A dose of reality from someone who has been there

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Anonymous

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I know there is a lot of stuff flying around CP. As someone who went through this a year ago, let me tell you that it was the toughest 6 months of my life.

A couple of tips:

1) In addition to your brag book, have several copies of a mini brag book that you can leave with interviewers. Include results, letters of rec and a 30/60/90 day business play.

2) Don't get discouraged. I interviewed about 30 times before I got the job I got. Several times I had great interviews, for perfect positions that I was very qualified for, and didn't get the job. Bottom line is that there are tons of other very good candidates out there as well and in many cases, the hiring manager knows who he is hiring before he starts interviews.

3) Check all companies every week. I had a list of pharma companies and would go to their sites on a weekly basis. Keeping busy helps.

4) Don't go into any interview over confident. Go into the interview with the mindset that you have to kick ass to get the job.

5) Have several great questions. Don't ask the stupid ones that everyone else is asking. I would always ask the hiring manager "If you were to do a SWOT analysis of this territory, what would your top SWO and T be?"

In the movie "Up in the Air" George Cloony's character says that when looking for a job, it will take 1 month for every $10,000 you are looking to earn. I was quicker than that as my total comp is closer to $110,000 and it took me about 6 months, but that is still a reasonable expectation.

Good luck everyone.
 






  • RTBKPL   Jan 16, 2012 at 07:29: AM
Anonymous said:
I know there is a lot of stuff flying around CP. As someone who went through this a year ago, let me tell you that it was the toughest 6 months of my life.

A couple of tips:

1) In addition to your brag book, have several copies of a mini brag book that you can leave with interviewers. Include results, letters of rec and a 30/60/90 day business play.

2) Don't get discouraged. I interviewed about 30 times before I got the job I got. Several times I had great interviews, for perfect positions that I was very qualified for, and didn't get the job. Bottom line is that there are tons of other very good candidates out there as well and in many cases, the hiring manager knows who he is hiring before he starts interviews.

3) Check all companies every week. I had a list of pharma companies and would go to their sites on a weekly basis. Keeping busy helps.

4) Don't go into any interview over confident. Go into the interview with the mindset that you have to kick ass to get the job.

5) Have several great questions. Don't ask the stupid ones that everyone else is asking. I would always ask the hiring manager "If you were to do a SWOT analysis of this territory, what would your top SWO and T be?"

In the movie "Up in the Air" George Cloony's character says that when looking for a job, it will take 1 month for every $10,000 you are looking to earn. I was quicker than that as my total comp is closer to $110,000 and it took me about 6 months, but that is still a reasonable expectation.

Good luck everyone.
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EXCELLENT. I would add that everyone should understand the "sense of urgency" and "direct in closing" questions. Google them if you don't know what these things mean and have an answer ready when asked. Most likely these will come up in phone interviews which are quite prevalent in todays interview environment.

When asked "where do you see yourself in 5 years," I found the best response was, "I see myself with a company that's moving forward, not sideways or backwards but one that has a clear plan to succeed and follows that plan." You can tell by the look on the face of the interviewer if they liked the answer or not.

Write down questions you found yourself floundering on. You will hear these again, have a better answer and practice it until it sounds natural.

Don't be afraid to tell them how much you were making at your last job. IF they like you and want you, they will at least approach this salary. It will also make you look like you were valuable to your last company and a good reason as to why you were picked to be dismissed in this economic environment.

Don't expect a pension, these are few and far between these days. The 401K is the current vehicle for retirement so maximize your contributions to these and your level of aggression is based on your age. DON'T fail to participate in this plan.

Be ready to interview on a moments notice. I carried a suit, shirt, tie and shoes in my car and actually got a call to interview immediately. I didn't get the job but I moved to the last round, good experience. Interview all you can, the more you interview, the better you will become.

DON'T put down your last company, manager or counterparts. They might have been backstabbing, conniving, malicious types but this is not the place to discuss their shortcomings.

