Pros
- Opportunities are present to learn cross-functional duties (as employees are expected to work beyond job scope, on an ad-hoc basis if there’s a need) - Career pathway is largely individually-driven; management is generally reasonable to approve requests to do cross-functional work - Startup environment; good for those who thrive on having steep learning curves. Good place to learn diverse functions in a short time - could be a good stepping stone for those who desire to work in the pharmaceutical industry
Cons
- Ethnocentric culture (Defaults to traditional Korean managerial patterns and it’s common to see Korean colleagues in and out) Little to no work-life balance – expect to work full 8.30 to 6pm days and beyond. There’s much pressure to OT due to tight timelines. You are also expected to put work before anything else (family, hobbies, relationships) - Minimal annual leave (approval needs to be routed to CEO) - Management style is quite authoritative. Whatever they say, goes with little room for negotiation. - Not a very attractive overall package as compared to industry standards - High turnover rate due to burnout, etc. - No medical benefits (or at least any that I am aware of) - No training (although the interviewer mentioned that training would be provided) - Lack of organizational structure – feels top-heavy as compared to industry standards: managerial titles are given to colleagues with just 1-2 years of experience. - No welfare/training allowance - No autonomy; felt rather micro-managed - Personal observation: Credit is not always given where due. The managers are quick to take credit and be rewarded for their subordinates’ efforts. - Lack of SOPs. - rigid rules and lack of flexible arrangements