Given their past scandals - not a good place to work

I've had several exposures to Tyco since 1980, and (thankfully) none ended in employment. While in college, Tyco invited our Student IEEE club to visit their corporate headquarters. They spent the whole time telling us that we weren't good enough to work for them. They tried to demonstrate a new machine they were developing but it failed embarrassingly! Later, interviewed for a job in NC and was told by the hiring manager that I was an excellent fit. Then I received a letter from HR saying that I didn’t get the job because they used my application to force somebody else to take the job. Had another interview where the guy asked detailed questions about a proprietary process that nobody outside his group could answer. Then he berated me about being unqualified while patting himself on the back! I almost had a job at a small local company that Tyco bought out, but the buyout caused a hiring freeze. Tyco destroyed that small company, but it was fun winning contracts that we competed for (while I worked at a competitor). I met a Tyco manager who used to try to recruit me every few months, only to give me the run around later. I’ve told him not to bother me anymore. I see the same Tyco job ads around here over and over. I quit answering the ads because I realized that those previous encounters were warning me to stay away.

Is Covidien a good place to work, if anyone knows please comment.
Thank You

John in Collinsville, Illinois said: Is Covidien a good place to work, if anyone knows please comment.
Thank You

NOT a good place to work. They are very stiff with PTO and vacation. Use it or loose it, you cannot carry it over.

I am considering a position with Covidien (formerly Valleylab) in Boulder, CO. Is there anyone with insight into the company culture at that specific location? If it is the same long hours and negative environment that some of the other locations have I may reconsider.

Thanks

Climber in Murphy, North Carolina said: I am considering a position with Covidien (formerly Valleylab) in Boulder, CO. Is there anyone with insight into the company culture at that specific location? If it is the same long hours and negative environment that some of the other locations have I may reconsider.

Thanks

Why are you considering a new job and at Valleylab? Which department or function? I have some insight on this specific location.

I am currently a Mechanical Design Engineer working in Aerospace but have a strong desire to get into Biomedical device design, mainly because healing people is more personally rewarding than building bomb racks that hurt people. Specifically I am looking for a job in the Boulder area because I also want to further my education and the University of Colorado at Boulder has a Mechanical Engineering master's program with an emphasis in Biomedical. Also Boulder is a reasonably sized city and it has a lot of outdoor recreation possibilities close by.

The engineering manager I talked with is in the Respiratory group, but I have applied to several other positions as well.

I am definitly interested in what you know about that location.

Climber in Murphy, North Carolina said: currently a Mechanical Design Eng. working in Aerospace.

Your function and ind. experience (i.e. aerospace) are ones in decent demand up/down CO's I-25 corridor.

Climber in Murphy, North Carolina said: desire to get into Biomedical device design, mainly because healing people is more personally rewarding than building bomb racks that hurt people.

That's a good point I can agree with on my end. But CO isn't really a Biomedical hotbed like CA/MA.

Climber in Murphy, North Carolina said: I am looking for a job in the Boulder area.

There's too many looking for jobs inside Boulder but there's only a limited amount available for those lucky. What about metro Denver Biomed firms (e.g. Arvada, Centennial, Englewood, Lakewood)?

Climber in Murphy, North Carolina said: want to further my education and the University of Colorado at Boulder has a Mechanical Eng master's program with an emphasis in Biomedical.

Do you expect your prospective employer to fund your education? Have you inquired about Covidien's current policies on educational reimbursement, etc?

Climber in Murphy, North Carolina said: Boulder is a reasonably sized city and it has a lot of outdoor recreation possibilities.

Also true of Denver too, IMO.

Climber in Murphy, North Carolina said: The eng. manager I talked with is in the Respiratory group, but I have applied to several other positions as well.

That's the relocated division part of a very agressive and highly controversial move out of CA. Their mfg. is done off-site, perhaps the work mode in your function would be somewhat remote or virtual. Is that OK?

Climber in Murphy, North Carolina said: I am definitly interested in what you know about that location.

