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Good Bye Saphris Team

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Just curious, what ever happened to AT? He jumped from the sinking ship of Ophthalmology to the doomed vessel Neurology. I would sleep better at night knowing that this irreplaceable talent was saved to lead another one of Merck's divisions into the abyss. The last thing Merck needs is to start running low on empty suites!
 












Anonymous said:
With this attitude you absolutely will never get another job. Most from the Saphris team have secured other positions.
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This has nothing to do with my attitude. My experience, as well as the experience of many of my friends who are out of work (in various industries), is that online application totally sucks. There is never a phone number to call to follow-up (this is done on purpose). It's like your resume ends up in a black hole. At least in the old days, you could speak to someone on the phone, or at the very least get a "sorry the job has been filled" letter. That "most from the Saphris team have [already] secured other positions" just doesn't mirror what many of the unemployed in this country are experiencing. I have friends who have been job hunting for 2+ years! And networking isn't what it used to be, either. Many companies adhere to using outside firms to select candidates for interviews...so much for having connections. Again, this has nothing to do with my attitude (with online application, employers have no idea what I'm all about in terms of attitude, personality, etc.) When you cut off human interaction, you cannot possibly attract the best. Unfortunately, companies are not looking for the best. They are looking for the cheapest.
 




Anonymous said:
This has nothing to do with my attitude. My experience, as well as the experience of many of my friends who are out of work (in various industries), is that online application totally sucks. There is never a phone number to call to follow-up (this is done on purpose). It's like your resume ends up in a black hole. At least in the old days, you could speak to someone on the phone, or at the very least get a "sorry the job has been filled" letter. That "most from the Saphris team have [already] secured other positions" just doesn't mirror what many of the unemployed in this country are experiencing. I have friends who have been job hunting for 2+ years! And networking isn't what it used to be, either. Many companies adhere to using outside firms to select candidates for interviews...so much for having connections. Again, this has nothing to do with my attitude (with online application, employers have no idea what I'm all about in terms of attitude, personality, etc.) When you cut off human interaction, you cannot possibly attract the best. Unfortunately, companies are not looking for the best. They are looking for the cheapest.
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EXACTLY...Also keep in mind, many of the positions you see posted on line, someone internally has already been preselected but due to the law the companies must post the position anyway. Very disheartening.
 




Anonymous said:
This has nothing to do with my attitude. My experience, as well as the experience of many of my friends who are out of work (in various industries), is that online application totally sucks. There is never a phone number to call to follow-up (this is done on purpose). It's like your resume ends up in a black hole. At least in the old days, you could speak to someone on the phone, or at the very least get a "sorry the job has been filled" letter. That "most from the Saphris team have [already] secured other positions" just doesn't mirror what many of the unemployed in this country are experiencing. I have friends who have been job hunting for 2+ years! And networking isn't what it used to be, either. Many companies adhere to using outside firms to select candidates for interviews...so much for having connections. Again, this has nothing to do with my attitude (with online application, employers have no idea what I'm all about in terms of attitude, personality, etc.) When you cut off human interaction, you cannot possibly attract the best. Unfortunately, companies are not looking for the best. They are looking for the cheapest.
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It's not the hiring companies fault you were overpaid for a person making a fraction can do. Why don't you go back to school or retraining?
 




Anonymous said:
It's not the hiring companies fault you were overpaid for a person making a fraction can do. Why don't you go back to school or retraining?
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With your reasoning then you should never get a raise, to ensure that you are never replaced by a cheaper employee. As far as going back to school--what a joke! Tell that to yourself when you are over 50 and already have two master's degrees. No amount of education in the world is going to change the plight of those who are considered too expensive to hire. Thank God I don't have to work for the money. Just a shame to be thrown aside at what is still a young age (i.e. "the new 40 is 30, the new 50 is 40, etc.) And it's not just about getting out of the house (then I would apply at my local Barnes & Noble). It's about continuing to be challenged. Remember all this the day you find yourself in my shoes...and that day will come!
 




Anonymous said:
It has been a pleasure working with those of you in many districts.. Top tier talent that could run circles around legacy Mrk sales reps. Move on and forget about Riads refractory partial-onset tyrates. Decipher my code and know our inner circle will once again become a united front. Take the next few weeks to relax during this maintenance period, there have been way too many AE's at Merck. Forgett about Merck like you should forget about the "400".
I hope I made you laugh and if you see me soon use the code word "Elger".
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Ah yes, I have seen and spoken to many of you! Looks like our primary endpoint of offers has arrived. Our secondary endpoint of leaving crappy Merck has also been met (not necessarily in that order).
Peace out.....
The Joker
 








Anonymous said:
EXACTLY...Also keep in mind, many of the positions you see posted on line, someone internally has already been preselected but due to the law the companies must post the position anyway. Very disheartening.
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Yes...so you end up just spinning your wheels, big time. Each application online can take up to an hour to complete, by the time you answer all the questions and upload your resume and cover letter. What a contrast to how things were done pre-social media days. This is called "progress". We've become a nation of robots.
 




Anonymous said:
Yes...so you end up just spinning your wheels, big time. Each application online can take up to an hour to complete, by the time you answer all the questions and upload your resume and cover letter. What a contrast to how things were done pre-social media days. This is called "progress". We've become a nation of robots.
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Sorry to hear. Hope you land a good job soon. Have you tried enterprise rent a car? They seem to hire smart young people?
 




Anonymous said:
Yes...so you end up just spinning your wheels, big time. Each application online can take up to an hour to complete, by the time you answer all the questions and upload your resume and cover letter. What a contrast to how things were done pre-social media days. This is called "progress". We've become a nation of robots.
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I have not been where you are for a long long time so I am offering advice that may not work. Trying searching for job fairs wher you live. Also, join toastmasters where you can develop networking and communication skills.
 








