Really awful - would not recommend! - Avis employé Economist Consensus Economics

Parts of the day-to-day can be quite interesting, as it involves staying up to date with latest economic news and events. Everything else about the job, though....

Based on my own experience, many of the concerns raised in previous low-rated reviews reflect what I encountered as well. What was most disappointing was realising that these issues appear to have persisted for years, with little evidence of meaningful change, as the company continues to operate in ways that feel outdated and resistant to improvement. One aspect that has not been emphasised enough in other reviews is how isolating the role can feel. Employees are expected to work largely in silence and in isolation, and with high staff turnover it is difficult to build relationships or a sense of team. Senior staff, who are meant to provide training and support, often seemed overwhelmed by workload and constant upheaval, leaving little time for meaningful interaction, despite generally good intentions. For new graduates in particular, it is easy to overlook warning signs in the excitement of securing a first post-university role. In hindsight, several red flags were apparent: an interview process that felt disorganised, visibly run-down offices, and unexpected pressure to attend the office in person to sign a contract without time to properly review it beforehand. It was only later, after rereading the contract and speaking with more experienced friends and family, that it became clear how unfavourable the terms were. Compensation and benefits were at the lower end of the market, and what was not made clear during the hiring process was how restrictive the holiday policy is in practice. In my experience, taking leave was largely limited to a narrow window at the end of the month, significantly reducing flexibility. One previous review has already described an example of this in detail, and it was disheartening and frustrating to read that person's experience. Those considering this role with the intention of pursuing a career as an Economist should also be aware that the position may not align with that goal. While advertised as an Economist/Assistant Editor role, in my experience it more closely resembled a junior analyst position, focused on producing short reports along with basic data management. There was little opportunity to apply the econometric tools and analysis taught at university, which may leave employees at a disadvantage when applying for genuine Economist roles later on. For anyone currently working at the company and feeling discouraged, I would strongly encourage exploring alternative opportunities. Many organisations offer better support, clearer development pathways, and healthier working environments.

A great place for an economics graduate to gain experience in order to pursue a career in financial services. Most of the senior management are very helpful and want you to succeed. Transferable skills. Typical 9-5 hours so work life balance isn’t too bad (could be better though due to lack of benefits)

The CEO is stunting the growth of the company. Senior management clearly disagree with many of the CEO’s choices but are powerless when it comes to a final decision. I was declined holiday for a close family members wedding, which I had booked before I even interviewed for the firm. I was told in the interview this wouldn’t be a problem and then subsequently found out that I couldn’t take the time off because ‘clients come first’. Software was extremely outdated. No benefits other than the experience gained. Minimum holiday and employer pension contribution says a lot about the CEO and his treatment of his staff. Salary is lower than industry averages. Limited opportunity for promotion due to small structure of the firm.