Arthur D. Little
Overview
Introduction
It may boast the oldest name in consulting, but Arthur D. Little is a firm that feels fresh and vital, with a growing footprint in every major global market. While its work product and client list rival the biggest consulting shops, ADL’s focus on retaining and developing employees for long-term careers sets it apart as an employer and seems set to equip it for success in the years ahead.
Company Stats
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Vault Verdict
Don’t be fooled by its long history or global footprint: in the U.S., Arthur D. Little is a firm that feels and operates very much like a startup. That’s partly by design, and partly due to the unusual position of its recent rebuild having been driven largely from Europe—a region where it has fully re-established its brand cachet.
Within the U.S., the firm faces significantly more competition in a very mature market but has nonetheless been making headway over the past few years—although, as with most firms in the sector, 2023 appears to have been a difficult ride.
As an employer, ADL insiders are quick to praise their firm’s flat structure, and the feeling that every single employee has an important role to play in delivering success for ...
About the Company
An acknowledged thought leader in linking strategy, innovation and transformation in technology-intensive and converging industries, Arthur D. Little helps clients navigate changing business ecosystems to uncover new growth opportunities; in so doing, it supports clients in building innovation capabilities and transforming their organization.
Founded in Boston in 1886, Arthur D. Little lays claim to the dual titles of first and oldest management consulting firm in the world. The pioneering spirit of the founder who lent the firm its name is the stuff of legend—and the firm he founded is still going strong, even after completing a journey that has seen it go from private entity to public corporation, and back to private following a 2011 management buyout by the partners. Since that buyout, the company has experienced steady growth i...
Employee Reviews
- “We have strong mentorship both formally and informally and a culture where people give strong, direct feedback and show that they care.”
- “ADL is a culture of down-to-earth people. I have fun showing up to work and I am always able to be myself. At ADL the norm is to be humble and hard-working, and in my opinion, people have strong values. I look up to the leadership and look up to the people [that are] below my level too. This is where I want to be and to invest my time.”
- “I feel very welcome being my true self, and think that being my true self leads to good work and good opportunity.”
Why Work Here
ADL is an entrepreneurial company - we are the oldest management consulting firm but we are not trapped by process or tradition. For our business model, this means flexibility of approach – rather than just charge our clients by the hour, we may enter into partnerships with them. We eagerly transfer our knowledge to clients while learning from their insight and experience. This is also reflected in the way we work as a team – we value initiative and are always open to new ideas. Every path is possible, and we encourage our people to explore different industries beyond their specializations and work across disciplines.
ADL is proud to be ranked #3 on WSO’s list of Consulting Companies with The Hardest Interview.
Getting Hired Here
- “We start with a screening interview that involves a small market sizing case and behavioral questions. Then comes a super day of three interviews, with two in a standard format with case and behavioral questions and the third being a one-hour research case that simulates a consulting experience.”
- “The perfect candidate will integrate well into the culture and bring their own unique perspective, be great with clients, and care about people. They should have no ego, high expectations for themselves, and a warm demeanor.”
- “Hiring takes a considerable amount of time to ensure proper cultural fit.”
- “They are seeking intellectually curious, personable, and analytical candidates.”
Perks & Benefits