Updating Results

Nous Group

4.3
  • 500 - 1,000 employees

Nous Group Reviews

Based on 9 surveyed graduates working at Nous Group. Read on to get an insider’s view on life as a graduate.
4.3
Based on 9 reviews

Pros & Cons

  • The variation in work. I am able to explore a range of disciplines and subject areas. As an entry level position, this is a great opportunity to try my hand at a variety of different things and to shape my career accordingly. Through this, I would also add the access to high-level decisions and decision-makers. There are very few comparable roles where as someone in their early 20s I would get to work alongside such senior people in their own organisations and such experts in their respective fields.
  • There is an overall great culture that flows through collaborating across the business and getting to know colleagues.
  • The work is dynamic and interesting. It is challenging and requires me to think analytically and creatively to find solutions. The people and the culture of the organisation are fantastic.
  • The culture is inclusive and welcoming. The company promotes healthy practices such as turning off laptops at a reasonable time and management insists on only assigning you work you are well positioned to complete (i.e., you have enough capacity, interest, capability, etc. to finish it).
  • Nous provides so many resources and supports for me to do my job well. The performance coach and buddy structures make me feel like I have someone to get guidance and advice from. Every project team takes the time to get to know everyone before we dive into a project to get to know our strengths and area's we're looking to grow throughout the project. Everyone is really supportive and genuinely wants you to feel happy at work and to help develop your skills. There are also so many learning opportunities - both on the job during a project or proposal, as well as formal learning and training that happens as well. I think Nous also focuses on helping everyone to shape their career and work on projects they are passionate about and find interesting. Overall the culture is incredible and makes me love going to work.
  • A bit of a double-edged sword. The work is very rewarding, but it is tough. The hours can be long (albeit low for industry standards) and performance expectations are high. This is great as you are surrounded by high performers who pull each other up, but has definitely caused me to experience imposter syndrome at times and place unrealistic pressures on myself. I should mention though, that this is perhaps more a reflection of myself as while performance expectations are high, they are also tapered and balanced really well for what can be expected for an entry level experience and as a grad I am surrounded by a wealth of support.
  • There can be challenges with the self-management (how we govern our work hours) with the case sometimes you can end up with too much or too little work.
  • We sometimes have to wait for clients to respond when we tender for work so that can create slow periods.
  • The most difficult aspect of this work is that there are so many interesting projects to be on, but when you're on one project full-time you'll have no capacity to try those new things.
  • Sometimes the job can be demanding in terms of hours, and also a steep learning curve on new projects and proposals. However, this is balanced by less stressful times. I think overall Nous does really well to keep track of how many hours we work and offers 'recharge leave' if we start to feel burnt out from periods of long hours.

What Insiders Say

8.8
Career Prospects
8.8
Career Prospects
Promotions are considered twice a year. Promotions are merit-based, and office politics do not influence decision-making.
8.8
Corporate Social Responsibility
8.8
Corporate Social Responsibility
The organisation is very committed to social responsibility. They work heavily in the decarbonization and sustainable development industries and carry this into the organisation. We have a net zero plan and commitment and take steps towards this.
9.3
Culture
9.3
Culture
Culture is good. You are surrounded by other really motivated high-performing people and the company has a strong culture of two-way feedback. There are plenty of interesting after-hours’ activities that are entirely optional. Cooperation is strong. Employees are not compared to their peers, so there isn't a sense of competition, but rather a culture of lifting each other up. Personally, I am very motivated to affect positive change in the community. The company does a lot of important, valuable work in very influential spaces. In terms of culture, I have really enjoyed being surrounded by other staff who are equally motivated in this regard.
9.0
Diversity
9.0
Diversity
The company has a firm commitment to ensuring minority groups are represented across all levels of seniority and function. Women represent the majority in management and across the firm. We have targets for inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of the community and make a consistent effort to promote reconciliation. Coming from a middle-class background myself, I was very nervous to join a consulting firm as I the impression I had prior to the company was that consultants came from the same suburbs, same schools, same degrees. I had previously had negative experiences in situations where I was surrounded by people from overwhelmingly privileged backgrounds. I have been very pleased to see how welcoming and diverse an environment the company has.
8.1
Satisfaction
8.1
Satisfaction
When staffed on projects the work is engaging, meaningful and it feels like a difference is being made. The teams are highly capable, and you feel supported every step of the way. There are plenty of opportunities for you to involve yourself in business and client development. I've been the Client Coordinator for a client and have transitioned into a CC role for a sub-practice. It's a surefire way to acquaint yourself with the way business is won, industry trends and with important decision-makers across the firm.
8.4
Management
8.4
Management
Mentorship is very accessible and valued. They invest a lot of time in your development and make sure that you are constantly evolving and getting better and comfortable.
8.0
Office Work Environment
8.0
Office Work Environment
The office is in the heart of the CBD, it is very modern, and we are provided with free snacks and refreshments. Dress code is 'dress for your day' so we can be as casual as we like and then present formally to clients.
8.2
Recruitment
8.2
Recruitment
Interviewers were all very warm and made me feel comfortable in a usually stressful environment. The assessments felt relevant which is rare for a grad role. I encourage candidates to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. The point of these interviews isn’t to confirm that you can answer each question correctly, rather, to verify that you take the right approach when confronted with ambiguity. Consulting is about problem solving. Industry doesn't hire consultants because they know the answer, but because they know how to get to the answer.
7.8
Salary
7.8
Salary
I'm happy with my salary, although I've heard it's less than some other consulting firms I think the culture, the quality of the work, and the opportunities to learn and develop more than make up for it. It's also more than my previous job and competitive with other entry level roles. We have an optional bonus structure, and I haven't been here long enough yet to have my bonus. So, you either have full bonus (lower salary and high bonus), half bonus (medium salary and medium bonus) or no bonus (high salary) option. The amount of bonus varies depending on your level and your performance. We have a $500 allowance for setting work from home equipment, and an ongoing allowance for covering work from home expenses. We do get free taxis/Ubers home from work parties (i.e., Christmas party).
8.4
Training
8.4
Training
Onboarding training takes about 2-3 weeks and covers all of Nous' internal systems, processes and how to become a consultant. Nous also has lots of online learning, including 'savvy sessions' which are pre-recorded online meetings that you can watch to learn about a sector or skill. There are plenty of links to linked-in learning and other online courses to upskill in various skills.
8.5
Work Hours
8.5
Work Hours
Nous expects 8 hours of client work, and 0.5-2 hours of self-development every day. I'd say the company is very flexible because it's all self-managed, so if you need to fit in a doctor’s appointment or anything like that, even run an errand or an exercise class, it's up to you to balance your time and meet all your commitments. I'd say I typically work 7.5-8 hours of client work, with maybe 0.5 for other things (internal company meetings etc.) a day.
8.2
Sustainability
8.2
Sustainability
We have a dedicated sustainability manager. There is also an intention to become completely carbon neutral by some point.