Having just recieved an offer as an associate, can anyone shed some light on the culture of the London office?Im particularly intersted in degree of politics, teamwork, lifestyle and any other relevant info. Thank you in advanceH

having just received an offer and presumably been through the full interview process, you would have had plenty of opportunity to ask them directly... How come you still don't know the answer then? I find it hard to believe they actually made you an offer without you knowing this.

what people tell you at interviews is rarely true - and poorly reflects what really goes on. What my principal told me in our 35 minutes together was nothing more than a usual marketing spiel - that is why I wanted to see if someone had some anonymous insight they wanted to share. Im surprised at the stupidity of your question.

I am at the main BAH office in the US, so YMMV on my reply. From what I hear from partners/principles, most of the offices have a very similar culture. That being said, the culture here is fairly relaxed, generally good people. However, there are a very few who are assholes and will go out of their way to screw you over. Politics is a big player, so you have to play the game on that one. One of my partners actually moved full time to run a team at that office. Welcome!

Look forward to some long hours, some very long hours indeed.Look forward to your "6 month pulse check" at which point they decide whether you were a hiring mistake or not. Best make sure you hit the ground running!Look forward to staying in some very plush hotels, and working on interesting projects with some very bright people. The work itself is thoroughly enjoyable, if a little demanding at times.Look forward to your annual reviews and the firm's tough "up or out" policy. Keep your eye on the beach list - this could indicate whether the bar is going to be raised when your appraisal is due.Fear the aggressive principals (some of them are great, however) and their ability to make your life a misery. Make sure you don't end up with a "couldn't care less" mentor!My best advice is that you don't make any major financial commitments (e.g. a mortgage) while you're working there. I found the anxiety of not knowing whether I would be "counselled out" and having to think of myself as working on an 'annually renewed 12 month contract' unbearable.Also, please don't become one of those associates that lives in the office 24 hours per day, I understand why they do it but it makes for an awful atmosphere.

Thank you. That was very valuable - I appreciate your time. If I may one more question; is the recruiting process always so lethargic and ad-hoc? It is the only thing that I have had questions about...

Don't worry about the recruitment process, you're through it now.If you thought the recruitment process was ad-hoc and lethargic, wait until you get your first 360 appraisal. The elapsed time will be shorter but you might need a vacation after it. Prepare to eat serious quantities of humble pie, even if you're a bit of a superstar within the firm.Unless you enjoy very, very long hours, you will need to have an open and frank discussion with the lead principal/partner about how your time is managed on the project at the outset. This is easier to do with some people than it is with others.If you like, I'll give you informal advice from time to time based on my experiences. You're free to listen or ignore as you wish - set up a hotmail account and let me know the details. I'll keep it neutral/objective but obviously it will be based on my own personal experiences - yours may vary. BAH is a great firm, but it takes time to understand how to 'fit in' and develop productive relationships with your colleagues.

Thank you very kind. Your actions alone speak volumes. my new email is newbaher@hotmail.comLook forward to speaking to you. Thanks again