Pros
Genentech offers a great transportation system and commuter reimbursement program..that was a huge selling point for me being that I have a long commute to get here. Salary is ok but I made just as much money when I was in Downtown San Francisco. If celebrations with lots of free food, t-shirts and hats motivate you, then this is the place for you.
Cons
Middle management leaves a lot to be desired. The entire day here is meetings, meetings, and more meetings but it takes a long time for decisions to be made. And once the decisions are made, it takes even longer for them to be communicated. I think this is a good company if you are a scientist because you are expected to "be all you can be" but if you are not, you are not held in a very high regard. And to be promoted, you have to be willing to hob-nob and go to all of the social functions. In general, I think all of the "perks" here have made people a little high maintenance and spoiled...and that has been really disappointing to me. I have been in the biotech industry for a while and before I came here, getting a job at Genentech was like beeing beamed up to the mother ship...it was held in a VERY high regard. I must confess that I got caught up in the glamour of it all but when it comes down to it, I know that this was not the right career move for me.