Philip Morris International Reviews

Current Employee – been working at Philip Morris International full-time

Pros – Amazing international network
Highly mobile workforce
Ability to attract top talent
Working in Europe/Asia/Africa

Cons – Telling people you work in the tobacco industry is always a buzz kill.
Sometimes the company can be too large for it's own good.

Advice to Senior Management – Keep plugging away

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at Philip Morris International full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Great people, strong brand, team work

Cons – very controversial product so every time you say you work for Tobacco company there was comments

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Philip Morris International full-time

Pros – I've seen more frivolous spending in the first 12 months at this company than I did in all of my previous companies combined. Want expensive business trips and fancy restaurants? This is your place.

Talent Management is rigorously (almost dogmatically) adhered to. Many times in order to rise in the company you have to be willing to up and move just about anywhere in the world, which is fine if you're a global nomad, but not if you want a family and any sense of community. There are many instances of inter-company relationships as a result.

Cons – Being a company that only makes one thing, and has been profitable for an eternity, has made this company complacent and ignorant to the reality -- working for a cigarette company, no matter what they pay, is never a nice thing to have to admit to yourself or anyone else around you. This breeds 2 kinds of people -- those who are at constant existential angst and always depressed; and those who have been there so long they've sold their soul. Don't be tempted by the golden handcuffs -- this place is a tough place to work and expects a lot of it's employees.

Turnover at PMI is EXTREMELY low, many people started at the factory floor and have worked their way up. They refer to it as a "family" like culture, which is probably more true than they'd like, as it has many characteristics of a dysfunctional family. Power and politics are the way decisions get made, and everyone seems afraid of guarding their turf or not pissing off their manager, or both.

Advice to Senior Management – Recognize that you are not capturing 60% of the active employee marketplace because of the product you make. Help new hires acclimate in a way that doesn't destroy their creativity as well as their sense of confidence. Stop expecting people to start all over again in a different country in 3 years time, it's not feasible or sustainable. And way too expensive. Give people a break - work life balance here sucks and not for any reason other than hubris and "busy work".

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Philip Morris International full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – - decent salary and benefits
- progression can be quite fast as long as you are internationally mobile
- pace of change is high so lots of learning opportunities in addition to 'normal' job
- great people to work with, even at a senior level most people are approachable and have the best interests of the company at heart

Cons – - low diversity - not many women in senior positions
- work life balance is not great, quite an old fashioned approach here - working from home is frowned upon, still seem to be judged on how long you sit at your desk rather than how much you contribute
- need to have a good network in order to really progress

Advice to Senior Management – PMI needs to stop being quite so old fashioned! There is also still a high degree of progression that doesn't seem to be related to what you delivered, but rather on who you know - lots of people are very good at managing upwards, but not managing downwards. So their manager thinks they are amazing, but their employees have a tough time. Management should be aware of this.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Philip Morris International full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – Diverse environment, broad learning opportunities, possibility to gain international experience and extend own professional and personal experiences. Good remuneration package, especially for mobile Expatriate community.

Cons – Heavy bureaucratic procedures, everything takes ages! Politics, higher you go in the company, the more. I believe that such cons are pretty much "standard" for large multinationals. Specifically to PMI: tobacco industry, you don't have a chance to feel that you contribute for smth good

Current Employee – been working at Philip Morris International full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – Philip Morris offers good career development, it provides challenging assignments plus it has diverse workforce which will enrich your stay in the company.

Cons – Working at Philip Morris means long working hours which I believe is the same with any other multinational companies.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Philip Morris International full-time for more than a year

Pros – Easy going work routine (9 - 6). Magnificently beautiful offices and training centers - Lots of international career opportunities and training. Top of the market pay.

Cons – Not open to new ideas or change. Challenging the status quo is seen as a "bad" thing since the company makes a lot of money already...

Advice to Senior Management – Install a sense of urgency

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Philip Morris International full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – policies, benefits, development oportunities, international teams, competitive salaries

Cons – overtime, contraversial industry of tobacco products

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at Philip Morris International full-time for more than 10 years

Pros – Great, smart people thanks to recruitment process. VERY competitive salaries. Strong brands and very good working conditions

Cons – Bureaucracy and lack of decision and risk taking culture. Line managers (in Operations) are afraid to take decisions and wait ages for seniors to decide. A lot of politics. Risk of being kicked out (no irreplaceable people)

Advice to Senior Management – Raise risk takers, listen to your people

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at Philip Morris International full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Works as any other multinational. Everything you learn will be of great use wherever you go. Friendly environment.
Cool brands.

Cons – You get in and the company will use you until you scream for a change. Even then, they may "trick" you saying that they are happy with you, that the company wants you there and that you have a great career path. I received that speech twice a year. (it was the same with my colleagues) If you don't network, get exposure, sell yourself, etc. you will grow very slowly. I figured that out so I had one promotion after two years in the company.

Advice to Senior Management – You really have to bet more on your young talent. I had a position for two years that was very exhausting. During the same period the direct competitor (BAT) had 4 different people in that position. In that company you get to rotate a lot and learn about more areas. (which is what you want when you are young)

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company