Pros
Working at Wikistrat is one of the most edifying and professionally beneficial experiences I have ever had, and I believe that those reviewers who have written about/had negative experiences either did not join Wikistrat with the right expectations or did not put in enough effort/time to recognize the benefits it has to offer.
Being an analyst at Wikistrat should not be thought of as a job -- rather, imagine it as being a member of an elite circle of experts, analysts, scholars and similarly driven professionals (both young and old) in the fields of politics, international relations, security/military affairs, technology, and global trends. By working at Wikistrat, you gain the opportunity to conduct political/geopolitical/economic analysis within a forum of incredibly intelligent thinkers -- and you get to do so whenever you would like. Those who perform especially well get paid, and also are offered publication opportunities (such as blog posts, reports, and so on) -- but these opportunities should be thought of as a bonus to the networking and educational benefits of being a Wikistrat Analyst.
When first starting out at Wikistart, you will likely only be able to access unpaid simulations and forums where you can discuss, think through,and forecast geopolitical trends and developments with other analysts. Conducting research on a given topic and presenting your ideas to the community is an unparalleled opportunity to grow as a political/geopolitical/economic analyst, and the discussions and debates are always stimulating and edifying. You will also have the opportunity to be awarded with cash prizes at the end of each month if you prove yourself to be particularly thoughtful and hardworking in these otherwise unpaid simulations.
Once you have proven yourself to the staff and community, you will be brought on to even greater opportunities -- paid simulations with high ranking clients such as the U.S. Department of Defense, Deloitte, and NATO.
To put these benefits into perspective, I started working at Wikistrat as a Researcher (the lowest ranking/entry-level position, barring internships) in July and made a consistent effort to serve as a thoughtful and hardworking analyst (probably putting in 15-20 hours a week). By August, I had been offered roles in paid simulations and had my analysis published on Wikistrat's website as well as in reports. These benefits were all in addition to gaining numerous contacts -- both experts, renowned academics/members of international political circles, and young professionals like myself -- and learning a great deal through both my own research and the wisdom of other analysts.
The bottom-line is that Wikistrat is an unparalled opportunity for young professionals, and an edifying, enjoyable, and rewarding community from which analysts can earn side income. I would recommend Wikistart to anyone professionally/academically interested in political analysis, international affairs, military affairs, economics, and global trends.
Cons
In my experiences, the cons have been extremely minimal -- especially in light of the benefits. Sometimes, the analysis put forward by analysts is uninspiring or simply unfounded/incorrect -- but there is always engaging discussion taking place. On one occasion, I have experienced an analyst with a rude temperament, but staff and management are very astute at quickly flagging and resolving these issues.
