The Never Ending Career Where You Never Seem To Get Anywhere - Manufacturing Quality, Processing, and Engineering Genentech Employee Review

3.0
18 Dec 2009
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Genentech is a great company in a lot of ways. There is a lot of room for improvement of processes, or for implementation of new manufacturing improvements. There is plenty of vacation time, and holidays. Salaries are quite competitive, and there is quite a few talented individuals that you can connect and work with. There is of course the 6 weeks sabbatical every 6 years (which is mandatory) and a slew of employee financial benefits, as well as good helping of daily life assists benefits (such as being bused to work almost door to door and back)

Cons

The cons come from Genentech lack of a fair professional development track. Emails go out on a regular basis announcing the promotion of individuals, unfortunately those usually are quite often part of the management team members. It is not uncommon for the most experienced and knowledgeable employee on a team to be the lowest on the totem pole. One major Con is that individuals are not measured by the amount of sweat and tears they generate, nor by their actual day after day accomplishments and victories, but instead by the impression they allow upper management to perceive of them. Although this is true of most companies, this is especially true at Genentech. An individual who works, and works, and works; an individual who time after time successfully brings project to completion; an individual who is competent and a source of knowledge for peers and business customers can be perceived in a negative manner if he or she does not conform with what upper management have decided a model employee should behave. Many an individual have been glossed over for promotions, or admonished for not adhering to upper managements abstract notions of the model employee. On the other hand, brown nosers, shmoozers, and other individuals who know how to play the game of politics in the office are moved up the ladder, or placed in positions of power where they make the life of productive employees miserable.

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.

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