Leaving Pharma? What next?

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Anonymous

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With all the talks of layoffs and firings, where does everyone plan on going from here? What's a good option to transition to after life in pharma? I'm thinking UPS or FedEx, lots of transferable skills and sweet brown shorts. Thoughts?
 
























Thats a hard one and I feel for you. Most companies look at pharma reps in a very different light. They don't think of drug reps as sales people and that is the hardest hurdle for you to overcome. My hats are off to you guys who have fought the good fight for so many years, only to have your companies stab you in the back. There is no loyalty anymore and that is sad. For most corporate american jobs it is all about the money. When they are done using you and abusing you- they are off to find the younger- cheaper version of you. It is amazing to me that experience and tenure does amount to crap anymore.

It will be hard to transfer to a real sales job- most hiring managers won't look beyond your pharma time. They will automatically think that your use to 11-2 days and dropping off lunches. Good luck!
 






Here's my take:

You accept a job in Pharma. Good salary, good benefits, good job. The trade off? No job security. If you don't know that walking in? Shame on you.

Also, in case you don't know: This job can make you soft. In your head and in your work ethic. If you let it. A lot of people have. You know them. They are your pod mates and sometimes counterparts. Yet, there are also those 50 year olds who can still sell circles around the new hires and they are worth their salaries and tenures. They never got soft; they figured out how to beat this job. You should pull one of these guys aside, buy him a beer, and ask him how he did it.

But, a lot of pharma reps do get soft. They need to go. Everyone knows it except for them. They go through the motions but not a lot more. They complain a lot. They start to see themselves as victims. They bring down the new hires. Reach a critical mass of these people? Growth stops. Companies stagnate.

I've seen it from the field. I've seen it as a manager. And now see it again from back in the field.

Nobody in this company is "let go" unless they need to go. Ultimately, even they know it. Somewhere deep down.

It's the truth. And now you know it too.

Get in pharma or get out. If you stay in, keep your fire. Don't end up a "shuck and jive" Willie Loman guy.

Buncha losers sitting around a bar: "I was a pharma salesman once. It's a tough racket!"
 






you're back in the field from being a manager? lost the fire? How do like being back in the field? Not everyone believes that working for Forest is a good job. Obviously you've chugged the koolaid! Usually people stay with this job after selling their souls and not seeing themselves as able to do anything else meaningful that requires actual hard work. There is a real art to becoming a master manipulator and if you're one of those tenured reps you've most likely mastered it. Congratulations!! you're successful!!
 






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