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    BGC Partners Reviews

    Updated June 4, 2017
    86 reviews

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    Full-timePart-time
    2.9
    StarStarStarStarStar
    Rating TrendsRating Trends
    Recommend to a friend
    Approve of CEO
    BGC Partners Chairman, President, and CEO Howard W. Lutnick
    Howard W. Lutnick
    47 Ratings

    86 Employee Reviews

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    Pros

    • Work/life balance as most teams do not stay late compared to banks or hedge funds (brokers at 4pm, back/middle office at 5-6pm) (in 5 reviews)

    • Friendly staff although depends on which product desk you're on (in 3 reviews)

    Cons
    More Pros and Cons

    1. Helpful (2)

      "Trading Experience required to be sucessful"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - SOftareEnginer in New York, NY
      Former Employee - SOftareEnginer in New York, NY
      Doesn't Recommend
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at BGC Partners (More than 5 years)

      Pros

      Company has a great midtown location with easy access from most parts of the city. Employee health benefits are good.

      Cons

      This employer asserts "no trading (brokerage) experience required", however, developers are expected to build and maintain complex trading systems. I was tasked to work on matching engines where I was required to apply SEC rules to maintain and update these systems. Without trading experience, the learning curve is steep.

      Bonuses and increases are non-existent here, for most tech people.

      Employees are required to work 10 hour days and some weekends.

      Advice to Management

      Bonus time is a big event with sealed envelopes handed out openly. Everyone knows who get a bonus and an increase and who does not. Being an obvious and open event, the pattern of awards granted is unmistakable. It makes clear who is favored by management, and who is not.

    2. Helpful (4)

      "Not the best for the experienced, sometimes brutal"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Associate in New York, NY
      Former Employee - Associate in New York, NY
      Doesn't Recommend
      Neutral Outlook
      Disapproves of CEO

      I worked at BGC Partners full-time (More than 5 years)

      Pros

      Many diversified products
      Small company so can learn whole process of brokerage firm
      Work/life balance as most teams do not stay late compared to banks or hedge funds (brokers at 4pm, back/middle office at 5-6pm)

      Cons

      All managers screamed at their team, including mine, which came from the top
      Benefits were terrible, no employer match, high costs for medical/dental and copays and benefits kept getting cut every year
      Ethics questionable across many teams
      Many people were brutal and very unprofessional as there are trust issues
      No career opportunities

      Advice to Management

      Treat employees with respect if not the best employees will leave
      Focus on development such as training, online classes, etc

      3. Join the BGC Partners team
      See Our Latest Jobs

    3. "Broker"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Broker in New York, NY
      Former Employee - Broker in New York, NY
      Doesn't Recommend
      Negative Outlook
      Disapproves of CEO

      I worked at BGC Partners (More than 3 years)

      Pros

      Money is good at first.

      Cons

      Management's hands are tied with the unrealistic/forced stock plan.
      Do not honor your original signed contract.
      No diversity.
      Don't follow rules.
      Doing your job well does not help you being compensated better or mobility within the company.

    4. "Horrible management"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee in Hoboken, NJ
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee in Hoboken, NJ

      I worked at BGC Partners (More than a year)

      Pros

      Decent office space and friendly coworker.

      Cons

      Little to zero support from HR or management.

      Advice to Management

      Should treat good employees better instead of squeezing their pay for money.

    5. "Summer Intern"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee in New York, NY
      Former Employee - Anonymous Employee in New York, NY
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      Pros

      The brokers were very helpful and answered all my questions and occasionally went out of there way at times to make sure I understood certain concepts. The interns had the opportunity to rotate at a different desk each week to analyze how different desks operated.

      Cons

      There weren't any big cons other than the very few people there that didn't care to give any advice to the interns.

    6. "senior Broker"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Senior Broker/Analyst in New York, NY
      Former Employee - Senior Broker/Analyst in New York, NY
      Doesn't Recommend
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at BGC Partners full-time

      Pros

      Promote Independence and self-motivation to do the job with good support from co-workers and boss

      Cons

      Below average work benefit - have to pay $100 a month for coffee and snack

      Advice to Management

      Treat employees as partners and not a worker

    7. Helpful (1)

      "Don't stay too long, really"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - IT Support Analyst in New York, NY
      Former Employee - IT Support Analyst in New York, NY
      Doesn't Recommend
      Positive Outlook
      Disapproves of CEO

      Pros

      Work/life balance is great. Hours are somewhat normal. Health benefits are good.

      Cons

      Little or no pay raises. Bonus's are typically RSU's. Unhelpful co workers are allowed to remain that way. Some managers really don't have a clue. Customer support for external clients is sometimes poor - BGC is a vendor but thinks they are a bank. Some juniors or recent hires have higher salaries than their superiors, sad. Get your two years and go.

      Advice to Management

      Take care of your dedicated employees and weed out the slackers.

    8. "Broker"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in New York, NY
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in New York, NY
      Doesn't Recommend

      I have been working at BGC Partners full-time (More than 5 years)

      Pros

      Some decent managers and the company is growing exponentially.
      The rank and file workers really do their best in a very hostile environment.

      Cons

      The corporate culture is lousy. From the top flowing down hill is a shout down mentality. There is rarely positive communication with senior management. A sense of fear prevails, which squashes the ability to succeed.
      The pay out schedule is reminiscent of some of the best ponzi schemes out there....

      Advice to Management

      While much of your strategies are working, you treatment of your employees is horrible. Your non producer bonuses are laughable.

    9. "Some great people"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Receptionist in New York, NY
      Current Employee - Receptionist in New York, NY
      Doesn't Recommend
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at BGC Partners full-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      The brokers are great (majority)

      Lighthearted, relaxed environment

      Casual Fridays

      Cons

      Disorganized management

      Zero communication

      Inconsiderate to temp employees

    10. "BGC Partners"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in New York, NY
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in New York, NY
      Doesn't Recommend
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at BGC Partners full-time (More than 3 years)

      Pros

      Are good to you when times are good.

      Cons

      Not willing to stick with you through the tough times. Prefer to bring new people in than developed internally.

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