Offers

I'll shed some light for those of you in the offer process. There are several factors when Lundbeck makes an offer.

Current/most recent salary
Experience
Candidate ranking (out of applicants)

The most arbitrary of the above is candidate ranking. If you are the top choice out of the pool for your territory, then you can get the higher part of the salary band (105-110k) with minimal negotiation. Usually the top choices already come with tenure and can get a nice bump on salary if they're not already at the higher range. The problem is those who are already making 110k and more. That's where Lundbeck draws the line, and you're screened out based on salary.

Offers have wide discrepancies because some candidates will come in with less experience but the manager sees potential and a good team fit. This candidate only has 4-5 years in pharma, a couple in CNS, but has been at the top of rank reports and president club lists. This is usually a second choice candidate based off of tenure and experience. Because they typically come in at a lower salary, a bump to the mid 80s-low 90s is generous.

And then there's the majority, reps making 90-100k who are looking to leave their current company because of pending reorgs, suboptimal management, laid off etc. These are the ones who will settle for a modest increase to high 90s low 100s. Usually second and third choices in the pool. If you had to wait weeks or are still waiting to hear if you're getting an offer, chances are you're this candidate. The first choice has to decline before getting to you.

Just remember, Negotiations aren't back and forth. You only have one shot to make a deal. Lundbeck's final offers are always firm.

 

Wow good to know! I am scheduled to interview in Chicago in sept. This is useful to know beforehand.

 

So I am curious - It sounds like there are "events" to interview and for them to hire/offer candidates. I had a phone screen today, with another phone call with the hiring manager tomorrow and then on Wednesday a possible F2F. Why are they rushing this process (not that I care) if they have these events?

And with a lot of industry experience, what type of salary would you ask for?

 

Your F2F will qualify you for the "event" in Chicago. That's the only way to get an offer, if you're the candidate that scores the best at the event. This is mandatory hiring policy here at Lundbeck.

As for industry experience, you will get offered more with more psych/CNS background. 105k is the soft ceiling, but if district budget allows and you're a priority candidate, you can get 110 to 115k.

 

What do the CNS reps make here? Compared to phys?

 

What do you make? Opps I forgot you're unemployed.

 

Are you referring to PHSA? What a bastard you are. Lowdown bastard.

 

what is psha?

 

Public Service Housing Authority

 

I'm scheduled to head to Chicago next week for the panel interviews. However, I received an offer today with another CNS company (not a direct competitor). My offer was pretty generous, about a 30% increase from my former base. Lundbeck is my first choice and I can see myself enjoying the work here. My question is, will Lundbeck beat or at least match competitive offers? It is important to me because I am the sole income earner for my family with 2 very young kids at home. Plus I need to let this other company know my decision by next week. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Take the offer you fool. I would NOT recommend Lundbeck to anyone. Good luck.

 

No, they will try and low ball you. Salaries are all over the spread from $95K to $115K. Some people didn't negotiate their salary, and were told that's the max they can offer, which was not true. You obviously have not done ANY research on the company. Our new CEO's first act was to fire 1,000 people to boost the bottom line. There will be more to come. We are nothing more than a contract sales force, answering to Takeda and Otsuka's management. They control us in every aspect. Soon, we will go to Otsuka's launch meeting for us. Otsuka's management walks very close to the psychotic realm. I have never seen a group of sales people dread a launch meeting more than this, because we know Otsuka will turn it into a big pharma production, complete with non-stop role playing, useless workshops, pointless Q&A sessions where no answers are given to legitimate questions.

In the beginning, things were really good, but things have changed. Take the 30% increase and don't look back.

 

What was your last salary and what is the new offer? You don't have to be specific, just state ranges. If your new offer falls within the Lundbeck candidate range, then I'm fairly certain compensation will at the very least match. If your new offer is significantly more than the max of the range, then no dice. Btw, competing offers will be brought up during the hr portion of the interview so be prepared to share that info if you want to negotiate your value.

 

My last salary was in the mid 80s, new offer 110. Last job I had really good bonuses. New company bonus plan isn't that great, hence the increase in salary. If I can get the same offer at Lundbeck, or close to it then I will for sure sign on. The territory is more manageable with no overnights. This other company requires 1-2 overnights a week and covers almost the entire state. I'd rather be home at night with my wife and kids.

 

I won't try to sway your decision, that's yours to make on your own. Obviously you need to do what is best for you and your family. I will tell you this however. If you are the lead candidate, do well at the interview, and get an offer, you will most likely get matched at that salary. Doubtful if they can beat it since it's the max of the range. Hope that helps and good luck!

 

I am in the South and I just had my first phone screen on 09/02... It was only the Recuiter and she said that I would hear something from the hiring manager after Labor Day... She also said that I would just being interviewing with the manger and didn't mention the Chicago panel... I am just trying to figure out if I was only called in order to check a box... I don't think the hiring manger would interview me next week and then send me to Chicago the same week... Has anyone else had this experience?

 

Do you what division you're interviewing for? It could be that they are trying to fill an existing vacant alpha or beta territory. It looks as if the Chicago interviews are specifically for gamma, which are the new expansion territories. I could be wrong though.

 

I was told I would only be selling Brintellix... I was unsure which division it would be and the Recuiter didn't seem to know a lot about it, other than what the actual job posting stated. I assumed it would be more than one product... I do know that the emphasis was on my previous psyche experience selling an atypical. It also seemed as if there was no rush. The job has been posted for over 2 weeks. Maybe it is just a vacancy and not a part of the expansion.
By the way....I want to thank the posters on this thread for info....I have found out a lot of helpful information on here about salary negotiations...hopefully I will hear something soon and get an offer. I am a single parent of two teenagers... So even though most of the posts on here are not very positive I am in a situation where I will just have to "pick my poison" so to speak, when it comes to which company to work for these days. The culture everywhere seems to be pretty bad so I will just go with whatever company offers me the most money and ride it out until the so called sinking ship sinks. I think the best thing to do when it comes to pharma these days ...is to negotiate for the highest salary offered, give it all you have each day, and move on when an opportunity comes your way.... I have been in the industry for over 10 years and worked for 2 big pharma companies that expected loyalty without giving any... I am a little old school and loyalty comes natural to me.... But not so much anymore... I just plan to do my job and mind my business and not be shocked by anything anymore. Unfortunately I have trained myself to think in terms of worst case scenario...that way it's not as disappointing when each and every company treats employees like the replaceable "number" that we as sales reps have all become... Either way as crazy and naive as it sounds, I still can't imagine doing any other job. In a way, I guess I have become a lifetime member of the pharma cult, who has gulped so much industry kool aid that I no longer can think for myself. I know I am just a number to any pharma company.... but in the same sense I am actually glad to at least still be a number.... Guess that's my way of trying to be somewhat positive in a realistic way.....

 

I am a back fill for an Alpha territory and am going to Chicago for a final interview because the Regional Director (or whatever that level manager is called) couldn't fit me in.