Disgust or Amusement at the new Merck?

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Anonymous

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If you need further proof that the management running Merck is ruining Merck, just think of
this absurdity:

What other industry in the country prefers young, inexperienced, ex-cheerleaders and jocks, calling on the MOST EDUCATED segment of the human race? (Physicians) Wouldn't it make alot more sense to have very experienced and educated sales reps calling on these folks from a credibility standpoint?? (As pharma used to prefer when it was a great industry.)

But no, Merck has other plans...The corrupt executives and middle managers don't really give a flying F if the company plods along in mediocrity...They make out like bandits anyway...

And Big Pharma wonders why it is totally imploding as an industry?

I'm amazed at the treatment Merck reps endure, to stay trapped in a dead end job with
little future...So glad I finally had the courage to break free of the not-so-golden handcuffs!
 






The job is a joke and therefore made for those with physical appearance as their long suit. Anyone with brains, regardless of their physical appearance, would not want to choose pharmaceutical representative as either a job or career. It's a senseless job ideally suited for youngin's and those comfortable operating without a great deal of sense.
 






Anonymous said:
If you need further proof that the management running Merck is ruining Merck, just think of
this absurdity:

What other industry in the country prefers young, inexperienced, ex-cheerleaders and jocks, calling on the MOST EDUCATED segment of the human race? (Physicians) Wouldn't it make alot more sense to have very experienced and educated sales reps calling on these folks from a credibility standpoint?? (As pharma used to prefer when it was a great industry.)

But no, Merck has other plans...The corrupt executives and middle managers don't really give a flying F if the company plods along in mediocrity...They make out like bandits anyway...

And Big Pharma wonders why it is totally imploding as an industry?

I'm amazed at the treatment Merck reps endure, to stay trapped in a dead end job with
little future...So glad I finally had the courage to break free of the not-so-golden handcuffs!
Click to expand...

Is it the more you have to offer, the less need for you? Education? Does it really pay off? Why spend the time, money and energy to get an advanced degree anymore? Sad to see those who have all their ducks in order are among those who may have little or no future here.
 






Disgust. I keep in touch with people who have gone through pharma downsizing (not just Mother Merck) and I was appalled at the hoops these people have to jump through to make it look like that actually sold something and it was their efforts that drove a POD effort. The lack of respect for this job has become crystal clear and I have already reached out to my network to ask for advice on how I should get another sales gig with the stain of pharmaceutical sales on my resume. One thing has become clear to me - whatever job I take I will have to work a hell of a lot harder for less pay.
 












Anonymous said:
Is it the more you have to offer, the less need for you? Education? Does it really pay off? Why spend the time, money and energy to get an advanced degree anymore? Sad to see those who have all their ducks in order are among those who may have little or no future here.
Click to expand...

If we're talking pharma sales, education isn't important at all, other than as a screening tool for the convenience of the hiring corporation. Does one need education beyond a high school diploma to do pharma sales? The honest answer is no. But then, those of us in pharma know and understand honesty has its limitations in this business, sad to say. One would be badly misguided and mistaken to obtain an advanced degree for pharma sales. Pharma sales is known by many now as a job requiring few skills for people of modest intellect, integrity, and work ethic. That may sound harsh but our need to be honest about the pharma rep's job is long overdue. Pharma sales is not the job/career it used to be.
 






Pharma sales used to be a great job for anyone desiring decent pay for what was essentially part time work. It still attracts those who primarily want and need a flexible work schedule. An ideal second job for working moms in other words.
 






Above post are total BS. I have never met a HS grad who could understand the technical aspects of this job. As far as it being a working mom job. I know a few who are working moms and its not easy for them. They have a hard time keeping up with all the after hours computer work needed. They juggle daycare and the demands take a chip out of their work performance.

As far as graduate degrees. An extra that adds to the value of an employee, but not an absolute necessity for a rep.
 






Anonymous said:
Above post are total BS. I have never met a HS grad who could understand the technical aspects of this job. As far as it being a working mom job. I know a few who are working moms and its not easy for them. They have a hard time keeping up with all the after hours computer work needed. They juggle daycare and the demands take a chip out of their work performance.

As far as graduate degrees. An extra that adds to the value of an employee, but not an absolute necessity for a rep.
Click to expand...

No, I think the above posts got it right...spot on actually...technical aspects of this job?? would those be how to fabricate your weekly report by punching in phoney calls or trying to avoid the GPS tracking??

A friggin' trained monkey could practically do this job now...

Greed ruined the industry.
 






Anonymous said:
No, I think the above posts got it right...spot on actually...technical aspects of this job?? would those be how to fabricate your weekly report by punching in phoney calls or trying to avoid the GPS tracking??

A friggin' trained monkey could practically do this job now...

Greed ruined the industry.
Click to expand...

PI and backgrounders? HS grad can do it? Don't think so.... Take a survey, good percent of reps have research, clinical and scientific backgrounds....some hold RNs, PAs etc credentials. Many have advanced degrees.

You sound like someone who got rejected from a job in pharma.

Hit the road Jack....you're opinions are bogus and hold no weight.
 






all depends. if you have 2 aces, 2 statins and an arb and are calling on residents, internists, cardiologists and endocrinologists then yes you had to be fairly intelligent and science savy. If you are on the other side of the coin and "sell" singulair, then any one with a ged could do it. current merck reps probably fall somewere in between.
 






