Brill Street + Company

Director of Recruiting Kimberly Dobbins says that entry-level hires go through a two-year rotational program called the Morningstar Development Program in order to learn the business and where they fit. "They stay in one role for twelve months," says Dobbins, "then can move throughout the organization for the remaining twelve months to gain skills in a new area."

For many Morningstar rookies, this is a blessing, as many of them aren't well-versed in finance when they arrive. "You might think most people at Morningstar studied business or finance in school, but that isn't necessarily the case. We heavily recruit folks with liberal arts backgrounds," says Dobbins. "We believe that if you're creative, flexible and possess great communication skills, we can teach you the business."

CFO Scott Cooley says that the environment they create at the company is conducive to learning. "We have a fairly flat culture," he says. "No one has offices, not even the CEO. We all sit together in a very open environment." It also helps that the offices themselves feel more like a trendy hotel, fully equipped with an on-site designer dedicated to making the space a great place to visit each morning. It's definitely a place to be seen.

Cooley adds that Gen Yers are perfect for the company culture. "Generation Y brings a real level of energy and inventiveness to Morningstar. The development program attracts people right out of school and many are given high levels of responsibility. A Generation Y employee is the head of our mutual fund research," says Cooley. "Morningstar attracts Gen Y because people in that generation look for a company that has values and consistency. They want to feel good about what they're doing. We're able to offer that here."

"We do a lot for the community, like mentorships at inner city schools," says Deepti Jain, Financial Analyst. "The coolest part about working here are the opportunities that are available to me. The sky is the limit."