Meritocratic, rewarding change of career
Pros
I joined Navartis 10 months ago after working in retail for several years. The biggest upside to working here for me is simply the fact that if you work hard, you are rewarded. The bonus and promotion structures are set up in such a way that your goals are clearly defined and good performance is rewarded with a bonus scheme and increases to your base salary. As well as the prospect of better titles and increased responsibility as you progress. In previous roles, it didn't matter how hard i'd work, I was still paid the same and you are essentially waiting for someone to leave or pass away to get a promotion. Navartis flips that concept on it's head. They set you a goal and promote you if you achieve it - it really is that simple. The culture of the business is also a big plus - "work hard, play hard" is certainly the mentality. Whilst there have been changes as the business grows and expands, the company still provide plenty of incentives and "team-building" type occasions to get to know people in the office and give you a well-deserved break. There are plenty of different personalities in the office but there isn't a toxic atmosphere as you sometimes get in such an enclosed space - everyone is friendly and gets along. Navartis have also invested a lot in its Learning and Development programme and training/help is always on hand if you ask for it. The senior management team definitely expect results but in my experience, have always been friendly and approachable and do have a genuine interest in your development.
Cons
Whilst I thoroughly enjoy working here - it's very clear that it isn't for everyone. There's no two-ways about it, this is a pressurised, sales-based environments and you will only succeed if you come in every day and chase it. The biggest challenge for any newcomer is that you are not going to be micro-managed. You have a large amount of autonomy over your day and if you don't manage your time effectively and aren't motivated to make things happen, you won't succeed. You will also find that the role will spill over into your personal life - you don't have to take calls outside office hours, but often you'd be stupid not to.