A typical day at work, showing up at 5:30am to set up meetings and international video conferences.
Seamlessly manage calendars for senior level officers across several continents and time zones working simultaneously with Google, Outlook and Oracle.
Oversee all meetings, ensure all meeting logistics run smoothly across all time zones
Arrange local nationwide and international travel for individuals and groups
Review all passports of individuals traveling ordering pages and obtaining proper travel documents including travel visas and appropriate immunization when needed
Demonstrate discretion concerning sensitive confidential and proprietary information
Format, mail/email formal letters correspondence internally and externally
Manage Livelink and Shareweb data folders
Manage email distribution lists, team meetings, 1/1 schedules
Manage employee onboarding and off boarding
Structure tracking system of detailed time stamped critical information for savings project
Successfully implement vendor rate plan obtaining rates from all vendors, create and maintain a standardized excel rate sheet, adding to overall cost savings
Coordinate supplier recognition event for over 80 vendors with internal executive presenters
Successfully plan all details and oversee department move of twenty six employees to new location
Implement records retention project to ensure compliance within company policies and guidelines
I learned to manage my deliverables seamlessly working wit
ProsEverything was a pro, coming to work everyday, the benefits I was able to provide my family. The culture of the company itself!
ConsVery rarely but sometimes the hours were very long 15 hour days
2.0
Senior Quality Analyst | Oceanside, CA | Sep 5, 2014
No chance if you don't know someone
I only worked as a contractor at this company for a year and a half. The longest most arduous year and a half of my life. Initially, this company appears amazing. Cafe with gourmet meals, aesthetically pleasing campus, and good people (or so they seem).
First off it depends on what shifts you are capable of working. Genentech offers every single shift but the days are a little strange. You can work 5 days a week 8 hours or 4 days a week 10 hours. Since I worked in a department that required 4-10s I was subjected to Sun-Weds, or Wed- Sat shift. At first glance this seems great, you have 3 days OFF! What you soon come to find out is that it takes your body a while to acclimate to the schedule and the first day off you spend getting sleep. Secondly you essentially don't have a life outside of your co-workers. So if you get along great with your co-workers then this is the shift for you because they will be the only ones who have the same amount of free time.
Moving on to Politics. Politics, politics, politics. If you don't personally know someone who isn't a friend or family, you have no chance at being converted to a FTE employee. Be careful because if you mess up they will use that as a justification. In reality in you know someone there prior, you are protected. Everything you do, someone will justify for you or will turn the other cheek.
Lastly, there is a definite hierarchy at the company within every single department. In QC all the managers and supervisors sit t
Assist in operation and maintenance of Utility Operations equipment and systems.
Assist with timely completion of tasks and work orders with appropriate documentation according to standard operating procedures, applicable standards, guidelines, practices, and policies. Safe operation of tools and shop equipment, and safe execution of work in the field. Basic working knowledge of industrial equipment such as valves, pumps, motors, air compressors, and other Utilities related equipment. Communicate clearly, both verbally and writing; and to maintain accurate documentation consistently. Basic computer skills, with the ability to utilize the corporate intranet and applications, and standard word processing and spreadsheet programs. Responsible for monitoring utility equipment for operation, performance and regulatory requirements as well as providing support to other groups on a continuous basis. Utilizing automation controls, alarm systems and local controls as well as fielding questions from the customers and support groups. Also respond to a wide range of mechanical and electrical problems and are responsible for troubleshooting, documenting and repairing equipment as they are in many cases the first responders. The ability to document findings communicate these though the various systems are a core function of operations that operators are tasked with in addition to keeping plant functions under control. Have understanding of boiler, air compressors, WFI systems, reverse osm
Hired as a contractor.... quit almost immediately.