Anonymous said:
The best thing you can do is marry a rich old man or woman.
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Old? Are you stupid? Long ago my parents told me "its just as easy to marry a rich person as a poor one". Right out of college I started hitting country clubs and high end fundraisers looking for a young gal with "old family money". I am loaded now and Merck $ is 100% toy money. I suggest the same for your kids. Dont take them to a crappy NBA or MLB game, that is poser rich. Buy a $50 ticket to a tennis, golf, horse or boating event. The money is insane. Of course it ain't all roses, I married into a Wedding Crashers type family. I love getting cars and vacation homes for xmas. Enjoy that Ipod from your inlaws. With Merck collapsing all I need to do is pick up the phone and I will be given a job with my contacts.
Trust fund boy.......
 




Anonymous said:
I have not been where you are for a long long time so I am offering advice that may not work. Trying searching for job fairs wher you live. Also, join toastmasters where you can develop networking and communication skills.
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Thanks. Traditionally, job fairs target college seniors; also, they are usually for technical jobs (IT, engineering, etc). Also, as a veteran and very successful sales rep, I really don't think I need to develop my communication skills. As far as networking goes, many employers use screening companies to pick candidates, bypassing recommendations from their own employees. In other words, district managers are not permitted to interview anyone other than the candidates selected by the outside screening agency. I will continue to tap into my network, but so far it hasn't helped. The bottom line is that the 50+ job seeker is at a great disadvantage. As noted in a previous posting, companies are favoring "cheaper" (younger) candidates...and there are plenty to pick from, given the massive amount of down-sizings over the past several years. This doesn't mean it is impossible for the over 50 to find suitable employment, but it definitely makes it much harder...hence the frustration.
 




Anonymous said:
Thanks. Traditionally, job fairs target college seniors; also, they are usually for technical jobs (IT, engineering, etc). Also, as a veteran and very successful sales rep, I really don't think I need to develop my communication skills. As far as networking goes, many employers use screening companies to pick candidates, bypassing recommendations from their own employees. In other words, district managers are not permitted to interview anyone other than the candidates selected by the outside screening agency. I will continue to tap into my network, but so far it hasn't helped. The bottom line is that the 50+ job seeker is at a great disadvantage. As noted in a previous posting, companies are favoring "cheaper" (younger) candidates...and there are plenty to pick from, given the massive amount of down-sizings over the past several years. This doesn't mean it is impossible for the over 50 to find suitable employment, but it definitely makes it much harder...hence the frustration.
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Yes in nature the old are eventually excluded. For example once there is a younger stronger challenger is ready to take over the older alpha male animals are pushed aside and left to live out its time alone. Don't take it personally it's just the way it works. Hope you saved up and didn't spend all that money!
 




Anonymous said:
Thanks. Traditionally, job fairs target college seniors; also, they are usually for technical jobs (IT, engineering, etc). Also, as a veteran and very successful sales rep, I really don't think I need to develop my communication skills. As far as networking goes, many employers use screening companies to pick candidates, bypassing recommendations from their own employees. In other words, district managers are not permitted to interview anyone other than the candidates selected by the outside screening agency. I will continue to tap into my network, but so far it hasn't helped. The bottom line is that the 50+ job seeker is at a great disadvantage. As noted in a previous posting, companies are favoring "cheaper" (younger) candidates...and there are plenty to pick from, given the massive amount of down-sizings over the past several years. This doesn't mean it is impossible for the over 50 to find suitable employment, but it definitely makes it much harder...hence the frustration.
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You are clueless about job fairs unless of course do not live near biotech pharma companies. Trying searching again....they recruit post docs from university and entry biotech and pharma jobs. Yes, there are also job fairs for IT folks. I will assume you live in North Dakota where there are no biotech companies. Also you are a dumb ass if you think you don't need to improve communication skills. Everyone needs help in this area. So let's see how your veteran experience and successful sales rep experience lands you.
 




Anonymous said:
Thanks. Traditionally, job fairs target college seniors; also, they are usually for technical jobs (IT, engineering, etc). Also, as a veteran and very successful sales rep, I really don't think I need to develop my communication skills. As far as networking goes, many employers use screening companies to pick candidates, bypassing recommendations from their own employees. In other words, district managers are not permitted to interview anyone other than the candidates selected by the outside screening agency. I will continue to tap into my network, but so far it hasn't helped. The bottom line is that the 50+ job seeker is at a great disadvantage. As noted in a previous posting, companies are favoring "cheaper" (younger) candidates...and there are plenty to pick from, given the massive amount of down-sizings over the past several years. This doesn't mean it is impossible for the over 50 to find suitable employment, but it definitely makes it much harder...hence the frustration.
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If you are over 50 and you act and look like you are over the hill then you will never find employment. Period. Anywhere. Stop blaming others for your inability to get a job. Take accountability for yourself. I have seen people in their 40's and 50's land better opportunities than they had at Merck by and far.
 




Anonymous said:
You are clueless about job fairs unless of course do not live near biotech pharma companies. Trying searching again....they recruit post docs from university and entry biotech and pharma jobs. Yes, there are also job fairs for IT folks. I will assume you live in North Dakota where there are no biotech companies. Also you are a dumb ass if you think you don't need to improve communication skills. Everyone needs help in this area. So let's see how your veteran experience and successful sales rep experience lands you.
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I have never ever seen an ad regarding a job fair for pharma sales. Once I'm "in the door" (i.e. interviewing) I will land very well, thank you. The issue I am raising is the difficulty of getting an interview in the current environment of online application and outside search firms who are instructed to screen for cheaper (which usually means younger) candidates.
 




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