Genentech Reviews

Pros

Very smart, exemplary colleagues - raise your game!
Numerous training opportunities
Encouraged to seek new roles when available
Great benefits - financial and non-monetary

Advice to Management

Due to manager turnover, I reported to four different people during my <2 yr employment stint. At the time, I was very frustrated with this and made an impulsive decision to chase the "greener grass" at another company. Big mistake. I still work long hours but make less money, have fewer benefits, without any hope of upward mobility (less manager turnover because there are no managers at this place...so no chance of promotion), and no longer get to work with my fabulous GNE colleagues. I believe the management did what they could to smooth the multiple transitions in our leadership team but in these types of situations, it's usually better to proactively ensure teams are functioning okay. Especially when one of the new managers is a first time FLM - extra check-ins with the group can help ease concerns about shifting priorities, esp during very busy forecast cycles. Again, nothing is perfect and having a few years to retrospectively analyze this has convinced me that management did what it could.

Prospective Employees: If you have the chance to work at GNE, make the most of it - this is a place you can learn, grow, and develop towards any biotech career path you want. No company or job is perfect but there are much worse places to work, without the mission or resources of GNE. I really regret leaving and would be happy to re-join, if possible. Learn from my mistakes. ;-)

Pros

Genentech provided me with a lot of opportunities in their internship program and I enjoyed taking advantage of networking.

Pros

Great benefits including a competitive base salary, health care plans, paid vacation, on-site gym, transportation facilities across the bay area

Pros

lots of pros and benefits

Pros

GNE is a great place to work. They truly care about following the science and are very innovative. The culture is also great

Pros

Great work environment and campus, room for growth.

Pros

good benefit and nice colleagues

Pros

- work-life balance is great
- 401(k) match is above average
- internal training is generally high-quality
- on-campus facilities like gym and health clinic are excellent
- solid business performance

Advice to Management

Agile doesn't fix the ongoing inability to accept risk and make decisions. You need more fundamental change than that. The ongoing cuts, especially to teams that have already been cut, is draining. Your IT organization is not treated well and quality suffers as a result.

Pros

Really good pay - I was able to own a house working 32 hours per week.
Excellent reliable collaborative and fun coworkers.
Middle management seems to care about the groups reporting to them.

Pros

Flexible work schedules, Lots of commuter's benefits, decent bonus structure/LTI, excellent career support services (Resumes, interviewing, etc), Awesome Employee Center (The Hub)

Advice to Management

Solicit more feedback from frontline managers, make it safe for them to speak up.