Morale in division? Is it improving or at a new low? In my area it's the lowest I have seen in years. Being the underdog was fun for awhile, now after watching GSK make so many mistakes it's just irritating. Not sure Mike Thomas is going to provide anything better than previous management.
I'm interviewing for a vaccine position. Anyone out there care to comment? Good place to be? Bad? Indifferent?
Morale down in industry in general, but GSK vaccines at all time low. We have nothing tonuse to sell and no dose goals any longer. Competition is still using what they always have, especially Sanofi. Backorders are always happening and the miserable flu vaccine season is almost here - we've rolled out a terrible new system this year.
Massive litigation on its way due to vaccines which caused narcolepsy, withdrawn from EU market. Look for damage set-aside of over £750,000,000 so more layoffs on the way.
Came to vaccines from pharma a few years ago. Keep thinking it will get better but progress is very slow. Our "offer" is just not competitive and the expectations are huge. Everyone is very frustrated and jumping ship as fast as they can. My advice, if you think you will be laid off in pharma with next restructure consider vaccines but be prepared to work more that you ever did in pharma and to be frequently discouraged and frustrated. The problems are endless here.
Thinking of applying to your company, please enlighten me on some of GSK issues. "problems are endless here"
If you like being micro-managed and bullied, this is the place for you. If you prefer being kept in the dark about minor obstacles (like supply issue), this is the place for you. If you like not being competitively priced, this is the place for you. If you like being late to market with products that don't offer a competitive advantage, this is the place for you. Spend a little time on CP for GSK searching vaccines and you will find a real, but slightly jaded, picture of vaccines at GSK.
Here's just a few of our issues: Inability to consistently supply vaccines to customers. Good products but terrible pricing and contract offer. Difficult to do business with, poor systems. Worst marketing in industry, we spent who knows what on Cervarix thinking we would beat out Gardisil. Finally gave up that fight. A tired, demoralized sales force. No marketing materials, can't even talk about CDC recommendations. A culture of a dose is a dose, no vision for long term growth. I could go on but you get the picture, it's not a good time to join GSK vaccines.
Former MVD here- Mike Thomas was/is clueless about vaccines. Just go on Merck site and look up threads on Alina, or- 3 Stooges and you will see. Some are long-runnning, others keep "disappearing" but get started over again. Tablet people took over well-run vaccine division and drove it down to crap. We keep hoping Alina joins Mike at GSK as I have many friends still in what was MVD. Good luck to you all.
I came to vaccines from pharma.. I can out right say vaccines is a great place to work. in order to be successful you must stretch yourself and interact with many in the org chart of your customers to fully understand the account. You have to plan for each call as they are all different. You need to run your territory as your own business. It can be a long sell process. You will spend time expanding and growing vaccine rates with your current accounts. We also have dedicated sales leaders. Of course they are going to push us a little and I dont think thats bad a all.. Vaccines is a great place to work. You just need to be all in and committed. It is very dynamic work place. Preparation and execution are key. You also will need to get out of comfort zone and try to meet as many in an organization as possible. Business acumen is a key driver as to where the account needs us. Science credentials us with the customer. You will never be bored.
Preparation? We rarely get sales data to prepare and assess. Science? We have NO clinical studies to use and little else. Hardly any leave behind material too.