Anonymous said:
all depends. if you have 2 aces, 2 statins and an arb and are calling on residents, internists, cardiologists and endocrinologists then yes you had to be fairly intelligent and science savy. If you are on the other side of the coin and "sell" singulair, then any one with a ged could do it. current merck reps probably fall somewere in between.
Click to expand...

Agree with response to you.

HS grad understanding clinical pharmacology, pleeeeze...

HS grad passing all the tests we have constantly, pleeeeze....
 






Anonymous said:
No, I think the above posts got it right...spot on actually...technical aspects of this job?? would those be how to fabricate your weekly report by punching in phoney calls or trying to avoid the GPS tracking??

A friggin' trained monkey could practically do this job now...

Greed ruined the industry.
Click to expand...

I am humored by the obvious deluded people who have somehow been convinced that pharmaceutical repdom involves highly complex technical aspects......please, my sides are hurting from laughter. You have surely overestimated the amount of "highly complex technical aspects" involved in our current pharmaceutical sales model that governs what we do as reps. I guarantee I could easily train current high school grads with a B+ or better grade average to do my job and do it as well as 80% of the sales force. Our training isn't anything a good high school graduate could not successfully complete. The biggest challenge would probably be to their integrity and acceptance of reporting inflated activity to appease their management. Welcome to the wonderful world of pharmaceutical sales!
 






Pleeeeze....you are killing me with your overestimation of the need for highly complex technical information to do an average rep's job. Most of you are overrating yourselves, the rep's job, and/or the definition of highly complex technical information. PI's and backgrounders only require time to study, not an advanced degree, and since when do we require reps with a science/technical/healthcare background? We don't. Show us your bachelor's degree in communications or liberal arts and you could easily be hired and become a successful rep. Don't try to blow smoke up my ass about all the reps with research, clinical, or scientific backgrounds. I know they exist because I am one of those you mentioned with a scientific background, but it is certainly not necessary to do what we do as reps. My spouse teaches high school advanced placement chem/physics/bio. I have had the opportunity to visit with his students on occasion about my work as a pharmaceutical sales representative. I honestly believe any of his students motivated to do my job right out of high school could succussfully complete Merck's initial training.
 






Show me the reps possessing research, clinical, and/or graduate technical backgrounds and I'll show you some very miserable people. Why? Incredibly overtrained to be doing the grunt work of a pharmaceutical sales representative.
 






I can top that. Show me a Merck rep with any educational background and I'll likely be able to also show you one miserable person. Maybe if we did hire new high school grads the happiness gauge would increase, at least until the novelty of making pharma rep money got old for them. It would be fascinating to see just how long that would take.
 






Anonymous said:
If we're talking pharma sales, education isn't important at all, other than as a screening tool for the convenience of the hiring corporation. Does one need education beyond a high school diploma to do pharma sales? The honest answer is no. But then, those of us in pharma know and understand honesty has its limitations in this business, sad to say. One would be badly misguided and mistaken to obtain an advanced degree for pharma sales. Pharma sales is known by many now as a job requiring few skills for people of modest intellect, integrity, and work ethic. That may sound harsh but our need to be honest about the pharma rep's job is long overdue. Pharma sales is not the job/career it used to be.
Click to expand...

Give me a break.

The training is intense you have to be educated for it. Not all the reps are dumb and dishonest as you describe here. The real problem is the layers of management for a salesforce that has diminished responsibilities and no opportunity to use their skills. Every profession has employees that lack talent and are slackers. I have stated this on other sites instead of beefing up the babysitter police force (DBM's) they need to expand the roles and responsibilities of the sales force beyond just calling on physicians.
 






Anonymous said:
Give me a break.

The training is intense you have to be educated for it. Not all the reps are dumb and dishonest as you describe here. The real problem is the layers of management for a salesforce that has diminished responsibilities and no opportunity to use their skills. Every profession has employees that lack talent and are slackers. I have stated this on other sites instead of beefing up the babysitter police force (DBM's) they need to expand the roles and responsibilities of the sales force beyond just calling on physicians.
Click to expand...

Bravo!

Why put an education to waste.

Expand the responsbilities and stop wasting the time of DMs on babysitting people who have no need for babysitting.
 






Anonymous said:
Expand the responsbilities and stop wasting the time of DMs on babysitting people who have no need for babysitting.
Click to expand...

I thought you guys solved all of this with "NCM" but alas, not? I wouldn't look for the above to occur anytime soon at the new Merck. Why the "intense" training? That is amusing for what the rep does. Anyone with the science smarts and advanced degrees would indeed be wasting their education working as a rep or spending their days in "intense" rep training.
 






Accept the simple truth: This "sales" job is indeed a joke that any intelligent person could handle, whether they are educated or not. A good personality is a must to be effective, but that is the only thing outside of decent intelligence that is necessary.

Memorizing a handful of facts, delivering boxes, kissing your CTL's usually stupid ass and telling every Merck idiot you meet how happy you are in your job---that's about all you need to do to get by at the New Merck. Of course, earning the smallest income possible is probably your best tool in keeping from getting laid off or pushed out. If you make over $100K, you're in trouble, and that number is getting smaller all the time.

Here's the best advice a Merck rep can get: Trust no one. Lie about everything you do. Forward your incoming calls to your personal phone and leave your Merck phone at home. Have a digital recorder running whenever you CTL is near. Save your money; a rainy day is coming soon. Start a job search now. When the time comes, kiss Merck goodbye and don't look back. You won't miss anything except the paycheck. Peace.
 






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