Pros

They provide a car, and the benefits are very good. If you have little experience It is a good job to learn account management, although you must be very self sufficient in order to survive. There is no office, so you have complete freedom to make your own schedule.

Cons

I really enjoyed the job, but became disappointed with the way management treated employees. Management puts out unrealistic goals, doesn't offer adequate coaching, and acts shocked when their team falls short. We did have a leadership change at the area level that I feel was the major factor in the negative change of culture.

The current District Managers don't work with their employees. They have no idea what is going on in their district. If they rode with their TM's they would have a good understanding of how each territory differs.

Middle management is either afraid of their boss or doing what ever they need to do to get promoted. This is probably the biggest problem within the company, because they tell their direct superiors only what they want to hear. This creates a huge gap in information on what is actually happening in the field to those who run the company.

I want to be clear that every area of the country is different. I have friends that work in different parts of the country and have great things to say about their bosses, so it just depends on where you are located. If you are in an area with strong support and management you will have a great experience. If I were going to join the company I would ask for a detailed plan of what your training would consist of. I've seen too many good people come through and receive inadequate training only to be fired for poor performance.

Advice to Senior Management

Not having a national competitor has made Ecolab a little too comfortable. Ecolab has enough weaknesses that if a strong enough competitor came along it could do major damage to you. Understand that your employees are your best asset, and the only reason customers are willing to pay what you are asking for your chemicals.