I left a security job to work for Genentech as an inspection technician. Now I thought I would be way more happier making 3$ more an hour with great pay $19hr, and great benenfits when hired into the actual company. I asked if this was in a cleanroom environment and I was informed that no it was a lab where you just had to where scrubs. That was fine with me. I did not want to work back in a cleanroom due to my last experience working in one at Intel... cleanrooms are just not my thing. However when I started the job I was made aware that it was a full on cleanroom... 😖. Some people don’t have an issue with cleanrooms but wearing the body suit, hair net, safety glasses, gloves, booties, etc.. is very claustrophobic to me especially when your working in a all white space with no windows for 10hrs or more a day. This wasn’t the worst part for me... the women’s locker room had no stalls and in order to get into your scrubs you had to strip out of your street clothes down to your bra and panties (I saw so many butts that day) and go through your sterilization/gowning process with your other co workers. Now I am not okay with stripping in front of my co workers multiple times a day 😩 and I would think they would have informed me of such. Apparently you are not allowed to where your street clothes under your scrubs. I think I was also off put by the fact that anytime you needed to go to the bathroom, eat, drink, etc you had to go back through the stripping down putting your stree
ProsPay
ConsStripping down infront of co workers, cleanrooms in general just suck
Genentech is a company that cares about the patients who take their medications, but I can't say the same for contractors. While it is apparent they are making efforts to include contractors, the reality is I still felt I was on the outside. I would describe the Portland location as being on the passive aggressive side. There are lots of meetings and no one talking about their meetings, behaving secretive, cryptic and it feeling distrustful. Most likely for legal reasons, your supervisor will not give you direct feedback, you will get that from your recruiter and you only get 3 chances on that feedback before they let you go. Be pro-active in contacting your recruiter because they may drop the ball. There is a disconnect between what leadership tells you and what your trainers and supervisors say. While they are working on perfecting their training, it is not always a straight line with them. This is a feedback heavy job. Expect to get feedback multiple x multiple times a day. It is expected to perfect every word you say on calls, again, I attribute this perfectionism to legal reasons. Any perceived push back from contractors will be seen in a negative light and will be a mark against you, even if your trainers say something rude to you. I will also say I rarely saw the director smile and he looked often stressed out. It's a beautiful office with all the tools you need to be successful. I now work for a similar company and comparing the two I would not go back to Genentech,
A typical day at work would consist of me opening up the lobby starting at 8AM closing time 5PM.
- greet/assisting visitors and employees.
- Handling a high volume of internal and external calls throughout the day.
- logging in (Orange Pouches) via mail (documents) around campus.
- assisting visitors, employees, with badges, cabs, fed ex, UPS, catering, etc.
- check badges, make sure all employees who enters the building or visitors come in with an active badge.
-make sure front desk lobby is always at it's best looking.
What I learned?
- I learn new things everyday... from getting to know people to Drugs/Medicine/Security/Hand Outs - work sheet every month regarding FIRE Safety, CPR, different kinds of deseases, about the company and etc. Training once a month to become a better Customer Service.
Managemanent
- Collabrotaive decision making, results driven, engaging environment, people oriented.
Co-Workers
- Everyone has their different moods, personalities, but for the past 5 years that I have been working for this Company or anywhere else that I've worked at, I pretty much learned how to cope with every body. I am very easy to get along with.
The hardest part of the job
- Pretty much everything that I do as a receptionist here at Genentech I love. The only hard thing I would have to say is that there is no mobility to move up.
The most enjoyable part of the job
- It can be challenging to keep that smile all day and make sure you delight each and every customer that yo
Prosevents, concerts, good food, good co workers, shuttle to work and from.
Fun workplace but also very high pressure environment
A typical day consists of logging on to the phone system and calling insurance companies and obtaining information patient information and inputting it into the system. The difficulty of obtaining this information varies as some people you speak to may know exactly what you're looking for while others will put you on a loop connecting you from department to department until you get someone competent on the phone. Sometimes you're on hold for so long, you end up obtaining incorrect information or forgetting to ask about something else. That can be really frustrating and with that said, I can't recommend this job to anyone who isn't comfortable on the phone or if you're impatient. However, if you don't mind or are willing to learn, it's definitely a great skill to develop here if you don't have any prior experience in the matter.
They definitely work you hard here and you have to be ready and willing to be as flexible as they need you to be. The only thing that might come off as a red flag is that the majority of the people there are contractors, some for several years. To say the least, there isn't much room for growth here, and it seems like they know that since they over-hire people knowing a lot of them end up falling off eventually.
Some positives: Management is very relaxed as is the workplace as a whole, but there is a sense of accountability that also comes with working here that encourages an additional layer of transparency--something I actually enjoyed. The mos
ProsFree food, free events, employee discounts, somewhat laid back workplace
ConsVery little room for growth, work can be VERY stressful
Genentech is a great company overall (and ahead of the curve in biotech) with great facilities, but unfortunately, my positive experiences at the organization were overshadowed by pure incompetence and blatant favouritism in US Drug Safety. While most individual contributors wanted to better working conditions and morale in the department, leadership and middle management seemingly enjoyed, and encouraged a toxic environment--likely a control issue. If one exhibited even an ounce of intelligence, competence, or genuine likability, they would be gaslighted and told they weren't "good enough" until they were out the door (literally, since they have prevented several employees from internal transfers). Meanwhile, management favoured employees whose skill set were junior varsity at best (like Excel spreadsheets), who were allowed to run amok in the department, and tended to manipulate and "gang up" on those who actually did work and knew things. It's utterly mind boggling and sad how long this has persisted. I'm not sure what was going on in that department, but it appeared as though a lot of the abuse was going unchecked; it's unfortunate because the company itself has so much potential. Management desperately needs to be trained on people skills and learn to show some humility (mistakes are ok, but being an awful human being is not); the size of your ego does not compensate for the degree of your insecurities, and it was obvious. I was certainly traumatized by the experience, b
Overall, I'd say it's a good place to work. That being said, depending on your location/sector of the company, it can be very different.
