Pros
I spent 14 years at Pfizer (even though I didn't think I would be there that long), and here are the things I really liked: - very smart people, some of the best I've met in the industry; very committed to bringing cures to market - a global footprint that helps you understand how one makes and sells medicines across the world (so some very strong global exposure) - great benefits and recognition of the need for work-life balance, though work can be intense at times - a learning environment that allows colleagues to grow themselves. It's not just a paycheck at the end of the day - growing skills and learning is what kept me happy - commitment to compliance and "doing right by the patient" regardless of other drivers - focus on diversity; the leadership team is diverse, the board is diverse, and every hiring decision is reviewed with a lens of inclusion and diversity. It's not just women and minorities, but hiring with a focus on getting different viewpoints and talents on the table - New York City (though that's a con too - it's getting harder to commute in from the suburbs)! But the energy in the city is amazing, and I miss it.
Cons
- lots of reorganization; we restructured almost every year from the mid-2000s onwards. Sometimes it was needed but it was also disruptive at other times. Not sure there's a way to avoid it given Wall Street pressures - large company politics, which one will see in any large pharma. By and large, it worked out ok for me, but it may not be a place for someone who cannot maneuver in such an environment - commuting into the city steadily got worse over the years. Perhaps it will get easier after the new tunnel and the Amtrak renovations are done.