Not what it used to be... - Business Systems Analyst Genentech Employee Review

2.0
18 Mar 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Beautiful Campus, generous 401k, nice co-workers

Cons

Nepotism - When a job is opened, it is clear who will get it before the process even starts - the hiring manager's favorite. Interviewing for positions is basically a waste of time unless you've been "tapped" and only serves to tick HR boxes. The same goes for promotions - the most deserving rarely get them... Insecurity - constant re-orgs by the parent company leave you feeling one re-org away from being out of job. Good people are jumping ship for a little security as it appears most headcount is now heading overseas..at least in IT Salaries: not keeping up with Bay Area reality. Management keep saying they are addressing it..but they are not. It's almost as if they don't want to attract the top talent anymore. People jump to other companies to get their fair market value - particularly in the Bay Area.

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Genentech Response
9y
Thank you for taking the time to send us your feedback. We greatly appreciate hearing our employees' input on how we might continue to evolve and improve our processes. Regarding internal candidacy, providing a fair and transparent selection process is a priority and it's unfortunate you feel you've not experienced this. We encourage you to reach out to your HR Business Partner to dive into a deeper conversation if you feel that would be helpful. As far as the cost of living in the SF Bay Area, it's actually true that this topic is being discussed at the highest levels of leadership. As with any complex situation, we may not see changes immediately but it is a topic being taken very seriously. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.

Explore other reviews about Genentech

5.0
6 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great salary and team! The interview process was smooth and effective.

Cons

To be determined, but so far many alignment meetings. Some folks have frustuations around the re-org and strategy changes.

3.0
7 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Genentech's origin story and mission are genuinely inspiring — few companies can point to such a meaningful historical arc in medicine. Patient engagement is taken seriously and feels authentic, not performative. The campus is beautiful and the culture has real warmth.

Cons

DDA is operating with significant gaps. First, the foundational data infrastructure is not mature enough to support the ambitions being set for the team. Second, the measurement culture has gotten ahead of the methodology, and no one in a position of authority seems to be asking hard questions about whether the numbers actually mean what they're being presented as meaning. Third, some management feel disconnected from the work itself, lacking the knowledge, hands-on experience, or relevant credentials. Individually any one of these would be manageable. Together these create an environment where it's hard to do rigorous work, rather work is performative, and be recognized for it.

2
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