Pros: Generally flexible/laid back with how you work. WFH is an option for most people who are eligible (i.e. not manufacturing/product-facing folks). Benefits are pretty good, especially 401k match, health insurance costs, vacation days, and bonuses generally are good. You do feel that you're making a difference in the grand scheme of things. Many of your peers usually are kind, hardworking, and easy to get along with.
Cons: Management seems disingenuous. Direct managers will care, but above them or their peers in other areas still don't know what the rest of the site does. There's a lot of feel-good talk, but actions conflict with the message. Other sites don't get the same perks and support as the HQ in SF. Generally overworked/overloaded in most cases as people are afraid to say no to new work. Job security recently has wavered quite a bit, making it difficult to plan for one's future. Starting pay was a bit too low for the area and while raises have been decent, promotions are generally difficult to come by and you risk not keeping up with the cost of living. Risk of stagnating in your role after some time.
Overall, my experience has been positive here, and while I've listed what seems to be many cons, some I'd wager you're likely to find in any company of this type and size.
ProsMost benefits, vacation days, relaxed work environment
Genentech as a whole is a wonderful place to work with a laid-back environment in which almost everyone is very supportive of their colleagues and there's a lot of back-and-forth. This was my first out-of-college job that wasn't freelance and I had so much room to learn and grow under my original manager's care and grew into an independent person who did quick and efficient work with lots of great working relationships to my colleagues.
Genentech does a lot to foster the growth of younger people like interns and contractors, and that is so valuable in this day and age where it can be difficult to get and keep jobs.
Unfortunately, there was a shift in management in SBO over to a more "corporate" feel and while it was important to establish ourselves better as having value and importance, our mission used to be to work flexibly to provide the other departments in Site Services with niche services and adapt to their needs. We have hired a lot of new people (including my most recent manager) and most are great, but there's a new sense of "do things our way if you want our services," which makes the department hard to work with and the other groups (our clients) seem less than happy about the new processes. It's also hard for those of us who are farther down the management chain to feel that we are being taken care of or respected.
ProsSubsidized lunch, no dress code, lots of services available to employees, beautiful campus
ConsBad management, unclear HR processes
Questions And Answers about Genentech
What questions did they ask during your interview at Genentech?
Asked Jun 14, 2016
What was the most difficult class you took in school?
Answered Jan 11, 2019
The standard interview questions.
Answered Oct 24, 2017
What is the interview process like at Genentech?
Asked Jun 14, 2016
Two very cold, very stoic men interviewed me. I wasn't asked "can you tell us about yourself?" They just jumped in to behavioral questions-- and after two or three, introduced themselves. It was very intimidating. I knew they didn't want to hire me the moment I walked into the room. My recruiter did a search of their names on Linkedin, and the two men who interviewed me weren't even managers for the department I would potentially be working in. They were on IT end. My recruiter apologized for the experience, and needless to say, I didn't get a job offer.
Answered Jan 11, 2019
It wasn't too bad
Answered Oct 11, 2017
What is the work environment and culture like at Genentech?
Asked Sep 27, 2016
I love the mixture of modern office dynamics and company establishment due to it's reputable name. Genentech had displayed capability of remaining flexible within the Office dynamics, in order to make changes that best suit the lifestyles of it's employees, hence, a healthy balance between work and home. On the flip side, as a well established company, Genentech continues to maintain it's reputation for honoring it's mission and purpose, as well as it's employees, which is why this company continues to thrive and hold a place in the top 10 for best companies to work for.
Answered Nov 10, 2017
It is increasingly dependent on individual management which can be positive or negative. The culture can be very inspiring, encouraging, and balanced but with poor management being hired from Pharma companies, Genentech is losing its edge.
Answered Oct 23, 2017
How are the working hours at Genentech?
Asked Aug 1, 2016
Can be long depending on the franchise.
Answered Oct 23, 2017
They were fine
Answered Oct 11, 2017
If you were in charge, what would you do to make Genentech a better place to work?
Asked Jul 12, 2018
I’d probably focus on not allowing full time employees to alienate the contractors and dispel the “us vs them” mentality that exists between the two.