ALWAYS get the business card of the interviewer and follow up IMMEDIATELY with a thank you letter. I sent one from an internet cafe 20 minutes after the interview and received an immediate response. Didn't get that job but learned a lot in the interview process.

Never let the bastards get you down.

RTBKPL
 






I always give away my full brag book. It's very transparent that way. I did have one company who said that they are not allowed to take it because it has proprietary info in it, however that was a "new" manager and the other 2 more senior manager took one. That was a great co so I was prepared to give all 3 a brag book (the interviews were in separate rooms), but typically I only give the hiring manager a brag book and then I always keep one for reference. I typically give the brag book, along with a fresh copy of my resume, at the start of my interview,
 






I wonder why brag books are such a bug deal. I know many people that have manufactured their results and awards. It is very easy to fudge all your info and hiring managers shouldn't give too much to the " brag book". Boy I hate that term
 












Thanks for all the information. You guys are really thoughtful and blessings will come your way. It is a shame to have the negative clown jump in and try to mess up the positive force on this thread.
 






Anonymous said:
Thanks for all the information. You guys are really thoughtful and blessings will come your way. It is a shame to have the negative clown jump in and try to mess up the positive force on this thread.
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Good advice but in reality the Pharma industry is dying which has no opportunity and will only get worse. Brag books will be a thing of the past and many other industries just don't use them or ask for them. To be honest many must look at a career change or maybe going back to school for another career that will be in demand like technical jobs or Gov't opportunities. Nursing and engineering are in high demand. Do you have computer skills or a degree in MIS/Computer Science? Many industries and the Feds are hiring for these careers. FOr instance, the projected MIS/Comp Sci jobs are to be 1.6 million for the next 5 years. It is something to think about.
 












The BIGGEST mistake the OP made is remaining in Pharma! Yes, you worked your ass off and landed a job 6 months later. However you will lose the new job in short order! You may think you have all of the qualifications but you are just a number/pawn in a game which is certainly to kick you under the bus again!

Pharma needed bodies to suffocate MD's into prescribing their drugs. No longer is this the case. Stay in pharma and you will continue to be disappointed with all of the cutbacks and downsizing. It's easy to stay where it's comfortable but don't be fooled. You will be much happier outside of the BS pharma "sales" role.

Get out now and leave pharma behind as it is a dead end career.
 












Anonymous said:
I always give away my full brag book. It's very transparent that way. I did have one company who said that they are not allowed to take it because it has proprietary info in it, however that was a "new" manager and the other 2 more senior manager took one. That was a great co so I was prepared to give all 3 a brag book (the interviews were in separate rooms), but typically I only give the hiring manager a brag book and then I always keep one for reference. I typically give the brag book, along with a fresh copy of my resume, at the start of my interview,
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What type of things do you have in your brag book. I have annual performance, letters of rec and stuff like that and it would be too thick to hand out to everyone.
 






Anonymous said:
The BIGGEST mistake the OP made is remaining in Pharma! Yes, you worked your ass off and landed a job 6 months later. However you will lose the new job in short order! You may think you have all of the qualifications but you are just a number/pawn in a game which is certainly to kick you under the bus again!

Pharma needed bodies to suffocate MD's into prescribing their drugs. No longer is this the case. Stay in pharma and you will continue to be disappointed with all of the cutbacks and downsizing. It's easy to stay where it's comfortable but don't be fooled. You will be much happier outside of the BS pharma "sales" role.

Get out now and leave pharma behind as it is a dead end career.
Click to expand...

I am the OP, and you might be right. I do like the company I am with and they are one of the few with a bright future (pipeline). I may be doing this again in a couple of years, but at about $120,000 per, I will be paid well as I continue to explore other options. I considered other options, including my own business and may still go that direction.

I think many of us don't realize why the industry has hit such hard times. It isn't Obama Care or the state of the economy, it is simply that many of the blockbusters (statins, ppi's etc) have gone generic. When a company like Pfizer loses 8 billion or so from Lipitor, things are going to change. My hope (maybe wishful thinking) is that the industry will correct, get leaner, and survive on fewer blockbusters.
 






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