Pros
The pay is top tier for an entry level manufacturing position and beyond. Company benefits are both very generous and cheap if you go for the paid options. Taking a lunch is also optional, which can be very nice if you show up between 7-8 am, allowing you to clock out between 3-4 pm. Leadership is also very lenient with granting PTO and other time off. You also get a company laptop that you can bring home, as well as various company merch like hats and mugs.
Cons
To begin with, you'll be told by manufacturing leadership in your interview and during onboarding that they are very flexible and understanding; however, the purported flexibility regarding their rules and expectations seems to be purposely left malleable so as to be subject to arbitrary change, which results in the constant modification and addition of new rules as a means of targeting and stifling specific behaviors they dislike. They will then apply those rules to the whole group, but may only enforce them on those they wish to exert control over or manipulate. The following is a ‘small’ sample of the rules that were added over the course of the one-and-a-half months I was employed at Advaxis before resigning (I began job searching after my third week): 1) No conversations in the office area. 2) NO LEAVING YOUR DESK (and your supervisor must always know where are if you leave). 3) No walking around the building. 4) No taking a break in the building (you’re not allowed to look “not busy,” so you have to be totally out of sight in order to take an actual break). 5) You’re not allowed to help out your teammates with their duties, both in and outside of the lab, i.e. no teamwork allowed. To top all of that off, you will be tamped down or even accused of insubordination if you attempt to exercise initiative. I literally got scolded for 'cleaning' the manufacturing work room. Beyond the work issues, there are also practical items to worry about: 1) There’s almost no manufacturing work! While still being forced to follow the above rules (not talking, etc.), you’ll literally also be made to sit and do nothing but read SOPs and batch records over and over 90% of the time. The other 10% of the time, they’ll have you do rudimentary training or busy work (they’ve literally admitted to giving out work just “to keep you busy,” not kidding). 2) Since there’s almost no work, you either won’t develop as a manufacturing professional or you’ll develop incredibly slowly—you’ll be lucky to execute a batch once a month. The trickle-down effect of this is that you'll have, at best, only sporadic exposure to lab techniques, deviation writing, CAPAs, etc., making this position a poor long-term option if you intend to advance in this field. 3) The company’s prognosis is bleak. After laying off most of their staff last year due to poor and reckless leadership by the former CEO and board of directors, the trajectory has steadied, but still seems to be aiming downward, possibly making it a poor long-term option once again. One final detail is the way both manufacturing leadership and the company/HR treat those who turn in their resignation notice. After arriving first thing the next morning, I was brought straight to HR and immediately terminated—without an exit interview—and escorted out of the building. I later learned that they've done the exact same thing to at least two previous manufacturing associates that resigned this year: terminated the next day, escorted out, and denied an exit interview. There’s more, but I hit the major points. If you want a decent paycheck and don’t mind being bullied or nailed down Soviet Union-style (I know some people really don’t mind), then this company would be a good fit for you. If you value being independent, being a productive member of a team, or developing your skills, then Advaxis is the antithesis of your desired company.