How do employees feel about their professional development opportunities at Advantage Capital?

Pros

hours, coworkers, location, benefits, people

Cons

lots of internal training that takes a while to get started

Pros

I learned so much from AC and value the learning opportunities the firm has given me during my tenure. I may not be as strong as I am in certain skillsets had I not worked for AC. More specifically, the aspects I enjoyed are: 1. Impact-based investment thesis is intrinsically rewarding and is increasing in popularity across the investment space. 2. Tax-credits-based hedging strategy presents a great opportunity to broaden knowledge beyond traditional private equity. 3. As with most PE firms, exit opportunities are attractive.

Cons

Overall, it is a firm that is slow to modernize, leaving much more to be desired. But some pointed details can be found below: 1. Unstandardized management practices among Managing Directors, ranging from PTO to promotions, where company tenure for promotional consideration may range from at least 1 to 3+ years. It seemed a challenge for leadership to come to a consensus on COVID protocols and related policies (e.g., work from home was frowned upon/discouraged by certain MDs). During an all-company call in mid 2021, leadership could not provide a clear outline to the work-from-home policy. 2. Very uncompetitive salary compared to market, concentrated at low-to-mid levels. This is a single data point, but entry-level offers for the analyst position (located in cities with comparable cost of living measures) at similar companies within finance and adjacent/comparable industries were 33% higher on average 4. No formal training program where most, if not all, trainings are ad-hoc. It is also very unstandardized such that there is no knowledge base. As such, there is no such thing as a "best practice" for "XYZ". 3. Tons of informational silos across teams, even across sourcing efforts. This may be a result of the highly unstandardized processes and lack of training. 5. Some managers have had no experience with the work that their direct-reports are doing, resulting in inefficiencies, lack of direction, and unattainable goal setting. 6. Cliquey environment 7. Some managers engendered a climate where asking a legitimate clarifying questions was met with "you should know this". As such, it was intimidating to ask questions directly related to the work. Often, I had to spend an hour to confirm my thoughts/assumptions by looking back at old analyses when answering a question would have taken 30 seconds.

Advice to Management

This review sounds very critical, but I firmly believe that work that AC does is important and necessary in inching towards economic equity and inclusion. I hope that difference in thought, practice, or whatever it may be is addressed for the better of the individual employees. I think that an external assessment of the workplace culture, practices, etc. would beneficial to urging action.

Pros

• Interns are trusted with significant responsibility and autonomy • Training and exposure to the firm's multiple lines of business • Intern cohort activities (Cardinal's games, lunches/dinners)

Cons

• Internship program still in its early stages

Pros

I learned so much from AC and value the learning opportunities the firm has given me during my tenure. I may not be as strong as I am in certain skillsets had I not worked for AC. More specifically, the aspects I enjoyed are: 1. Impact-based investment thesis is intrinsically rewarding and is increasing in popularity across the investment space. 2. Tax-credits-based hedging strategy presents a great opportunity to broaden knowledge beyond traditional private equity. 3. As with most PE firms, exit opportunities are attractive.

Cons

Overall, it is a firm that is slow to modernize, leaving much more to be desired. But some pointed details can be found below: 1. Unstandardized management practices among Managing Directors, ranging from PTO to promotions, where company tenure for promotional consideration may range from at least 1 to 3+ years. It seemed a challenge for leadership to come to a consensus on COVID protocols and related policies (e.g., work from home was frowned upon/discouraged by certain MDs). During an all-company call in mid 2021, leadership could not provide a clear outline to the work-from-home policy. 2. Very uncompetitive salary compared to market, concentrated at low-to-mid levels. This is a single data point, but entry-level offers for the analyst position (located in cities with comparable cost of living measures) at similar companies within finance and adjacent/comparable industries were 33% higher on average 4. No formal training program where most, if not all, trainings are ad-hoc. It is also very unstandardized such that there is no knowledge base. As such, there is no such thing as a "best practice" for "XYZ". 3. Tons of informational silos across teams, even across sourcing efforts. This may be a result of the highly unstandardized processes and lack of training. 5. Some managers have had no experience with the work that their direct-reports are doing, resulting in inefficiencies, lack of direction, and unattainable goal setting. 6. Cliquey environment 7. Some managers engendered a climate where asking a legitimate clarifying questions was met with "you should know this". As such, it was intimidating to ask questions directly related to the work. Often, I had to spend an hour to confirm my thoughts/assumptions by looking back at old analyses when answering a question would have taken 30 seconds.

Advice to Management

This review sounds very critical, but I firmly believe that work that AC does is important and necessary in inching towards economic equity and inclusion. I hope that difference in thought, practice, or whatever it may be is addressed for the better of the individual employees. I think that an external assessment of the workplace culture, practices, etc. would beneficial to urging action.

Pros

Fantastic training program in place for incoming analysts.

Cons

For some, the relocation could be a con. Analysts are expected to relocate to the northeast.