Pros

The money and benifits are very good. There are some fine people to work with.

Cons

A lot of people are doing as little as possible but complain about everything. No direction from management but they expect everyone to just do ther job. It isn't going to happen that way but there is no one to tell that to. If you mention anything at all then they tell you that your being to negative.

They move the managers around and the ones that use to know ther jobs and the processes are gone to be replace by someone who knows nothing of the job or their function but is expected to evaluate you in your job perfomance when he doesn't even know what you are doing.

Advice to Senior Management

Leave managers in their jobs long enough for them to learn the process and function. Quit moving people around so much. If they give the managers a raise then you should give the hourly workers one to; otherwise you will be creating a lot of resentment and low morale.

Pros

company car, decent salary, lots of freedom, pretty good benefits, work from home, work independently, run your territory the way you want

Cons

You have to be comfortable working for a tobacco company, your car is filled to the roof with signs, pos material, and junk. Constantly changing enviornment.

Advice to Senior Management

Stick to one strategy and don't constantly change your mind about things. Keep the prices the same for more than 30 days.

Pros

Great flexibility, company car, Pays for phone and internet bills, company credit card, Salary is pretty decent, co workers are prett friendly

Cons

no 8 to 5 job, must continuously check emails and be willing to burn the midnight oil to get things done, Senior management is confused on what they want to do especially since FDA regulation is looming, no real direction and you always get this "sneaky old tobacco tricks" when working for them . Too many brands and the tobacco industry is declining every year. Lots of regulation coming, speculation of downsizing to come in the future

Advice to Senior Management

Stick to one plan of action, care about employees more, and understand that the tobacco industry has an unfavorable image among young people and people just dont use tobacco like they used to.

Pros

Great benefits and environment. Company car for personal use, insurance paid for, gas paid for, internet and 1/2 of cell phone paid for. Matching 401k up to 6%.

Cons

promotions a secretive and vacancies are never announced. Do not look to move up for a very long time.

Advice to Senior Management

Do not move people across the country. Let people have the ability to buy vacation time. Announce vacancies as opposed to secret selections.

Pros

RJR had a great work/life balance. You run your territory as if it is your own business. Have the ability to schedule your day based on the need of your own territory.

Cons

In order to be promoted you usually need to be willing to move. This sometimes leads to the right people not being in the right positions.

Advice to Senior Management

Promote people based on work experience and ability, not on mobility. The company is doing a better job listening to the employees.

Pros

The company offers strong leadership development, comprehensive hands on training. There is ample opportunity for career advancement for those willing to work hard and demonstrate success in established leadership dimensions. Many perks - company car, gas paid, flexible work schedules, ownership of territory.

Cons

The salary paid in urban areas is not ideal for cost of living. Extra effort could be given to better adjust for high cost areas. The company also hangs on to unproductive members of the workforce longer than necessary - quick elimination of the those unwilling to demonstrate potential would better serve the entire team.

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to focus on the dimensions of a good leader and bringing those characteristics to the workforce with new employment.

Pros

There are a lot of creative and diverse people in the organization. The culture is very unique / eclectic.

Vacation schedules are easily geared towards promoting work/life balance. Daily responsibilities involve a lot of independence and ability to make your own decisions.

There are excellent benefits in the Sales positions, including cell phone allowance, company car, decent salary, bonuses, 401k matching.

Cons

Some coworkers seemingly were hired out of desperation, are unprofessional, lazy, and feel "entitled".

There are advancement opportunities, however there are **no** clear-cut rules or policies for determining who is promoted or why.

Advice to Senior Management

My advice to senior management is to recognize that there is some great talent slipping out the door. The company is hiring recent college grads / entry level workforce, but only promoting the ones who are the most attractive, most similar to their immediate supervisor, and those who do not challenge the status quo.

The most qualified employees are highly sought after and leave the organization due to dissatisfaction with the "promotion" process.

Pros

You can take vacation whenever you want. Good place to start if you are right out of school. The company is desperate for young people to engage young smokers face-to-face. The company will embrace you and promote you quickly.

Cons

VERY political. I could go on all day here. They treat everybody, employees, customer, consumers, like crap. They think by saying something it makes it so (we are ethical, passionate.....etc) They are anything but. Senior management has no clue. I was with them for 21 years, and the company lost share every year. Like playing for the Cubs- lose EVERY time. The company is hemorraging cash, and will probably soon be bought by a competitor.

Advice to Senior Management

This company is beyond repair.

Pros

Great opportunity for advancement, and you own your geographic territory. The benefits are pretty good. There is a flexible scedule which leaves time for a good work life balance.

Cons

The constant change in direction from upper management. We are defiantly not compensated for the amount of work we do. We are the lowest paid of all the major tobacco companies, with the exception of commonwealth. The industry as a whole is in a steady decline so I really don't know if there is a long term future in the tobacco industry.

Advice to Senior Management

N/A

Pros

You have a company car and the salary is relatively good. You also get to travel a great deal if that apeals to you. Although these are business trips, you fly to exciting places like Chicago and Las Vegas. The company has spent several dollars entertaining employess whiles on these business trips. Entertainment includes renting entire clubs, doing concerts with performers, including David Roth, The Roots and Miri Bin Ari. You have a lot of autonomy with this job, with manager work-withs about two to three times per month. You are totally responsible for your territory and creativity is encouraged.

Cons

It is a tobacco company. Your satisfaction with the job is based significantly on the manager to whom you report.

Advice to Senior Management

Promote based on performance, dedication, and true leadership abilities, not simply one's mobility.