Johnson & Johnson Company Reviews and Ratings CareerBliss 2012 Top 50 Happiest Companies

"Not a place for innovators, but an enjoyable place to work"

Johnson & Johnson Review by System V&V scientist in Rochester, NY on September 14, 2009

What do you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

Relaxed environment, enjoyable coworkers, generally enjoyable management. There really isn't too much backstabbing that i've experienced here, or catty/overly gossipy co-workers, which is nice. While most of the assignments i worked on where not too challenging intellectually, i've had a lot of experience and practice staying focused on monotonous and repetitive assignments. This isn't an overly competitive workplace as i've experienced it. Contractors are also treated pretty nicely here, and often do the same jobs as direct hires with little difference in many cases.

What don't you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

People are sometimes hired to do somewhat mindless jobs (but are usually paid well to do them to be fair). The majority of data analysis for FDA submissions is typically done in excel, but few people seem to have much knowledge in programming, visual basic or automation within excel. So a great deal of time is spent doing simple repetitive tasks that could be automated (copy and pasting, format changes, etc.) Even some senior personnel sometimes have limited knowledge regarding aspects of ongoing tests, so it is not uncommon to have to track down multiple people involved in the same test before finding the one who can answer your question. The company doesn't seem to have a very strong desire to find the best people for particular jobs within its ranks. Senior members don't seem to have to worry too much about ambitious juniors, and there doesn't appear to be very much movement within the ranks.

What suggestions do you have for management?

There is a very hierarchical structure here where people sometimes try to horde personal or resources as a matter of status or importance. There is some wasted talent as personal are occasionally hired to do jobs that occupy a limited segment of their skill set, or require a limited segment of their workday. Train people to do multiple jobs, and shift the workpool when departmental needs dictate it. I though it was wasteful to fill every position for peak workload conditions.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Company website is good, the IFU's (instructions for use) under clinical laboratory tech documents has info on every assay the company markets. There is a blurb at the beginning of each document stating what each assay is for and what it's used to diagnose. Good knowledge to have if your interviewing in sales, R&D, or something product related. Microtips, Microslides, and Microwells (as well as the analyzers that use them) are the main products the company supports itself on.

"Important work, but unbalanced sharing of perks and rewards."

Johnson & Johnson Review by Director, Strategic Analytics in Belle Mead, NJ on August 25, 2009

What do you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

JnJ is a solid company with an excellent (well-deserved) reputation. They understand that life does not start and end at their door, and actually take the commitment to their employees seriously. The people care about their customers (i.e., sick people) and generally behave in an ethical way. Further, the products being developed have a meaningful and beneficial impact on the lives of real people.

What don't you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

In the group I was in, I found the culture incredibly clubby and provincial. I high number of European expats, who favoured one another in plum assignments, promotional opportunities, and recognition lead to an us/them problem. People get pigeon holed easily, and there is plainly a two-class system. The top tier basically travel, go to conferences, run their mouths, and generally do little or no actual work. The second tier stay in the office and do the work, frequently with little thanks from their peers. And the talkers are the one who get the promotions and perks.

What suggestions do you have for management?

I would recommend to change the obvious work horse/show horse culture, or after enough time, the capable people who provide the actual work will leave, and nothing will remain besides the Potemkin workforce who know how to make travel reservations, but not much else.

"Overall Bliss: Above Average"

Johnson & Johnson Review by Biotechnician, RLAT in La Mesa, CA on July 10, 2009

What do you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

JnJ is a solid performer in the biotech and pharma sector and it's on the forefront of technology and r n d. JnJ's culture is one to admire since it values the individual rather than the whole, in a global effort to be best in class, jnj acknowledges that everyone has something valuable to contribute to the corporate goal and that cultivating people to fully utilize their potential is vital.

What don't you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

Well to be honest in various areas of the company it can be hard to cross over to new areas, at least that has been my experience. The science side is great but for technicians it's a little bit harder to move around in order to move up.

What suggestions do you have for management?

Management is very open for the most part when it comes to improving or at least implementing ideas and suggestion provided to them. They are very big on following the corporate values of our CREDO and each yr we have numerous surveys and groups that function as mediators to help with developing and environment that is conducive to what our CREDO values stand for. The use of focus groups and credo champions allows every voice to be heard as well.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Go for it, it's a great place t work for, they pay really well and opportunities are abundant you just have to choose the right group/area to work in.

"J&J is a great company to work for but the upper management and supervisors at La Jolla need to be laid off and replaced with some new ones."

Johnson & Johnson Review by Scientist in La Jolla, CA on July 07, 2009

What do you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

J and J is a very stable company. The Pharmaceutical research and the Labs are great compared to Academic labs. It is a nice safe building with high tech equipment. It maintains very good safety and Lab practices.

What don't you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

The senior supervisors and management need to be changed. There is a lot of nepotism and in breeding which results in favoritism and extremely low morale in the work place. They need to bring new people in the labs as well as management to change the work place environment.

What suggestions do you have for management?

Get rid of the people that were brought by Per Peterson in 1994 who have done more damage than good. The J and J at L Jolla has contributed absolutely nothing and are in existence since 1982. Does that say something about this site. Bring in some new unbiased people at top levels and lay off the old ones that are enjoying the luxury of doing nothing and living high on the hog with great benefits.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Right away ask who their supervisor is going to be. Also request talk to all the people in the company and find out about the supervisor and his style of running the lab.

