Pros
- Merck makes important medicines, such as its pediatric and adult vaccines. Manufacturing these medicines, and developing new medicines, is an important public health contribution. - Merck's strength is its organizational experience with clinical development and the regulatory environment, and in manufacturing of complicated medicines. - Lots of good experience to be had, in a variety of functional roles from discovery to development and manufacturing, from quality to regulatory to technical science and engineering jobs.
Kontras
Merck is trying to re-invent itself as a low-cost manufacturer, and leader of the field, but all while minimizing the amount of money spent. Upper management turnover is quite high, and leads to a very unstable environment, with a high rate of change, and minimal acknowledgement of the challenges this brings. The implicit message is that employees should be happy to have a job, and they should suck it up and work harder.