Working at Abbott Medical Optics in Santa Ana, CA: 19 Employee Job Reviews by Real Employee working in Santa Ana, CA Area

"I have worked with many former employees of Intralase and Advanced / Allergan Medical Optics and we all came to the conclusion that after the Abbott acquisition there was too much chaos and management incompetence to bring this company back to any state of regulatory compliance or any commercial competency. I along with everyone I knew have left the company for better opportunities. If you are glutton for punishment, oppression, and frustration then this is the company for you."

"Probably the worst job I ever had."

"Before the company was acquired by Abbott - when it was Advanced Medical Optics, I felt upper management made some very poor business decisions. I was originally with IntraLase, which was acquired by Advanced Medical Optics."

"I enjoyed my time working with AMO. The people were, for the most part, passionate about their work, and the industry and tasks were interesting and challenging. The environment was fantastic."

"Generally just not a nice place to work for ambitious engineers and scientists."

What do you like about working at Abbott Medical Optics ?

"I had the opportunity right out of school to work at a company in the Netherlands. Medical optics sounded like a dream come true, and together with all those website and fliers that made Holland look second to none, what else can a young ambitious scientist ask for!"

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"If you are top engineer or scientist, don't take job offers here seriously. Highly skilled individuals may be highly valued at Abbott, but AMO Groningen BV is entirely a different story."

What don't you like about working at Abbott Medical Optics ?

"The biggest disappointment I had was subtle racism from all the Dutch colleagues. As an Asian American, I would always be mixed up with the 1 Chinese guy at the company even after a year of employment. I would receive comments like you guys eat dogs. When visitors come, I got introduced as new talent from China. Chinese gibberish would get directed at me (Dutch equivalent of things like Ching chong). Although I have no proof that my Asian heritage put me at a disadvantage in decision making, competency assessment, resource allocation, and a voice in meetings, I really got the feeling that it did."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Management relentlessly preaches how they are a small company with an international vision, but the fact was that they are not prepared for an international work force. Expats experience certain difficulties that international companies address. The help the get should not feel like a constant cry for special treatment. Recognize that professionals from overseas do not have the support and safety net that the locals, and even Europeans from outside of the Netherlands, have. Discourage inappropriate, potentially racist, remarks from local employees by demotion or monetary fines should be implemented."

"I loved working there and the people, my boss, no longer employed there, was a challenge at times and at the end very inappropriate professionally."