"J&J is a great company to work for but the upper management and supervisors at La Jolla need to be laid off and replaced with some new ones."

Johnson & Johnson Review by Scientist in La Jolla, CA on July 07, 2009

What do you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

J and J is a very stable company. The Pharmaceutical research and the Labs are great compared to Academic labs. It is a nice safe building with high tech equipment. It maintains very good safety and Lab practices.

What don't you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

The senior supervisors and management need to be changed. There is a lot of nepotism and in breeding which results in favoritism and extremely low morale in the work place. They need to bring new people in the labs as well as management to change the work place environment.

What suggestions do you have for management?

Get rid of the people that were brought by Per Peterson in 1994 who have done more damage than good. The J and J at L Jolla has contributed absolutely nothing and are in existence since 1982. Does that say something about this site. Bring in some new unbiased people at top levels and lay off the old ones that are enjoying the luxury of doing nothing and living high on the hog with great benefits.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Right away ask who their supervisor is going to be. Also request talk to all the people in the company and find out about the supervisor and his style of running the lab.

"I had a positive experience at Ortho McNeil and still take pride in the products that I represented."

Johnson & Johnson Review by Senior Sales Representative in Raleigh, NC on October 05, 2009

What do you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

I was a lead antibiotic representative. I was also a field trainer for product knowledge and a pilot team member for the computer system. I was given many additional responsibilities that kept my skills sharp including interviewing candidates at job fairs and universities, market research, training, sales aid development, and many others. The company was able to recognize my abilities and leveraged them for the good of both of us. I was never bored and they got more than they paid for.

What don't you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

There were very few field promotions that did not include relocation to the home office in New Jersey. Their leadership development path was redundant to those of us who had already held the position.

What suggestions do you have for management?

Recognize the skills that the employee has and the positions that they have already successfully held and don't make them take classes or do projects just to check a box in the developmental process before you consider them for promoted positions.

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

Have strong science knowledge and the ability to learn new information quickly.

"Overall Bliss: Above Average"

Johnson & Johnson Review by Automation Technician on February 15, 2011

What do you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

Worked Second Shift so I was the Only Chief, I came into between 7-12 of 45 machines down everyday from first shift with 6 mechanics on first, I went home everyday with between 2-3 machines down everyday and my numbers on Second almost doubled that of first, I always felt really good after each day of work.

What don't you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

CONTRACT Ended :O( The only negitive to this job was that the machine operators where held responsible for the production on there machines so when there machine was not running there would be kaos being I was the only one could respond to there machines but I had to prioritize by machine and customer priority and some workers would think I took favoratizm tword people. I was only able to give a machine 30 minutes to attempt to trouble shoot the problem and if I couldn't figure it out I had to move to the next and go back to that machine or I would have 10 machines down. Many Old Machines and you could not lube anything being a clean room Environment.

What suggestions do you have for management?

Hire People, Not Just Limited 2 year Contracts, I had really wanted to get hired full time as a career goal

"Great place for compensation but Management needs a Face"

Johnson & Johnson Review by Senior Administrative Assistant in Titusville, NJ on December 23, 2009

What do you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

Compensation is great! Salary and benefits are well above average.

What don't you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

Management doesn't seem to understand how to control chaos. Management changes direction often only to change direction again. Being agile is important especially in this economy but there seems to be a lack of understanding on how to manage through change. Alot of managers should not be people managers because they lack interpersonal skills.

What suggestions do you have for management?

Senior management should introduce real people skills as part of management development programs. Give up some of the politics - it really destroys morale and diminishes the perception of competency of management. This would be a HUGE cultural shift for this "good ole boys club".

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

While J&J is a family of many operating companies, be forewarned that movement and rotations are not so easy to come by. Politics makes this a tough environment and most times creates lack of vision and fosters poor morale.

"It is a great employer to work for expect for the weak upper management"

Johnson & Johnson Review by Technology Manager in Raritan, NJ on October 18, 2009

What do you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

It is a large enterprise environment consists of 208+ Operating Companies globally. There are a lot of opportunities to explore and learn new technologies or switch your focus to different technologies. If you are a energetic learner, it is a great environment to advance your technical skills.

What don't you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

The new CIO is trying to outsource all Operations. As matter of fact, they already did for Network Operations. The upper management keeps emphasize that they want to transform operations into ITIL based processes, but has no clue what does that mean and how to proceed.

What suggestions do you have for management?

Listen to those who really understand and have experiences about ITSM and operations process transformation. Keep a open mind for changes in order to achieve the goals. Ask for proof of improvement when new solution is presented.

"I found it interesting, again, I loved my career at OMP and if the situation was such that they were making money I would have bee there until I retired."

Johnson & Johnson Review by Sales Representative in North Houston, TX on April 30, 2009

What do you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

Best products in their therapuetic class, easy to sell

What don't you like about working at Johnson & Johnson?

There was downsizing every year for the last 6 years, and it created an atmosphere of doubt amonst the field reps. I never let myself dwell on this, but morale was getting very bad the last two years, My attitude was to do the very best I could do, and be able to look at myself in the mirror at the end of the day and know for myself I gave it all I had!!

What suggestions do you have for management?

Middle to lower management was awesome, they knew how to motivate, the problem was in upper management in out and out lying to us on several occasions, which created the morale issues. Tell the truth and let people deal with the facts.