Senior Associate Scientist | Seattle, WA | Jan 3, 2017
Comfortable compensation will keep you floating in a sea of mid-managers...
You will meet some great people and smart scientists at Amgen. The yearly Reduction in Force (RIFs) in October (anytime of year honestly) will keep you looking over your shoulder, but you'll enjoy the very competitive salary, bonuses, and stock compensation. The health insurance use to be much better; however, it has been steadily less and less stellar since 2009. Though it is likely on par with other blue-chip biopharma companies.
In general, work-life balance is an accepted principle, though you will find some Department/groups or roles that make it less accommodating.
Many roles are very siloed; cross-training and learning new skills from other groups can be challenging. Scientists are brought in highly skilled in their specific role and you may feel a bit stagnate if you sit on your laurels too long without being highly proactive.
I really liked the mid-year (4th of July) holiday break for one week and end of year (Christmas/New Years holiday) break for one and a half weeks, in addition to your accrued vacation time. I had 41 paid days off, not including sick time, mostly based on tenure through a merger with another successful biotech company.
The 401K match is actually top tier, 5% automatically given by Amgen into your 401K even if you do not participate; in addition to dollar for dollar up to 5% of your salary. You put in 5%, they put in 10%! Pretty remarkable, actually. I have not heard of another biopharma blue-chip with this 401K benefit. Consider t
Prosbonus+stock, time-off/vacation, and work/life balance (if you are in the right group)
ConsSo many layers of management. You will find how many people wear the decision-maker hat.
Amgen is a leading human therapeutics company in the biotechnology industry. For more than 25 years, the company has tapped the power of scientific di
Gathered Business Process Requirements from business users, for the reports to be developed.
Developed a technical spec by analyzing the business from the gathered BPR.
Trained users to use the Cognos connection to access their corresponding reports and cubes.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and effectively meet project deliverables on time.
Developed DMR and Relational models using star and snowflake schema.
Developed/enhanced various relational and dimensional models using Framework Manager.
Developed various reports, and they include, simple lists, cross tabs, charts, complex reports with tables in them, conditional block, static choices in prompt, bursting etc.
Expertise in handling Administration tasks like bursting and scheduling the reports.
Expertise in writing JavaScript for advanced sorting and hide and show Reports
Developed hide and show reports by using Conditional blocks and HTML Items
Expertise in Customizing Cognos connection and experience with Portal Layout.
Expertise in Developing Ad hoc Reports using Query Studio and complex reports using Report Studio and Analysis Studio.
Used various functionalities in report studio (drill through, master details, conditional formatting, parameter displays and Conditional blocks).
Involved in writing JavaScript to validate the prompt values set the default values of the prompts and customized the prompts to facilitate user’s choices.
Expertise in developing prompt page
My experience at Amgen has a lot of mixed feelings. Never was I more excited about an opportunity for a career. Unfortunately after seven years there, I had experienced too many poor management decisions and career thwarting moments to want to move forward. Twice, due to politics, somehow my current departments were authorized to hire new outside employees at a higher pay grade than myself with less education, skill and experience who I also had to train and hand hold. The disappointing part was I was constantly volunteering for extra projects, travel opportunities, etc. but since much of that was at the discretion of your direct manager, it was apparent how much favoritism played in career advancement instead of skills, dedicated and drive. I had managers willing to bend over backwards to promote one employee while I sat there begging for a fair shot. My last straw was when I was hired under a Director and a re-organization then put my under a brand new mid-level manager who had no idea what she was doing. Once it was explained to me we had an algorithm that determined only a specific % of employees could receive advancement any given year and to quote my Director he would have to "attend these meetings and stand on a table and light his hair on fire" in order to quantify actually earning the raise I knew I deserved when working with Directors, VPs and even our CEO regularly, I realized that big, beautiful carrot being dangled in front me of was never going to be in reach. I
The objective of the system is to give integrated information about Dialysis patients, Medicines, lab tests conducted on patients using HIPPA standard
Developed detail ETL plan for loading the staging area from the oracle database and then from staging area to the data marts.
Dimension Data Modeling, Star Schema Design, Design of Dimension and Fact Tables
Developed slowly changing dimensional type 2 mappings using Informatica
Used to interact with the users and solve their issues.
Worked on Informatica Utilities - Source Analyzer, Warehouse Designer, Mapping Designer, Mapplet Designer & Transformation Developer.
Extensively used Informatica client tools - Designer, Repository Manager, Server Manage
Design and Development of ETL routines, using Informatica PowerCenter Within the Informatica Mappings, usage of Lookups, Aggregator, Ranking, Mapplets, connected and unconnected stored procedures / functions / Lookups, SQL overrides usage in Lookups and source filter usage in Source qualifiers and data flow management into multiple targets using Routers was extensively done.
