I need some advise and help

[Anonymous]

Hey guys I need some advise from you. I want to become a pharm sales rep or med sales rep. I have 6 years of sales in a sportswear company. In the six years I became the director of sales and marketing. I oversaw and trained about 60-70 emplyees. I am 24 years old and have a bachelors in health science and I am currently working on my masters in health science. I also have 4 years of working as a home health aide.
I would really like to get in to pharm sales.
So my question is do you think my experience is enough to get hired. Also can anyone recommend where I can look for some jobs. I applied for couple of positions already and one company (astellas) and they said they are moving on.
What are my chances of landing a job in this industry. I would be fine with either phrm or equipment sales.
Thanks ahead guys.

 

[AnswerMan4Ever!]

What kind of answer are you looking for? Seriously, no one here can give you advice on if you can get hired.

And where to look? Google pharma companies, biotech companies, device companies, etc., etc. Just go to their career websites and apply.

Here is the only advice I can give you other than start looking...there will be a phone screen for first contact. You better know everything about the company, their drugs, competition, everything you can learn or they will "move on" quickly like astellas did. You should also learn about behavioral-based questions, there will be a lot of them.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey guys I need some advise from you. I want to become a pharm sales rep or med sales rep. I have 6 years of sales in a sportswear company. In the six years I became the director of sales and marketing. I oversaw and trained about 60-70 emplyees. I am 24 years old and have a bachelors in health science and I am currently working on my masters in health science. I also have 4 years of working as a home health aide.
I would really like to get in to pharm sales.
So my question is do you think my experience is enough to get hired. Also can anyone recommend where I can look for some jobs. I applied for couple of positions already and one company (astellas) and they said they are moving on.
What are my chances of landing a job in this industry. I would be fine with either phrm or equipment sales.
Thanks ahead guys.

As long as you like your job, stay where you are at. F pharma sales. F medical device sales.

Now if you truly hate your job, then I would suggest getting started with a contract company, to get experience.

Once you get the experience, then you should be in a good spot.

Keep us posted.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey guys I need some advise from you. I want to become a pharm sales rep or med sales rep. I have 6 years of sales in a sportswear company. In the six years I became the director of sales and marketing. I oversaw and trained about 60-70 emplyees. I am 24 years old and have a bachelors in health science and I am currently working on my masters in health science. I also have 4 years of working as a home health aide.
I would really like to get in to pharm sales.
So my question is do you think my experience is enough to get hired. Also can anyone recommend where I can look for some jobs. I applied for couple of positions already and one company (astellas) and they said they are moving on.
What are my chances of landing a job in this industry. I would be fine with either phrm or equipment sales.
Thanks ahead guys.

The best advice I can give is to go into some related health science field. If you are getting a masters in health science then I'm somewhat confused at why you would want to go into pharma or device sales. There are plenty of allied health professions or go get your PhD. At this point moving into the pharma sales, etc. is not a place that really has a much of a future. If You stay in it even 2-3 years then you'll be 26 or 27. Just not a position that I would recommend. Finish school and then find something that interests you. You are very young and a very good time to start a career depending on your interest. Good luck.

 

[Anonymous]

You need to drop out of your Master's program and go to Medical Sales College ASAP!

 

[Anonymous]

Why do you want to get into pharma? If it is just for the money? There are plenty of other sales jobs where you can make the same or more. With pharma sales you will not learn any valuable skills in case you ever want to switch industries down the road. Look into medical/dental/optometry sales positions where you actually sell something tangible and you have to manage a sales cycle. Also, if you plan on being in sales, do not waste any money on a MBA/Masters. It will not get you a higher salary and it won't help you sell anything

 

[Anonymous]

Why do you want to get into pharma? If it is just for the money? There are plenty of other sales jobs where you can make the same or more. With pharma sales you will not learn any valuable skills in case you ever want to switch industries down the road. Look into medical/dental/optometry sales positions where you actually sell something tangible and you have to manage a sales cycle. Also, if you plan on being in sales, do not waste any money on a MBA/Masters. It will not get you a higher salary and it won't help you sell anything

absolutely agree with you. DON'T get into pharma sales, unless you are a complete suck up and are lazy.

as for the MBA/Masters, again you are 100 percent correct. Only go for these degrees if you are sick of selling.

There are good sales jobs out there, and they are not with Fortune 500 companies!

In fact, most of the better sales jobs are outside of the major corporations (DOT foods, for examples, is a top notch company if you can get in).

 

[Anonymous]

What kind of answer are you looking for? Seriously, no one here can give you advice on if you can get hired.

