Pros
Working at Johnson & Johnson (Robotics/"RAD") initially felt like an exciting opportunity. The chance to contribute to cutting-edge robotic solutions in a competitive market and be part of a globally recognized company was appealing. The company’s name carries significant weight on a resume, and the initial promise of "big company perks" added to the excitement. There were a few genuinely good colleagues who cared about their work and made a positive impact, though these individuals were the exception rather than the norm.
Cons
Despite the initial appeal, the experience was deeply disappointing. The amount of times I was asked to cover up terrible decisions and look the other way at disgraced "cutting corner" type work still haunts me to this day. Management was poorly organized and lacked effective leadership, resulting in widespread inefficiencies and frustration. Promotions also often appeared to be based on favoritism rather than merit, with a noticeable lack of genuine diversity and inclusion beyond superficial representation. The work environment was toxic, with frequent layoffs creating a constant sense of fear and instability, even for top-performing employees. Many team members, including quality engineers and managers, delivered...dare I say "incompetent, sub-par, absolute garbage, needs redone 5x" work, which left others, including myself, overburdened and covering multiple roles. Ultimately, my time at J&J felt like a complete waste of energy and time, as the company failed to provide the support or recognition needed to foster a fulfilling and sustainable career. You can put your everything into a career at J&J, relocate, work 60 hour weeks regularly, never catch a break, etc., but if you're going into this company expecting your lifelong career, remember that you're just a number! Watching colleagues with 25+ years of dedication to J&J get booted like the fresh-grad SHOULD make you sick enough to stay at your comfortable company with good enough culture that you're able to enjoy a work life balance. Protect your mental health at all costs and just don't do it.
