Interviewing here







How is training for new hires with company? Last time I interviewed (been a while) there was a five week training period three weeks at home office. Is this still the pace for new hires for a specialty position in urology?
 






The better question is what are you going to be selling in the long run? If you're out of work it's a different story but if not you need to check out the lack of pipeline. No products on the way. Vesicare going off patent soon. Myrbetriq cant carry the number of reps currently employed. Recently left for just this reason. No future. Ask around. APUS is already thinning the herd in Uro/PC and Hospital by attrition. Good if you're stuck but otherwise look elsewhere.
 






URO/PC/HOSP worst places to be at astellas right now for many reasons. Main one is that it's now led by someone who doesn't have the first clue about sales period. Only "knows" marketing. Before Jim moved up he stayed involved and understood the business as good or better than the field. Onc and HS are fortunately run by leaders that understand the businesses they lead. Not so in URO/PC/HOSP. They only pretend to know the business. Bad news for the future of what was once the best place to be at astellas.
 






You better make sure you are WHITE, outside and inside. Remember this is a Japanese company located in North of Chicago, they call it a north shore crowd. They don't like minorities much, you can't find minorities, I am not talking about white females or Asians (Japanese) to survive here or to get promoted. This is the culture here and they are proud of that. They don't care what your religion is BUT they care a lot about how you look from outside if you get what I mean. They are very proud of this culture here and always ask candidates, are you aware of the culture. So, be prepare. If you are a minority, even if you are WHITE inside, you will not get promoted much and will never be in Sr. Leadership. It is very easy to research this. Name one minority at a VP or higher level in history of Astellas US?
 






You better make sure you are WHITE, outside and inside. Remember this is a Japanese company located in North of Chicago, they call it a north shore crowd. They don't like minorities much, you can't find minorities, I am not talking about white females or Asians (Japanese) to survive here or to get promoted. This is the culture here and they are proud of that. They don't care what your religion is BUT they care a lot about how you look from outside if you get what I mean. They are very proud of this culture here and always ask candidates, are you aware of the culture. So, be prepare. If you are a minority, even if you are WHITE inside, you will not get promoted much and will never be in Sr. Leadership. It is very easy to research this. Name one minority at a VP or higher level in history of Astellas US?

Bonnie Crane
 


















I interviewed with Astellas and it was the most unprofessional interview I've ever had in my 10 years in the industry! There was a manager and a senior level rep. Both were taking sales numbers from my brag book, writing them on their scratch paper and trying to calculate them to see if they added up to what I had in my book. As I was going through my brag book, the manager asked me how I came up with those numbers.....duh, look at all of the months on the very official form from the company it was sent from and add them up. What a stupid question. I was so unimpressed that I would have had to been very hard up to take that job from that manager in Houston. Actually, I had just received another job offer....just felt compelled to go ahead and interview since it was already scheduled.
 






I interviewed with Astellas and it was the most unprofessional interview I've ever had in my 10 years in the industry! There was a manager and a senior level rep. Both were taking sales numbers from my brag book, writing them on their scratch paper and trying to calculate them to see if they added up to what I had in my book. As I was going through my brag book, the manager asked me how I came up with those numbers.....duh, look at all of the months on the very official form from the company it was sent from and add them up. What a stupid question. I was so unimpressed that I would have had to been very hard up to take that job from that manager in Houston. Actually, I had just received another job offer....just felt compelled to go ahead and interview since it was already scheduled.
 






To the original poster: When I was interviewing with Astellas about 7 years ago, I read all of these same awful and toxic reviews about the company on Cafe Pharma. I went with my gut, took the job with Astellas and have to say it was the best move I could have made! This is a great company that looks to promote high performers, has great benefits and pay, gives back to the community, and truly is looking to improve the lives of patients. Don't listen to these people who are so sour grapes.
 







Well said. I love Astellas! Truly acompany that cares about its employees, patients, and the world. We make a difference on sick people's lives folks.
Be proud of what you do, and the company that provides you the opportunity to do such wonderful and meaningful things every day.