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Break into Pharmaceutical Sales
By Megan Malugani | Monster Contributing Writer
July 22, 2008
Does a job with a good salary, a company car, a flexible schedule, generous bonuses and no boss breathing down your neck sound like a dream come true?
It’s a reality for pharmaceutical company representatives. But the work isn’t pure glamour. It’s also intense, highly competitive and sometimes frustrating. Insiders say it’s difficult to get your foot in the door with a drug company, and that it’s challenging to excel once you’ve landed that first sales job.
Do you have what it takes to make it in the field? A long-time pharmaceutical sales representative and a new hire offer some of the keys to finding – and keeping – a job in the industry.
Sell Yourself Shamelessly
Before you can start selling for your company, you have to sell yourself to potential employers. That can be tough, considering the level of interest in pharmaceutical sales. “For every opening, we get a minimum of 150 applicants,” says Corey Nahman, who has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He also maintains a Web site for pharma sales reps.
The best way to set yourself apart is through networking, Nahman says. Companies advertise only those jobs they can’t fill by word of mouth, he says. “There are 58,000 drug salespeople in the country,” he explains. “So, chances are your friend’s friend or your neighbor’s friend is a pharmaceutical rep.” You should get reps’ business cards from your doctor and call them. Most companies offer bounties to salespeople who refer new employees, so a random rep may be willing to talk to you.
Not for the Meek of Heart
The process of applying for pharmaceutical sales jobs, wrangling interviews and enduring rejections offers a taste of what the actual sales rep job will be like. “Companies are looking for people who are confident and positive,” says Adam Rothenstein, who left a job in management consulting to accept a position with AstraZeneca as a general medical sales representative. “If you’re meek, the job is not for you.”
Pharmaceutical companies don’t look for one standard profile in their sales forces. Generally, companies require sales reps to have at least a bachelor’s degree, and some prefer MBAs. Employers don’t necessarily require degrees in areas such as chemistry or biology, but reps must be willing to learn – and be able to master – science. “An aptitude in science is a prerequisite,” says Nahman, a former pharmacist. “If you don’t like science, this job will be a living hell.”
xx1123
5 months ago
2 comments
I was in sales and I was an MRI Tech. I know people who do pharmaceutical sales and I would like to get involved. email legalhelpbsBruce Siuda 325 Packman Ave. Mt. Vernon, N.Y. 10552 Cell# (347)449-4665
Email Legalhelpbs@hotmail.com Home #(914)699-4023
I would hope to work for your establishment using my skills and experience to best service your business needs.
Employment History
National Mountain Line, Yonkers, NY 9-05-1986 to present
School bus driver who also did charters and airport shuttles
N.Y. Legal Aid Society, New York, NY 9-15-1990 to 10-20-1996
• Legal assistant working in N.Y. city jails, including Ryker’s Island.
• Assisted inmates with jail, parole, probation and social service concerns.
Independent Legal Assistance, White Plains, NY 9-10-1996 to 1-16-2000
• Helped independent sole practitioners by process-serving, legal research, and title searching, plus some private investigation.
X Bankers, Danbury, Ct. 11-20-1997 to 11-10-2001
• General Manager of a check cashing store.
• Processed $20,000.00 in checks per week
• Processed an estimated $2,000.00 of Western Union money transfers and money orders per week.
Exton M.R.I., Exton Pa. 1-30-2003 to 3-20-2003
• Assistant M.R.I. technician
University of Pennsylvania 3-20-2003 to 7-15-2003
• Chief M.R.I. technician, working on “open” and “closed”M.R.I. machines.
New York Auto School Inc. 10-12-2004 to 6-30-2005
Driving instructor giving personal lessons in the lower Westchester area.
Pas Auto School Inc. 8-15-2005 to 6-20-2006
Driving Instructor for high school children in the upper Westchester High Schools.
Education
Institute of Allied Medical Professions
Started didactic work at St Johns Hospital Yonkers, N.Y. and did my clinical work at Lawerence Hospital Bronxville, N.Y. Overall GPA was 3.90 (school lost its license because over 90% of its students could not find work: the school never told us how important A.R.R.T. certification would be for employment.)
Lehman College Bronx N.Y.
Graduated, 1986 - BA in Psychology - Minor in American History. GPA: 2.70.
Lehman College
Graduated in 1989 - Continuing Education: Paralegal Studies.
I am a licensed N.Y. State Security Guard. I also have a CDL class C drivers license and I am licensed to give CPR and I.V. trained. I have sold Cable T.V. door to door for two years for Group W. Cable T.V. and I have sold used cars for Crabtree Toyota in New Rochell. I have also bartended in Restaurants in N.Y.C. and Westchester County.
References Available Upon Request
@hotmail.com
KevMcGon
5 months ago
2 comments
I have expreience in a B2B hospital setting and am trying to get into the Pharma sales or medical device industry, trying to focus on either a diabetic drug or device since I have lived with the disease for 28 years and have had a lifetime of experince in successfully dealing with it. Any advice would be great.
Jeana
5 months ago
2 comments
I have over 10 years in the financial services sales industry. I too am looking to break into the pharma sales sector. Any advise would be greatly appreciated!
r2miller
5 months ago
2 comments
In also reviewing Lynn and Reneeott's comments, I have over ten years of successful telecom experience, a two year certification in business and would like to get into pharmaceutical sales. There are a lot of the young, just out of college students applying for these jobs. Would hope that tenured sales experience would qualify into the market.
Any further advice?
lynn
5 months ago
2 comments
I am currently looking for a sales position in pharma sales. I have over 12 years experience in telecommunications, have won awards, trips etc... Do you have any contacts that I can speak with about becoming a rep?
reneeott
5 months ago
2 comments
Are there any Pharma companies that will consider hiring you with out a Bachelor's degree? I have work related experience......just no degree......My sister and Brother n law are Pharma rep's but their companies require a degree.....
HarrietAlison
5 months ago
210 comments
Good Advice. You gotta like what you do and know what you do. Meds are science in how they work and affect body chemistry and other meds the person may be taking, and to be GOOD drug rep you would need to know all that: interactions, side effects, allergic reactions,