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Illumina Reviews
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Francis deSouza
281 Ratings
Pros
"Great work environment, company culture, work/life balance" (in 44 reviews)
"fast paced environment where you can learn a lot" (in 72 reviews)
Cons
"So much going on - you need to be very good at setting boundaries or it will be easy to get sucked into poor work-life balance" (in 61 reviews)
"Ultra fast paced environment, high stress during critical release dates" (in 45 reviews)
- Featured Review
Helpful (26)
![Illumina Logo]()
"Move Fast and Embrace Change"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Illumina full-time (More than 3 years)
Pros
This is a very fast moving company constantly innovating and changing. I know many companies say this in their values, but here you'll feel it every day. No two years are the same, no two months are the same. Everyone is collaborating towards the same end vision; to unlock the power of the genome, to transform healthcare and beyond. It's dynamic and very meaningful. I find it very motivating to know the work we're doing is improving thousands of lives today, and millions in the future!
Cons
The Pros can also be Cons if it's not a good fit culturally. Someone who needs a regular routine or struggles with the undefined would not align well at Illumina. Because the company is pushing the limits of what's possible, and doing things no one in history has done, there is a lot of undefined gray areas. This can be a pro if one likes charting their own course. If an employee is looking for a more defined and routine culture, this is not a good fit.
Advice to Management
Continue the improvement on prioritization. There can't be many number 1 priorities. Forced ranking could be a useful tool to hash out relative priorities. Great trend here already, but still more to do.
Illumina 2018-04-05 07:54 PDT Helpful (3)
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""Operate a meritocracy" was once a stated company value"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
I worked at Illumina full-time (More than 5 years)
Pros
As far a backstabbing and infighting go, that behavior is probably below that of many orgs
Cons
As Illumina has grown, political maneuvering has become more important than execution.
Advice to Management
Consider that your reports my be inversely skilled at general management compared to "managing up"
Illumina 2019-02-14 19:27 PST![Illumina Logo]()
"Poor Ops Culture/Org"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Illumina full-time (More than a year)
Pros
-Awesome company, technology, and future
-Great facility and perksCons
-Little care for roles and responsibilities
-Tremendous overlap of actual responsibilities and this is empowered
-Many people out for themselves; teams do not function as teams or support the leadership out in place
-Little interest in qualifications or experience, mainly education (not ideal for an Ops org)
-Many people not in the right role for a quality-driven Ops organizationAdvice to Management
Drive change from the top. Enforce projects, teams, and acceptance of team leadership. Embrace change or things will stay the same. Wish it was different here...
Illumina 2019-02-20 09:23 PSTHelpful (1)
![Illumina Logo]()
"The best company to work for"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Illumina full-time (More than a year)
Pros
I love working at Illumina! They treat you like family. The buildings have an amazing gym, restaurants and cafes, lounge areas and phone rooms, and an amazing view. The culture of the company is very relaxed but there is still a pressure to get things done. There are shuttle buses always running to take us to and from the mall and the other campus near by. They are always flexible with my schedule if I have a doctors appointment or something to do
Cons
The work hours are not flexible. You cannot leave earlier than 4pm but that’s still not bad considering most companies are mandorty 9-5
Illumina 2019-01-30 09:27 PST![Illumina Logo]()
"Great company culture"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
I have been working at Illumina full-time (Less than a year)
Pros
The perks are amazing. The campus feels like a college campus and everyone is very intelligent. On site fitness center, req league sports, happy hours
Cons
Mobility is much harder than it is made out to be. If you start as a contractor and then get hired, you cannot change roles for 6-12 months after your conversion date. Regardless of how long your contract was. If you are thinking of taking a less desirable role and plan to move around I would strongly discourage you because you will be stuck in a job you don't like for a year at a minimum, depending on how long it takes to get converted.
Advice to Management
Time worked under a contract should count towards your time working in a current role once you get hired. The 12 months in your current role rule before being able to change departments is so arbitrary and deters employees who find themselves in a role where they are highly overqualified, from wanting to advance their career in the company.
Illumina 2019-02-11 23:23 PST![Illumina Logo]()
"typical large biotech company"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsI worked at Illumina full-time (Less than a year)
Pros
smart and fun collegues, relax atmosphere
Cons
no free food or snacks
Illumina 2019-02-10 23:01 PSTHelpful (7)
![Illumina Logo]()
"Hated the culture"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookDisapproves of CEOI worked at Illumina full-time (Less than a year)
Pros
Great benefits and individuals are nice
Cons
Not as advertised. Organization is disorganized and overly messy
Advice to Management
Get the company organized!
Illumina 2019-01-30 10:15 PST![Illumina Logo]()
"One of the better place to be"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Illumina full-time (More than 5 years)
Pros
Great focus on new outcomes and pushing boundaries
A drive to improve Human Health
A company focused on giving back to the communityCons
Balance of changing demands/focuses
High role change over company, due to rapid growth, means constant reinvention of strategyAdvice to Management
Don’t lose sight of the core philosophies
Illumina 2019-02-07 03:17 PST![Illumina Logo]()
"Fast pace, great benefits"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Illumina full-time (Less than a year)
Pros
Fun workplace, great facilities and benefits.
Cons
Not for someone who do not like frequent changes, inconsistencies, and unstructured practices.
Advice to Management
Cross site collaboration is great but each site shall be given the autonomy to develop their own best practices
Illumina 2019-01-31 22:03 PSTHelpful (2)
![Illumina Logo]()
"Customer Support specialist"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Illumina full-time (Less than a year)
Pros
Amazing people, beautiful campus, fun atmosphere. We work hard but play hard and everyone is so happy to be at work. We're encouraged to network, go for walks and explore the vast campus and meet people no matter the role you have or they have. PhD staff mixing with interns is a common sight and theres a real sense of purpose and that we're all in it together working towards a common goal.
Cons
The restaurant in the i3 site isnt very good but they have food trucks that come daily, another restaurant in hq and Starbucks in the cafes.
Advice to Management
Keep doing what you're doing. It's clearly working!
Illumina 2019-01-09 19:59 PST
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