Genentech Employee Job Reviews in the United States

"Great Company to work for! Highly recommended."

"I can speak only for what I and numerous other colleagues, who are all well-experienced engineering contractors, often say in private to one another about how we are treated within our respective project teams in our department, which deals interdepartmentally with the development of combination devices. When I first came to the company my manager proactively warned me that "There are LOTS of land-mines here!”, particularly in dealing interdepartmentally with the device team. But what kind of a department constantly requires its engineering contractors, whom it titles as “managers”, to walk on egg shells and contend with preexisting bad internal politics originating from mid-level management in a different department? Although each of us is well-educated and has many years of broad experience and accomplishments in the industry, our actions and contributions are frequently blocked because of internal politics stemming from immature mid-level management. For example, one interdepartmental manager will go out of his way to whine whenever we take the slightest initiative necessary to get the required work done on time. The departments deliberately work in silos and so there is poor collaboration interdepartmentally. Yes, there are regular interdepartmental meetings; but one cannot speak both factually and freely in them lest it might rub one manager the wrong way. Behind the scenes, initiative and drive are actively discouraged and contractors know that they will be chastised even for making a simple phone call to another departmental manager to ask a question necessary to complete their work. We are told that such communication can mushroom into prolonged back and forth discussions and questions; but that would only mean that others are uncertain of their own roles and that there exists a broader lack of direction from management at higher levels. In reality this is just a heavy-handed way to restrict the internal channels and free flow of information."

"Genentech is a good company but the culture varies widely from department to department. In my experience people in commercial are the happiest while those in research are most unhappy. The work environment depends a lot on the managers and if you have a bad one then nothing can save you. Overall the company culture is still good but slowly deteriorating."

"would not go back, ever."

What do you like about working at Genentech?

"benefits were good, that is probably the best, they have also good commute busses"

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

"watch out well during the interview and talk with as many people as possible."

What don't you like about working at Genentech?

"people were not rewarded according to thir performance not according to how good a..kissers they are!!!"

What suggestions do you have for management?

"need to realize that manager need 2 things -know how to treat people (excatly the soft skills they are BIG on during the interviewing proseess, which is exactlly what managments lacks) AND managers need to go through all the steps of the ladder - you cannot manage people if you have not REALLY worked yourself. Many people cannot realize that in order to become boss you need to be ready to do all the things you made your employees do yourself and to actually know what does this mean to accomplish certain things."

"think well before you go"

What do you like about working at Genentech?

"good benefits,most facilitites are well build,commute system, vacation time is also ok"

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

"know your stuff and think well about what you are being told during the interview"

What don't you like about working at Genentech?

"I worked at Genentech for 4 yrs in the Molecular Biology Department. Quickly after being hired I discovered that the group of scientists I was working with were extremely unhappy. Interestingly, these employees were very happy with the company as a whole. The Managing Scientists running my lab were unethical, inhumane, and untrustworthy. It was one of the most difficult situations I have ever experienced. My colleagues discovered, over time, that the Managing Scientists running this lab had not only been fired from their previous company, but that they had had an entire lab before our lab at Genentech, and all of these employees either quit or were moved into other labs within Genentech. My lab went through the process of attempting to discuss the issues with our bosses directly, but that only made the situations more grave. Especially for certain vocal people. Once nothing was done, we went to the Vice President of Molecular Biology to have discussions with him, but still nothing was done. Soon after meeting with the VP of MB, certain people within the group, who were great associates, were placed on performance punishments. I was so appalled. People started becoming continuously sick (from the stress), but still coming into work. Finally people began quitting. It was horrible. The supervisors began hiring more people and they eventually quit too. It's been 2 years since I left and those Managing Scientist are still employed at Genentech, although I have heard that they are finally being forced to have limited numbers of employees. I simply cannot believe that Genentech, as company, would treat their employees so poorly. So many people were deeply affected by these Managing Scientists. Genentech is certainly not a perfect company (especially in their Research Division). Please be very, very careful who you work for and try to gauge the realistic attitudes of the laboratory personnel before accepting a position at this company."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"the ones who manage should be on those positions becuase of their proven ability to manage people, and because they are potentially ready to do the job of everyone they manage, not just give orders. LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN and offer justified solutions to work situations!!"

What do you like about working at Genentech?

"Close to home...good benefits."

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

"Be prepared for a situational story telling type interview. Behavioral based...the company is BIG on soft people skills."

What don't you like about working at Genentech?

"Poor pay, to much of a soft culture. To many wimps."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Toughen up a little...don't be afraid to make decisions..take ownership of your projects and people."

"Makes me proud that I worked there."

"It is a good company."

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

"Great company to work for but went from 12,000 employees to 92,000 employees. Not as easy to know everyone and feel like you have an impact."

"Interesting to look back on an previous employer you would like to work with again."

What don't you like about working at Genentech?

"This was only a contract position and it don't rehire contractor within a three years."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"If a manager is willing to rehire you go for it that is team dynamic."

"Great company to make a long-time stand."

"Lots of stress, but the money was good."

What do you like about working at Genentech?

"Great employees; very hard working."

What don't you like about working at Genentech?

"The hours, the commute, and the stress."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Trust people to do their jobs."