Pros
Company car, though you must pay a monthly fee of $175. This fee is non-negotiable. Company matched 401K, which is standard for most Fortune 500 companies. I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to remove this perk. Health benefits are decent, but are nothing like they used to be in the past. Occasional meetings in nice venues
Cons
Where to start... Every new product launched, aside from vuse solo, has been a massive failure. TMs are expected to constantly force an entire portfolio down retailer's throats, only for the products to either be recalled or collect dust on the shelf. There is a reason that RJRT is #2 and that is because they fail to come out with products that consumers will buy. If menthol is banned, then RJ Reynolds is over. The workload on the TMs is ridiculous. Add in the fact that DMs and the AMs/KAMs are constantly having you do their work for them, such as training new-hires and managing meetings. If you fail to do these activities, which are really the responsibility of the DMs, then you could be slapped with a negative annual rating. Many DMs are petty and will write TMs up if they don't do exactly as they are told. TMs are not paid to think for themselves, but to force out coupons and merchandise the products. The company is always stating that TMs are salespeople, but we are treated as if we are too stupid to actually sell anything. It's a definite "good 'ol boy" system. Only those employees that upper management feels are worthy will ever be promoted. So if they like you, you're set. But if they don't, you'll be a TM in a terrible geography for your entire career. Management makes this decision shortly after you come on board and it's not based on performance, so keep this in mind. I have seen some great employees get passed over for promotions, while other TMs that can barely do the basics of their jobs are promoted. It's all based on who you know and if you have friends in management. For a career progression in trade marketing, there's only one trajectory. So if you want to transfer to a different department, you will be blackballed. The hiring standards are also very inconsistent. The company claims that they relocate new employees so that the employee demonstrates mobility, but some new hires are brought on that already live in or next to the territory. Obviously some employees are of a higher value than others. Consumer engagements are the biggest joke in the tobacco industry. They are humiliating to TMs and are a huge waste of time and resources. There's a reason why other tobacco companies don't have them: they are not effective and are potentially dangerous to their employee's safety. If you are looking to apply for a job in trade marketing, look elsewhere. If you MUST work in the tobacco industry, pursue Altria. They actually work with their employees to make them happy and have a better pay scale.