Used the Workflow manager to create workflows and tasks, and also created worklets.
Used the Workflow monitor to monitor the job submission and progress.
Setting up Batches and sessions to schedule the loads at required frequency using PowerCenter Server manager.
Involved in the design and development of client reports.
Developed PL/SQL scripts for batch update of data and wrote stored procedures.
Used normalization transformation to work on flat files that are coming from the mainframe sources.
Involved in designing t
In my position at Amgen I was able to manage my own days. I knew what needed to be done, so I did it. I also instituted new practices and workflow processes, within my department, when the need arose.
I learned quite a bit by working within the Amgen culture during my 10 years there. I gained several new computer/technical skills, learned about creating and marketing training classes, and managing projects. I also learned about the biotech industry. I had a great time working there. There was never a dull moment. Changes brought about opportunities for growth, and I took full advantage of them.
I worked with a great team of co-workers. We were a close group and formed great bonds. We met together every month at department meetings and shared all that each of us was doing for the betterment of the library. We also took time to celebrate special occasions together.
The hardest part of the job was seeing co-workers leave when they were promoted to other positions outside of the library. But that wasn't too bad because we could still stay in contact. We knew that a piece of the library was now planted in another department. That ultimately and indirectly provided another avenue for getting the library noticed more.
The most enjoyable part of my job was the ability to take training and learn new things whether it be an application like Sharepoint, or how to strengthen my strengths with the HBR (Harvard Business Review) tutorials.
ProsThe Amgen Gym, cafeterias, laundry service, beautiful work surroundings inside and out
Fast pace, fun work environment. Quick study, learning new skills
A typical day at work consists of scheduling meetings, managing conflicts and fitting all meetings into schedules in timely fashion, determining priority and working with others to try and get key attendees at the prioritized meetings. Attendance of these meetings and taking notes is an important part, capturing action items, assignments of these action items and deadlines as to when they should be completed. Logistics assigned to these action items may consist of travel, which I would schedule, further meetings, obtaining other key players from other business units or companies. Building these relationships is an important part of my role, being the point person for projects and making sure they stay on schedule. Constant follow up and project tracking is what keeps tasks on schedule. Using my vast computer skills to speed up tasks and keep all projects on track is most helpful. The hardest part of this job can be the constant follow up and ensuring that others are on task in timely manners. The most enjoyable part is also the interaction with others and the success of a project that we complete as a team. Taking ownership and acknowledging both failures and wins can be obviously both enjoyable and difficult. By the end of the day, having done the best of my ability is what makes the day a success.
ProsTravel, working in teams, free meals or give aways (SWAG), benefits and good salary with built in incentives
ConsTeam morale starting to crumble due to poor management.
A highly competitive and fast paced organization that pays well, works on import therapeutics, but gets reorganized every few years
Since 2007, a typical work day in research and development involved balancing a very large workload and backlog of work, under rigorous timelines with little wiggle room for accommodating routine personal life issues. Concomitant with a decrease in company earnings, frequent reorganizations of the company and various departments changed the culture, such that the motto became the proverbial creed of "you're lucky to have a job". Coupled with a poor capital budget, the "innovate or dye" mantra of the RnD leadership created a stressful work environment since people were expected to do more with less. Paradoxically, the overall morale was very poor for such an awesome staff since co-workers tended to be very bright, friendly, and hard working people that performed well in a fast paced complicated team environment.
The hardest part of the job was the constant uncertainty that comes with the frequent reorganizations, such as the routine changing of direct managers and job responsibilities, and the threats of site closures and reductions in staff.
The most enjoyable part of the job was the ability to work with great colleagues and friends on projects that potentially could benefit humanity and help people with grievous illnesses have better lives.
ProsGreat benefits and pay and great co-workers
ConsVery poor morale from the uncertainty that comes with large reorganizations every 2 to 3 years.
3 Quarters of their Workforce is Contractors for a Reason-Churn and Burn
My understanding is that they were well respected in the community and have made many breakthrough's in bio pharmaceuticals. Their employees had amazing benefits and 401k, a great campus and work life balance. In the last few years, that has all changed. They turned into the worst company I've ever worked for. They have an unsustainable business model. A few years back they fired a large population of their employees and hired them back under various contractor positions spread out amongst several recruiting firms. Some of these employees had a drop in pay and lost benefits while others lost their jobs. Many of those employees are bitter, it's not widely discussed but there's a sense of resentment and that reflects heavily on the workplace culture.
Recently they've tried to improve their relations by going to a "Google"-esque open workspaces. The reality is that most of the culture is Gen X and Baby Boomers so I don't know how well this will go over. It does help them shut down the offices and shrink the campus in the effort to go green.
