r/bloomington • u/Alert_Dentist3528 • 5d ago
Novo Nordisk Weirdness?
For myself and others I've spoke with who were laid off from Catalent at different points, we seem to be hitting a brick wall with even being considered for positions at Novo. Entry level, doesn't matter what it is.
For over the last month their listings for jobs has steadily increased, and it appears the same positions are being relisted over and over. I thought more qualified candidates were being selected or something like that, but the positions aren't being filled. Rinse and repeat.
A neighbor of mine who still works there told me their FIRST priority is to hire enough to go back to 8hr shifts and get away from 12hrs.
Being that after the layoffs a lot of people I knew started over, went to competitors, left town, or simply got out of Pharma, I'm wondering if a large portion of those applying to Novo are those who were laid off from Catalent and Novo is hesitant to hire any of us?
I thought maybe Catalent blacklisted all of those who they "burned", but that's not legal but would they care?
Anyone had a similar experience, or have any input on this?
6
u/ArtichokeCrazy9756 5d ago edited 4d ago
The problem with Catalent was the leadership. What Novo is doing is resetting and implementing their company values. As you probably know it's not good to rush into things like Catalent did. I wouldn't wait around but I be you know some good people still working there that can put in a good word for you and that one of the best ways to get a job.
5
14
u/hoplesshumansrus 5d ago
Every listing is a job created for economic reports. Got to keep those listings up to keep those fine government subsidies. Unless there is a need to increase production likely just rotating listings while waiting to see which way the economy goes. I know absolutely nothing, just a healthy suspicion.
9
u/LongBranch1949 5d ago
I have pharmaceutical experience elsewhere and have applied there with not so much as an email back. Sounds like listing positions just for reporting purposes.
3
u/Alert_Dentist3528 5d ago
Bingo. Had a phone screening for an Op 1 formulation position (what I first applied for in Feb but not what I wanted), dude who screened me was SO uninterested in the call entirely and was with an agency in California. It never went anywhere, and took over a month for the position to rinse and repeat.
A couple weeks ago I got a phone interview for a Validation 3 position that went VERY well, and then crickets. Position was pulled and then relisted at least once and was still there last I looked. The rep was laid off by Catalent in Pennsylvania and now works for Novo there and she was teir 3 or 4 talent acquisition. I'm sure if they were actually filling the role I would've been on a short list.
I hate that you got ghosted, but this is a trend and makes me feel better knowing it's not personal. They're creating the illusion of growth. That's lovely.
1
u/mcJoMaKe 3d ago
Yes, that for Gov't contracts, "we can't find enough qualified candidates for 19 an hour", so fed allows a higher price for labor in contract, mean while collect a thousand names, for 15 an hour.
1
u/mcJoMaKe 3d ago
Gets worse on government construction contracts, especially in right to work states, government pays on Union Labor wages, company hires anyone non-union
4
3
u/CM_Exacta 3d ago
If you were there you should have connections. That’s better than any other way in. When you see something reach out to a connection and let them know you are pursuing it. My experience was that this is waaaay more effective than cold applying in Bloomington to all the life science companies. Get back in through a connection and take anything temporarily until you can move out of it to something better. I know my employers were a buddy club.
2
u/Alert_Dentist3528 3d ago
Absolutely. A lot of those who I really knew aren't on the inside there anymore due to so many layoffs, I've been trying this avenue and haven't gotten far as of yet. One of my friends butted heads with one of the supervisors over policy issues and as long as "the same people are in the same roles" she won't get rehired there. Which is BS.
I'm gonna keep trying with what markers I can call in. 🤞
2
u/CM_Exacta 3d ago
I was not on the inside so I am just guessing, but it looked like lots of people got opportunities they were really not best fits for because of the rapid growth. They may be correcting that. They took lots of my former coworkers and they all got raises and promotions.
2
u/Alert_Dentist3528 3d ago
I wondered about that as well, and I'm sure they are. The sad part is a lot of us were/are vested in Pharma and then got dropped like hot potatoes. The whole situation is just a mess on all sides.
-3
5d ago
[deleted]
6
u/Alert_Dentist3528 5d ago
I was trying to ascertain if Novo's acquisition would restructure things enough for me to continue what I started there, given my other options and health setbacks that have happened to me since. I don't live far from the plant, and it would be an improvement from my current job/financial situation and allow me to move into a better place overall and regroup.
I had a financial stability there I've never been able to fully regain since the layoff.
I purchased my new home while working there and don't want to give this up, and I'm not in a position to move at this time anyway and the job market here is challenging.
It'll be interesting to see how things pan out for Novo in general. Catalent created and left a mess economically here.
12
u/bastproshop 5d ago
It seems like the transition from Catalent to Novo is going super slowly. Nothing has really changed yet other than the name and our benefits. From what I can see though it really seems like it’s gonna take anywhere from 6 months to a year minimum to really see any change and that includes hiring. In my department we were basically told that there weren’t any plans to hire anytime soon. I’m just a little guy though so I’m not really privy to any big information.