What is it like working at ALexion?

Discussion in 'Pharma/Biotech Comp - Gen Discussion |Pharma Sales' started by Anonymous, Jan 28, 2010 at 8:15 AM.

Tags: Add Tags
  1. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    My husband passed away right before the holidays and I have stopped feeling sorry for myself and I am trying to get back into the industry. I currently live in Colorado and I am going after a sales opportunity with Alexion. Can anyone give me their honest feedback on what it is like to work there, how the product is perceived by the professionals, and any other information you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
     

  2. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    IF you like to have a bullseye on your back from day 1, this is the company for you. The goal for evryone is to get out of sales asap, if you don't life is hell. You try to sell a product, actually, try to find a patient that actually needs our product and Imean really needs our product. When they have us chasing down .01% and lower clone size to try to convince the doc that this patient needs a $400k product that the pnh experts say the patient does not need. And if you dont convert to tx, why? Ideas from Simpl and H-Allah and crony mgt team, "have you showed up at the patients house, doctors house, doctors kids school? Why not?"

    Dont walk, run from this place where people come to die a slow death.
     
  3. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Thanks for your honest feedback - sounds horrible.
     
  4. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    What happened to the Colorado rep?
     
  5. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    "promoted" to lab side. Does this sound right?
     
  6. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    No one gets promoted here
     
  7. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    any serious replies. they seem like good guys? how is it work there? seems anti big pharma? not sure who is saying micromanaging?
     
  8. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Look, I am not trying to scare you...but it is horrible here. This company is very much all about micromanagement...and I am not talking about at just the level of your manager. Everyone knows your business. Many people have been put on performance plans and if you are looking at a position now, that is probably the reason they are gone. Do you really want to try and sell a drug that only affects 1 out of every million patients and it isn't even 1st line therapy? Try and go see a physician on a regualr basis with a disease state that is never seen. You will be turned away left and right. Do you realize the average rep only has about 5-7 patients PER YEAR on this drug?! It is very, very frustrating. My boss is on me just about everyday. If you are desperate and have no job, then take it. But if not, walk away from this mess.
     
  9. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    I appreciate your honesty. I didn't get the sense of micromanagement when speaking to managers though? Did they fake it during interviews? I know it is an orphan drug and disease. It is 1st line though isn't it? What is 1st line? There are no other therapies to treat PNH?

    What is the bonus like? How does bonus work with so few patients? Didn't you get alot of stock though? Thanks for your input.
     
  10. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest



    Please leave the building quickly, take your own advice and go away. You really should leave, its time to go and your a cancer in the organization. This is a high performers dream. This is the most challenging and rewarding professional sales opportunity in the industry. It requires your best everyday, just know your business, and grow up. Not sure how you made it in, but hope you are not in my region, but I think you are...just got my options and restricted stock today - bet yours was a lot less than mine...

    You are weak, just read your own emails and if you spent as much time selling as you do posting, you just might find a patient whose life you can save.
     
  11. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    nice post tim simple. or one of our mgrs. i should not use our, "yours", is the better term. this probably a mandatory post required by mgt to squelch the rumor mill that this place sucks. like someone said before "take it if you need it".
     
  12. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Anyone that reads the post below...this clearly is a manager. Do your own homework and research this disease. If you think you will be happy having about 5 patients a year, then knock yourself out. But do your due diligence in your research. It doesn't take rocket science to realize that if this disease is only seen in 1 out of a million patients, the liklihood of a doctor wanting to see you on a regular basis is nil. Use your common sense. Yes, I do work here...but I am actively looking. I have many friends here, and I can honestly say that I know of no one that I trust that is happy here. Consider yourself warned.



     
  13. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Also, I advice you that you request to talk to at least 3 fellow reps that border your territory. I am sure you will get an earful if they are honest.
     
  14. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    I wanted to speak to other reps, but they are moving so fast in the interview process. I know it is an orphan drug and disease. Of course I did due diligence. I still think it is a once in a million chance to get with a startup company. I can't believe people want to leave. How much stock do you get? Why don't you hang on until other indications come?
     
  15. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    There is no excuse for not talking to another rep, at least one, no matter how quickly the interview is moving. You don't have an hour to spare? Then you haven't done your "due diligence" and maybe are not the right person for this job if you are seeking answers to your questions here.
     
  16. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    They haven't provided me with other reps phone numbers. I know a rep though and tried to speak to them, but they weren't available.
     
  17. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    There is your answer right there - they don't want you to talk to other reps. Please really think about this. I know the job sounds glamerous and maybe you are desperate, but this is not a fun job. What territory are you looking at? Also, there won't be any new indications for a very long time. It sounds like you are trying to convince yourself to take the job - please listen to your inner voice. I am only trying to help you. ALso, who care about stock options...I have learned happiness is worth more than pure misery

     
  18. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    It is in the NW. I was also wondering if Alexion is a takeover target? You are right, I am trying to talk myself into the job. I am not desperate, that is the thing that makes me hesitate. I do currently have a job. While it is not great, I am "safe" so to speak. My salary is high and my security is pretty solid. Can you tell me how the area of the country is doing? What the manager is like out here? How much stock do you get? Thank you so much.
     
  19. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Don't take the job. I work in the midwest and I am so unhappy, however I haven't been able to find another job yet. To make matters worse, you are watched as if you are under a microscope. I agree with the other poster, and you should speak to a minimum of three other reps. When you get them on the phone ensure them that everything they say is confidential and if you decide not to take the job, you won't tell the iring manager the real reason. People will give you honest feedback and you won't like what you hear. About 3 months into the job, I was miserable because te access is so horrible. I agree with everyone else, most physicians you encounter don't have the time to talk anyhow, let alone a disease they may have never seen at all. It is grueling and not very rewarding. Last year I worked my tail off. I know I was putting in 12 hour days and by the end of tje year, I only had 4 patients. In all my other years in pharmaceutical and biotech sales, I have always been in the top 10%. If you are trying to convince yourself to take the job, then your inner voice is telling you not to take it.


     
  20. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Thank you for your input. I probably won't pursue the job any further. They want to fly me to CT next week. Not sure what to do. It sounds like it is a pain. How much stock do you get though? The other thing that worries me is a recruiter contacted me about the job. I have never gotten a good job thorugh a recruiter. They will lie about everything to sell you on the job.