My experience has been sub par on all accounts and talking to others at Amgen it's par for the course. They do renew contracts so there's a chance you'll see some stay but many end up going to greener pastures. Make no mistake, employees are only a number to them and they will exercise their right to discard anyone if it suits the bottom line.
Amgen has great benefits and pay with many opportunities to grow and learn in a fast paced environment. The Thousand Oaks campus is very large with many extracurricular activities to get involved with. They boast amazing events such as their annual chili cook-off along with several other festivals. They offer lunchtime leagues such as basketball, soccer, football Frisbee, and more. There is a fantastic gym and don't forget that Amgen host the Tour of California each year. Amgen shutdown twice each year (Winter and Summer) which you will wonder how you ever got along without it.
Amgen have many wonderful things to offer staff ... HOWEVER, it is not without the CONs ... There is a SERIOUS lack of job security unless you are a contract worker (if you are in IT or IS, you really need to be a VISA'd contract worker to maintain some security). I have personally witnessed several instances where a certain contracting organization at Amgen has worked negatively with people outside their organization. Every year I have worked there Amgen have laid-off hundreds of people only to replace them with contract workers under a new title. Overall, Amgen is a fantastic place to work. If you have the opportunity definitely take it .. just remember to keep your resume up to date.
I really enjoyed the first 8 months or so here at Amgen. I was learning a lot about the biotechnology industry, GMP and how science based careers are. It taught me a lot in the long run but as the months dragged on and our section was shown that it is not as important as everyone makes it out to be, I got fed up with being taken advantage of at every opportunity.
Then I had a minor skin rash and they would not let me work at all in the building, even if I was not going to be in a sterile environment. I couldn't work upstairs and they denied me attending work for over 3 weeks. Once I came back, everything seemed different. Nobody paid attention to me or even noticed I was gone and even my manager, who said he couldn't wait for me to return, didn't even turn a blind eye towards me. Other people advanced (who I trained by the way) but I wasn't even given attention in the long run.
I just want to come to work and be happy and this place is not giving that to me anymore. With all the changes happening in the future, I do not want to be apart of what Amgen has to offer anymore, considering I have been a contractor this whole time and nothing is guaranteed.
ProsTeam building excersises, lots of cafeterias to choose from, can work around your schedule.
ConsFavoritism, long work hours+demanding more at times, constant change in schedules.
•Traitement des appels reçus au service Information Médicale et Pharmacovigilance
• Réception et centralisation des observations
•Enregistrement des données ICSR Pharmacovigilance
•Saisie dans la base de données d’information médicale des demandes orales
•Préparatrice de dossiers des cas de pharmacovigilance
•Enregistrement des effets indésirables dans la base de données de pharmacovigilance
• Réception et tri des appels reçus au service Information Médicale et Pharmacovigilance
• Traitement des appels téléphoniques « standards »
•Réponse téléphonique première ligne des produits commercialisés et confirmation écrite avec envoi des documents types si nécessaire
•Saisie dans la base de données d'Information Médicale des demandes orales; édition et envoi des réponses écrites
•Reporting des appels reçus pour le compte des laboratoires
•Gestion des appels d'astreinte : réception, enregistrements
• Réponse téléphonique première ligne sur tous les produits commercialisés (FAQ) et confirmation écrite avec envoi des documents types si nécessaire (hot-line Sureclick®, SimleJect®, seringue, suivi des avoirs, notice graduation seringue, conditions de conservation, modalités de prescription,
• Transmission à la pharmacovigilance de tous les problèmes concernant la douleur et les effets indésirables
• Gestion de la bibliothèque médicale (classement revues et journaux)
• Recherches et commandes d’articles dans les bases de donné
Questions And Answers about Amgen
If you were in charge, what would you do to make Amgen a better place to work?
Asked Jun 6, 2017
To give more permanent jobs.
Answered Nov 18, 2020
Eliminate at least half of the outsourcing and ensure that critical skillsets are retained and groomed in-house. Eliminate 80% of H1B visa holders.
Answered Nov 5, 2020
What benefits does Amgen offer?
Asked Jun 29, 2016
Health insurance, life insurance, 401K, stocks, bonus
Answered Dec 4, 2017
Many benefits including health, dental, vision and life insurance, 401K stock options
Answered Nov 9, 2017
What is the interview process like at Amgen?
Asked Jun 29, 2016
1. Phone Interview from HR
2. Group Interview
3. Any additional interview (any director)
4. Job offer from HR (if selected)
Answered Mar 29, 2020
A very complete interview.
Answered Mar 7, 2020
What tips or advice would you give to someone interviewing at Amgen?
Asked Sep 29, 2016
Be yourself and stress your experience, but you better be able to walk the walk. Make sure you did your homework pertaining to the position which you are applying.
