEO are not qualified to do their jobs - they rose through the rank by being "one of the boys" (and a girl). Youth-biased culture.

Advice to Senior Management

Get some fresh blood for leadership positions.

Pros

On the individual level, the people are amazing. You work with really smart people and you learn A LOT. You become an expert in a particular field and you get to be published. How cool is that?!

Cons

Bureaucracy and corporate politics, like any medium-large company. The people who have the most influence aren't always the people with the most knowledge about the particular field, and this is a problem.

Advice to Senior Management

You've got some really bright people. Listen to them. To everyone. Not just the big names or the people who have been there the longest. Fresh ideas are valuable.

Pros

The people are smart and supportive. Great feedback culture and and incredible opportunities for advancement. Trying new jobs within the company is supported and encouraged. Best new hire experience I've ever had. Visible executive team, open and honest culture.

Cons

Pay can be rather low if you're not in sales or research.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the good work with open communication both ways. Company meetings are greatly appreciated. Embrace some of the new processes as we grow, it will help us! Some support functions are sorely under staffed (training, Research Associate ranks, in particular).

Pros

-Research into new and emerging areas of technology (mobile, social, etc)
-Big stage to present ideas (conferences, top clients, web site)

Cons

-Consulting focus has taken over, research is secondary
-Analyst carry quotas and are effectively responsible for selling work
-Not a teaming environment, do not expect to collaborate on research
-Expect heavy travel if you want to meet your quotas

Advice to Senior Management

The company had way too many analyst leave in 2009 as they transition from a research to consulting model. Get back to research, it drives the business.