GlaxoSmithKline

Headquartered in the United Kingdom with operations based in the United States, GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) is an industry leader with an estimated 7 percent of the world’s pharmaceutical market. The researched-based pharmaceutical company’s mission is to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. ­ It produces medicines that treat six major disease areas – asthma, virus control, infections, mental health, diabetes and digestive conditions. In addition, GSK is a leader in the important area of vaccines and is developing new treatments for cancer. The company also markets other products, several of which are among the market leaders including over the counter medicines Gaviscon and Panadol; Aquafresh toothpaste; and smoking control product, Nicorette. GSK employs approximately 110,000 people in 80 countries across the globe.

G.I. Jobs.. What issues/surprises do you find that military transitioners / veterans need to be aware of when entering the civilian workforce?

GSK.. Responsibilities they had in the military are somewhat different than what they will have in Corporate America. It’s rare that they will manage a battalion of 500 people; rather they will directly manage a function or small teams of five to seven people. While they might have 20 to 40 people in their area of responsibility, the size of teams can vary from one function to another. Additionally, in the military great people seem to move every year to another venue or another position. That rarely happens in corporations. The norm might be 24 – 42 months in the same job, albeit with enhancements to their responsibilities.

G.I. Jobs.. What advantages do military personnel have over their peers of the same age and education level?

GSK.. Military personnel are without question taught to address contingencies and “what if” scenarios. While planning is a major focus of corporations, the focus that military personnel place on the unexpected is a competitive advantage.

G.I. Jobs.. What disadvantages do you find?

GSK.. The rigor and discipline that are taught in the military often translate in Corporate America as being inflexible or impersonal. “Yes, sir. No, sir. Yes, ma’am. No, ma’am” are rarely used here. We’re on a first name basis and even our CEO and CFO are referred to as JP (Jean-Pierre Garnier) or Julian (Heslop). Sometimes the unilateral focus that military folks have had varies to the other candidates who have been in a variety of businesses. This can be seen by traditional hiring managers as a negative. Good corporate interviewers can see the value that military folks have and can see they have transferable skills.

G.I. Jobs.. What are the most common mistakes you see on military / veteran résumés?

GSK.. I see of a lot of military candidates simply list the jobs they’ve had rather than list the competencies or capabilities that they bring — what are the transferable skills that we at GSK need and what are those skills or behaviors that you have to contribute to what we are trying to achieve?

G.I. Jobs.. What are the most common mistakes military / veterans make in interviews?

GSK.. Lack of flexibility and lack of understanding about the company or position for which they are interviewing. Great candidates spend a lot of time researching the company and learning about the culture of that company. Homework, homework, homework!

G.I. Jobs.. Is relocating essential to promote within your company?

GSK.. Not typically.

G.I. Jobs.. What types of positions does your company recruit military for?

GSK.. Qualified military personnel should apply for any and all jobs for which they believe they are qualified. Sales is a good place to look, as well as team leader positions requiring project management experience. Right now our Zebulon, N.C., manufacturing plant is the site of a major expansion. We expect the military might provide some good talent with experience as automation engineers, operational technicians or process engineers. Check our Web site at www.gsk.com and see what positions are a good match for the experience and background of the individual applying.

G.I. Jobs.. Can a new hire stay in a position for an entire career or do you require new hires to “move up or move out” like the military does?

GSK.. That’s up to the individual. It’s based on capability, potential, experience, behaviors, achievement of targets, etc. There are people at GSK who have been in the same job for a long time. They are constantly adding value to their position and seeking new and better ways to do the job. It’s in the hands of the individual.

G.I. Jobs.. What is the average starting pay for positions at GSK?

GSK.. This varies by position, grade, experience and capabilities of the individual. We are a global company of 110,000 people. Our Web site (www.gsk.com) lists the vacant positions. They vary by function and business. The compensation associated with those positions varies so we encourage candidates to speak about that directly with the recruiter when they interview for a respective position.

G.I. Jobs.. Describe the benefits at GSK (health care, retirement, vacation, etc)?

GSK.. This also varies by grade level, country, and experience. However, we have worked hard to put a compensation plan in place that supports our ability to recruit and retain the best talent in the industry. Ours is a very comprehensive “total rewards” approach that is one of the most competitive in the industry.

G.I. Jobs.. Any other comments or advice?

GSK.. There are many hiring managers who value the leadership capabilities and the skill sets of those coming out of the military. The onus is on the applicant to ensure the interviewer absolutely understands the capabilities they have. All interviewees have to convince the hiring manager or the recruiter of their skill set. They need to make a convincing argument that the competencies they learned and demonstrated everyday in the military are transferable to what our company is trying to do to make the patient’s life better.

G.I. Jobs.. What do prior military hires bring to your company that you like?

GSK.. Military personnel consistently demonstrate leadership, discipline and focus. While other candidates have these capabilities, it appears the armed services focus more on the development of leadership capabilities. Companies like ours value those behaviors.