And where to look? Google pharma companies, biotech companies, device companies, etc., etc. Just go to their career websites and apply.

Here is the only advice I can give you other than start looking...there will be a phone screen for first contact. You better know everything about the company, their drugs, competition, everything you can learn or they will "move on" quickly like astellas did. You should also learn about behavioral-based questions, there will be a lot of them.

You look like Yoda from Star Wars. Have to admit not good advice to someone who is 24 yo and getting a master degree in health sciences (IMHO). But what do I know being in the medical field. I would tell the poster to run fast away from this field. What is funny about the poster is that he is 24 yo but is on the general message board. You get what I'm alluding.....2

 

[Anonymous]

You look like Yoda from Star Wars. Have to admit not good advice to someone who is 24 yo and getting a master degree in health sciences (IMHO). But what do I know being in the medical field. I would tell the poster to run fast away from this field. What is funny about the poster is that he is 24 yo but is on the general message board. You get what I'm alluding.....2

Haha you are funny,
Well I am getting masters not for the salary but I would like to teach someday also work in management.
Why do you all hate pharm sales so much?
One of the reasons why I want to get into it is because of money. I would like to eventually move on to medical sales.
If I will hate pharm sales I will go into PA school since I have all of my prereqs completed for that.

 

[Anonymous]

Haha you are funny,
Well I am getting masters not for the salary but I would like to teach someday also work in management.
Why do you all hate pharm sales so much?
One of the reasons why I want to get into it is because of money. I would like to eventually move on to medical sales.
If I will hate pharm sales I will go into PA school since I have all of my prereqs completed for that.

Do you really think medical sales is much better?

Sales is a mindset, a competitive mindset that centers on pleasing the customer. In pharma, its about pleasing your manager, pharma is a political sales job. The industry doesn't seem to focus on the customer. I am sick of it because I went into sales to produce and make money and get numbers. But, in pharma, they only care about pleasing your manager and being a politician.

As for the money, it is good. But, at the end of the day, you don't develop as a person and when you hit your 40s/50s, you are toast if you get downsized because your skills are not valued in the real world.

 

[Anonymous]

Haha you are funny,
Well I am getting masters not for the salary but I would like to teach someday also work in management.
Why do you all hate pharm sales so much?
One of the reasons why I want to get into it is because of money. I would like to eventually move on to medical sales.
If I will hate pharm sales I will go into PA school since I have all of my prereqs completed for that.

If your goal is medical sales, do not go into pharma first unless that is the only option. You can certainly make the jump from pharma to medical, but it is not always easy as many medical companies are prejudice against pharma since you aren't really selling (you are just a commercial essentially). You mention going to PA school like it is so easy to get in. There is a lot of competition to become a PA and you really don't make that much money either. Most people hate pharma because it is mind-numbing and you really just deliver samples and lunches if you are lucky enough to work somewhere that allows lunches.

 

[Anonymous]

If your goal is medical sales, do not go into pharma first unless that is the only option. You can certainly make the jump from pharma to medical, but it is not always easy as many medical companies are prejudice against pharma since you aren't really selling (you are just a commercial essentially). You mention going to PA school like it is so easy to get in. There is a lot of competition to become a PA and you really don't make that much money either. Most people hate pharma because it is mind-numbing and you really just deliver samples and lunches if you are lucky enough to work somewhere that allows lunches.

Hilarious! I'm a PA-C (masters level) and make more money than my MSL job. I left that MSL job because it was a joke and very political. Any Pharma job, etc. won't be around much longer. 2 years tops. I'm not joking either. Obama or Romney will have make health care reform - making reps. and everyone else in the industry not necessary.

At the end of the day it doesn't matter how much money you make but that you have a passion for your career. PAs have quiet a bit of flexibility and a lot of options. How would you know what PAs make? Last year I made six-figures.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't doubt you make $100K+. There are still plenty of pharma reps in that range. I agree it will not be around much longer. I was not bashing PAs, but lets not pretend like you are going to get rich. $100K is good money for most, but I cleared $225K last year and will go over $200K again this year. So to me, $100K is not really that great

 

[Anonymous]

I don't doubt you make $100K+. There are still plenty of pharma reps in that range. I agree it will not be around much longer. I was not bashing PAs, but lets not pretend like you are going to get rich. $100K is good money for most, but I cleared $225K last year and will go over $200K again this year. So to me, $100K is not really that great

Its always good forum chatter to read about how much money people make, and getting their self worth from their paycheck numbers.

Keep up the good posts dummies!

