Novartis Pharmaceuticals Reviews

Pros

People...they were some great representatives who worked in this company. They were invaluable in developing my skill set. Collaboration was a big plus in working with multiple sales teams.

Cons

Sales goals were based on operating plan not on actual sales volume over the years. Even though you would grow sales volume, it would not be enough.

Advice to Senior Management

Make a real decision on what sales teams should be promoting. Each representative is paid on certain products, yet the company is going around and asking them to grow the product with the longer patent life and is the future of the cv portfolio. If that is the case, you have to pay the representatives accordingly and really adjust the product portfolio in each representatives' bag.

Pros

Ability to move around and learn the business. Great place to develop a career and to learn the Pharma business.

Cons

Silos. Teamwork and cooperation between units is not always happening.

Pros

The benefits are not bad

Cons

micromanagement of employess that are experienced

Advice to Senior Management

stop micromanaging

Pros

large company should equate to opportunity for advancement

Cons

currently some concerns with several products going off patent

Advice to Senior Management

promote internally

Pros

Benefits, car provided, good teamates, free lunches

Cons

No clear direction and the directions given are changed weekly. So many reps with Novartis in the field that they are literally competing with themselves.

Advice to Senior Management

Just be honest. Respect the sales people that are in front of the customers everyday. Don't set unrealistic goals that you know will not be met.

Pros

Work with many talented and dedicated people. Company is very flexible when there are personal family needs that are pulling you from the workplace. There is a lot of opportunity within your career ladder and to expand your career to other areas. May not be the timing you want, but at least there is an openness and many examples within the company where people changed career tracks.

Cons

There are two company cons: is slow to innovate; and is good at identifying risk, but is lacking when it comes to managing risk when the risk is realized. Often lack a back-up plan. From a personal perspective the computer systems are slow to upgrade; often are not intuitive, and you don't necessarily become aware of what you need to know for which program. It can be a frustrating on-boarding process.

Advice to Senior Management

Be open to innovation. Sometimes the conversation ends before it can be evaluated for applicability or adaptability to the program. Instead of the word "no" sometimes a "why not" would be better.

Pros

Prestige
Global employment opportunities
Easy movement between departments
Very competitive salary compared with other pharmaceutical companies (so I have heard)

Cons

No merit based promotions
Very weak and undeveloped mid level management
Highly political, to the point where you will spend most of your time on this versus the work
Highly risk-averse so very few changes occur

Advice to Senior Management

Work on training mid level management. Hire mid level managers that may not have the most technical knowledge, but rather are good at managing people.

Pros

Big pharma. Flexible office hours.

Cons

You are expected to work 24/7 from home

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to the employees

Pros

Good benefits and peer work relations.

Cons

Old ideas still permeated the work environment.

Advice to Senior Management

Include more training for management to be aware of different work styles.

Pros

Good compensation and benefits; Flexibility in your schedule; Nice work environment from a facilities perspective; Opportunity to work with some really smart people

Cons

Lack of career development and advancement; If you're not part of the "in crowd" you're just passed over for everything; Senior Leadership is inexperienced and only know how to grow through cutting costs, lack maturity to really understand how to run an organization; Support functions are very lean but expected to handle tremendous workloads

Advice to Senior Management

Basel, hire a real leadership team for the US Pharma business