Pros
-Pretty much anyone with any common sense can get into the academy, it's then you have to work averagely hard to do well. -Once you've been placed, if you're lucky enough to get a job you enjoy with a good crowd then you can look past the terrible pay. If you don't have these luxuries it's going to be hell for 2 years until FDM release you and you can at a minimum double your salary. -Realistically, I wouldn't be working in investment banking without FDM - with my average degree from my average uni. -Once you're on site, you can tell people you work for a big cool company and pretend you've never heard of FDM. Just don't go for any expensive meals. -They do a good summer party with loads of free beer which is a good laugh if you make any friends there, no +1s obviously. -Referral scheme (£500 bonus if a mate joins up) is pretty good if you have any mates who are jealous of your cool company/questionable tightness. -I've never been, but the new office at Cottons Centre looks pretty swanky. Much better than the grotty looking old one.
Cons
-Once you're in the academy, if you struggle to get placed, FDM will all of a sudden not care about you whatsoever. They care about selling products rather than getting people jobs, a bad ethos for what is essentially a recruitment company. -Terrible pay. You will literally be the worst paid person at the company - except maybe other FDMers. -Once you've been placed, you're forgotten. There's meant to be 6 monthly reviews and regular contact with your account manager. I had one 6 month review and currently unsure who my account manager is as the previous two have left. Doesn't necessarily affect everyone, unless you're having a tough time. -If the academy (training and interviews) doesn't go your way and you don't end up with a job, you've wasted a solid 5 months of your life and not earned a penny. Bad times. -Whilst at the academy, it's like being back at school. Clock in a second late and you're in trouble. Realistically, the real world is nothing like this.