 

[Anonymous]

Haha you are funny,
Well I am getting masters not for the salary but I would like to teach someday also work in management.
Why do you all hate pharm sales so much?
One of the reasons why I want to get into it is because of money. I would like to eventually move on to medical sales.
If I will hate pharm sales I will go into PA school since I have all of my prereqs completed for that.

I think what happened is at one point pharma sales was very lucrative. They hired young beautiful people and paid them way too much. Most young people are not frugal and they spent more than they brought in. I have pharma friends that can't stand their jobs but are now trapped because they choose a very expensive lifestyle. The problem now is that many are getting laid off in their 40s/50s and they can't find work. It is only going to get worse. I would strongly suggest that you avoid this industry and go get your PhD or PA degree.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey guys I need some advise from you. I want to become a pharm sales rep or med sales rep. I have 6 years of sales in a sportswear company. In the six years I became the director of sales and marketing. I oversaw and trained about 60-70 emplyees. I am 24 years old and have a bachelors in health science and I am currently working on my masters in health science. I also have 4 years of working as a home health aide.
I would really like to get in to pharm sales.
So my question is do you think my experience is enough to get hired. Also can anyone recommend where I can look for some jobs. I applied for couple of positions already and one company (astellas) and they said they are moving on.
What are my chances of landing a job in this industry. I would be fine with either phrm or equipment sales.
Thanks ahead guys.

If this is true, why would you want to go into field sales where you aren't actually selling a tangible product? Don't even think about going into pharma sales.

 

[Anonymous]

I think what happened is at one point pharma sales was very lucrative. They hired young beautiful people and paid them way too much. Most young people are not frugal and they spent more than they brought in. I have pharma friends that can't stand their jobs but are now trapped because they choose a very expensive lifestyle. The problem now is that many are getting laid off in their 40s/50s and they can't find work. It is only going to get worse. I would strongly suggest that you avoid this industry and go get your PhD or PA degree.

this is a very true post...I am one of those career pharma sales guys that just quit in my early 50s because I could not be a daily liar any more...just could not do it...the job was literally making me sick, and it was either the job or my sanity...chose my sanity...

I remember talking to friends that launched Oxycontin for Purdue or whoever the hell it was that made OC...There were pulling home 35K in bonus PER QUARTER!!!! Of course, that was way back in the day when pharma sales could be quite lucrative, and would never happen now...Many of the Amgen reps were routinely making 200K plus in pharma back in the good days for Epogen too...

Pharma is dead...and I am here to tell you...it aint pretty when you find yourself screwed in your 50s...no one...(and I mean no one) will hire you if you have spent any substantial time in pharma...

FU PHARMA INDUSTRY!!

 

[Anonymous]

this is a very true post...I am one of those career pharma sales guys that just quit in my early 50s because I could not be a daily liar any more...just could not do it...the job was literally making me sick, and it was either the job or my sanity...chose my sanity...

I remember talking to friends that launched Oxycontin for Purdue or whoever the hell it was that made OC...There were pulling home 35K in bonus PER QUARTER!!!! Of course, that was way back in the day when pharma sales could be quite lucrative, and would never happen now...Many of the Amgen reps were routinely making 200K plus in pharma back in the good days for Epogen too...

Pharma is dead...and I am here to tell you...it aint pretty when you find yourself screwed in your 50s...no one...(and I mean no one) will hire you if you have spent any substantial time in pharma...

FU PHARMA INDUSTRY!!

Let's just hope that those in their 50s saved up, then they don't have to worry about working.

But, based on the type of dummies I worked with in pharma, most of them spent up.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey guys I need some advise from you. I want to become a pharm sales rep or med sales rep. I have 6 years of sales in a sportswear company. In the six years I became the director of sales and marketing. I oversaw and trained about 60-70 emplyees. I am 24 years old and have a bachelors in health science and I am currently working on my masters in health science. I also have 4 years of working as a home health aide.
I would really like to get in to pharm sales.
So my question is do you think my experience is enough to get hired. Also can anyone recommend where I can look for some jobs. I applied for couple of positions already and one company (astellas) and they said they are moving on.
What are my chances of landing a job in this industry. I would be fine with either phrm or equipment sales.
Thanks ahead guys.

Don't go into pharma now-very bad timing-go into healthcare sector but absolutely not pharma. Wait and see how healthcare reform plays out in 6 mos. to a year. Why not stay in the industry you know best?

 

[AnswerMan4Ever!]

Don't listen to this same poster above who has posted negative posts everyday. Pharma is still a great career. You just need to do your time in primary care sales and get promoted into speciality/injectable or get into training or marketing. You don't want to stay in primary care too long or else you'll end up being a bitter loser like our "money doesn't matter I'm washing cars for a living with pride" guy .