Valleylab was once part of Pfizer, spun off then acquired by USSC and then Tyco. Their mfg. for most part is done on-site, perhaps the work mode in your function may be more hands-on to some extent (vs. Respiratory). Your best bet there? R&D without elaborating further.

They trimmed their benefits back to bring them "in alignment" with other divisions of Covidien. It could be an opportunity for you to get the Biomedical work experience and then depart for greener pastures.

These are great comments and I really appreciate them. I am also considering some of the Biomed companies in Denver (Gambro and COBE to name a couple) but I have not yet applied because it would be more logistically difficult to take an occasional day class at UCB.

Covidien would fund up to $7500 per year for tuition which would be fine for part-time school. However, from what you are saying I think I may slow down pursuing a job there and focus on some of the other companies in the area. There is no rush for me to move right now anyway.

H E L P !!!!!!!!!!! Climber in Murphy North Carolina (and any other current or former employees familiar with the Boulder ops). I would like to talk with you. I am interviewing with Cov. in Boulder and really don't like what I'm hearing from this board..... I would really like to talk with someone who is currently with Cov. before I interview there. Please email me at dallnorth@comcast.net

Hello

I am graduating with a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from a decent state school. I got an internship with Covidien. Previously I have worked in an Organic Chemistry lab in my college. For my design project I am making an in-house medical device for a leading Hospital in New York City. I am still applying for full time jobs. The only offer I have received until now is this position with Covidien. Do you think I should accept it? What is the scope of this internship leading into a full time position with the company?

PS - I can definitely help out anyone who needs help with an internship interview at Covidien.

this place is full of racist ****holes. I worked at that h*** for 9 months and hated every moment of it. It got to the point where I hated to leave because I knew i had to come back. I will work at a strip club before I ever go back to that hell house.. STAY AWAY PLEASE.................

LP2008,

As an Asian employee of Covidien I can vouch for the fact that Covidien is truely non-discriminating. I work at a location which has a lot of colored people and quite a few of them move up the corporate ladder. It is unfortunate that you had to endure some proclivity because of your color, however, I believe that the location is to blame more than the company.

As for myself I have been hired as a full time and I can tell you that Covidien is going through a boom right now!

WOW...sounds like a lot of bitter people out there. Well you may have some valid concerns, but an outsider might ask if you don't like the company why are you working there? You have no one to blame but yourself. As for me, I work at Covidien in Boulder and love every minute I spend there. Extremely bright, talented, and motivated people - although there are always lifers who are just holding on. I have worked for more than a few Fortune 100 companies and by far Covidien is the top of the top.... At the same time, it's work.... your not supposed to love it. Get a life outside work..... it's only a job. For anyone interested in knowing the real story ...email me.

Dale North in Alaska said: As for me, I work at Covidien in Boulder and love every minute I spend there.

Which business unit and what specific functional group if I may ask?

Dale North in Alaska said: Extremely bright, talented, and motivated people - although there are always lifers who are just holding on.

Plus a few prima donna" types and several good ole folks bound by golden gloves syndrome.

Dale North in Alaska said: I have worked for more than a few Fortune 100 companies and by far Covidien is the top of the top.

Wait till the kid gloves come off.

Dale North in Alaska said: For anyone interested in knowing the real story ...email me.

Real story? What story?

www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_241040011.html

Dale North in Alaska said: WOW...sounds like a lot of bitter people out there. Well you may have some valid concerns, but an outsider might ask if you don't like the company why are you working there? You have no one to blame but yourself. As for me, I work at Covidien in Boulder and love every minute I spend there. Extremely bright, talented, and motivated people - although there are always lifers who are just holding on. I have worked for more than a few Fortune 100 companies and by far Covidien is the top of the top.... At the same time, it's work.... your not supposed to love it. Get a life outside work..... it's only a job. For anyone interested in knowing the real story ...email me.

I noticed on their website that there are more than 70 jobs open in Boulder. Is this true? Are they hiring on all those positions?