Rep cuts

[Anonymous]

Second (or third) that. It's all the younger people they brought in that dumbed us down in the eyes of our customers. The Kens, the Barbies, the fresh-out-of-college/ inexperienced, self-proclaimed know-it-alls killed our reputation. Don't forget, these folks were all brought up pretty f''''d up b/c their parents instilled in them that they were special, and highly intelligent, and entitled, and yes, BETTER than those older than them. They have no idea what the hell they're doing or talking about. They are delusional...... And they greatly contributed to the demise of a once great industry.

 

[Anonymous]

Those young pricks are the ones moving market share while you old F$&ks work on spread sheets. Shut up and go work on your pmp so you can justify your job!

 

[Anonymous]

Those young pricks are the ones moving market share while you old F$&ks work on spread sheets. Shut up and go work on your pmp so you can justify your job!

You would expect that, young pricks dazzle old farts like me with their sales and computer skills. After all, they are recent college grads. Then physicians started calling about inappropriate behaviors and words in offices. The young pricks got upset because now managers and directors are involved. Instead of realizing why they were on probation, they got upset at me. I hate working on spreadsheet as much as the young pricks. But they kept calling to ask about how to do basic computer stuff. I am supposed to be the one to call them the genius. Without my relationship and to introduce some of those young pricks to practically refusal docs, access would be zero to them. That is why some of these young pricks join me for dinner with some of these customers because they cannot understand why when they ask the docs to have dinner, they said "no".

 

[Anonymous]

Those young pricks are the ones moving market share while you old F$&ks work on spread sheets. Shut up and go work on your pmp so you can justify your job!

I asked two of my big-chested young pricks where is the market share movement after they have wined and dined two top-ranked physicians every week for more than a year now. Their answer is, "Okay, we will push them harder next time." Then I asked when would they stop wasting our $$ and go find business elsewhere. The answer was pretty much we enjoy the dinner and fun and we will keep doing it.

 

[Anonymous]

#21, you would enjoy "The Trophy kids Grow Up" by Ron Alsop. Here's the WSJ review:

Journalist Ron Alsop (The Wall Street Journal) has taken a group of columns and expanded them into a book titled, The Trophy Kids Grow Up. Alsop's kids are the millennials, those born between 1980 and 2001, who have grown up with prosperity and have had lavish attention and praise wash over them throughout their lives. Now that they are arriving in the workplace, Alsop proposes ways that companies need to change to accommodate this generation of workers. I'm not as sure as Alsop is that this generation is shaking up the workplace. It may be that this group, to whatever extent they represent a real group, may be unrealistic in their expectations of the workplace, and are making their concerns heard. Some companies are listening and making changes; other companies are likely to tell them to grow up. Alsop provides lots of examples of what changes some companies are making. Each chapter ends with "chapter highlights" to recap his key points. I found this book to be tedious to read and sometimes repetitive. I was aghast to read about helicopter parents wanting (and sometimes getting) to sit in on performance assessment meetings with their children who are adults. My forecast is that this cohort called millennials may be starting out with expectations that some companies will be willing to meet. As the bulk of millennials come to the workforce, their expectations may become more realistic and more consistent with current corporate practices. If you read this book and decide to copy what some companies are doing, I encourage you to think twice, and make only those changes that you conclude are absolutely necessary to avoid alienating the talented millennials you want to become part of your organization.

 

[Anonymous]

Smart-ass ken/barbie reps. Ruining(already ruined really)the industry with their fake tits, tight pants, low cut tops, guys wearing their faggot looking shoes that are too long for them, along with those goofy bastard weird pants to go along with them. And, dont forget that hair gel guys!

What a bunch of pussy/pansies. For you younger reps, you might not know it, but us older reps do. Your planning on building your career in the pharma business. In a very few short years, your dreams of a cakewalk job will be over. Then, you will have to start all over again in a new industry. But because you based everything you had on your fruity-ass slick looks, its going to be hard for you to find a selling job.

Maybe you should consider the porn industry. It might fit you better you bunch of prickasses.

 

[Anonymous]

In January, the hatchet falls. If not for the severance reductions effective January 1, 2012, that hatchet would be falling now.

They will try to get people to quit before year's end. They'll screw you out of your 2011 bonus if you quit, so make them fire you when they turn up the heat. It's happening all over the nation right now.

Just in time for the low unemployment benefits. Already they are only 26 weeks again and no more extensions after july 1st in our state. Get moving if you think your getting cut.

 

[Anonymous]

Glad I'm not a "trophy kid" in "Obama America". They will all be in for a rude awakening once Merck cuts them off. These special kids will be faced with a very not so special environment...necessitating a move back home, where mom and dad may continue to indulge them (that's if mom and dad are not on unemployment themselves.) At least us "old farts" have our 401K's and pension/social security awaiting us. We could end up taking satisfaction in seeing these trophy kids at the checkout counter at Pier 1 or Barnes and Noble...LOL!!!

 

[Anonymous]

I forgot to mention those smarty young pricks that joined me for dinner with a refusal doc then reported to their managers how they gained access and dined with this customer without giving me much of even a token credit. At the dinner young pricks kept trying to chat with the customer as their buddies and he was so annoyed that he clearly stated no more young pricks except me again next time around. Those young pricks SOBs are really something. Still remember that call from one of the geniuses, calling me an hour before a project was due to the manager and got all pissy because that young prick could not coherently explained his/her exact computer problem to me. But at sales meeting you think he is in full control of the territory and on first name basis with all docs by the way he talks.

 

[Anonymous]

I forgot to mention those smarty young pricks that joined me for dinner with a refusal doc then reported to their managers how they gained access and dined with this customer without giving me much of even a token credit. At the dinner young pricks kept trying to chat with the customer as their buddies and he was so annoyed that he clearly stated no more young pricks except me again next time around. Those young pricks SOBs are really something. Still remember that call from one of the geniuses, calling me an hour before a project was due to the manager and got all pissy because that young prick could not coherently explained his/her exact computer problem to me. But at sales meeting you think he is in full control of the territory and on first name basis with all docs by the way he talks.

OK OK you made your point. Im old too and I just laugh at it all. When they get older they will see all this for what it is. Sales based on cleavage and butt appeal dont amount to much of anything beyond a semester or two. Now, turn around let's see yours.

 

[Anonymous]

You guys must really be miserable in life wishin and hoping other people fail and suffer. Why would you wish ill upon anyone regardless of age or race? Some of you will be going to hell for sure. Good luck carrying around all that anger hatred for all the younger employees.

 

[Anonymous]

You guys must really be miserable in life wishin and hoping other people fail and suffer. Why would you wish ill upon anyone regardless of age or race? Some of you will be going to hell for sure. Good luck carrying around all that anger hatred for all the younger employees.

I welcome the young blood initially. I thought fresh ideas are great. They sometimes gain access to places I could not. But soon I realize the younger reps have a different set of values than I. They tend to be overly confident. They do not politely seek help. Sometimes they get indignant way too easily. A few do not look at themselves as the cause of a problem and always look outward and blame others. This job is hectic enough. All these are unnecessary craps making it even more difficult. Merck does not reward us in mentoring nor babysitting anymore. I don't go to bed wishing the younger reps would fail. I am just disillusioned.

 

[Anonymous]

You guys must really be miserable in life wishin and hoping other people fail and suffer. Why would you wish ill upon anyone regardless of age or race? Some of you will be going to hell for sure. Good luck carrying around all that anger hatred for all the younger employees.

Dont think anyone writing was hoping anyone would fail or suffer. Wow no anger either. Look within buddy. Tough when older reps with high level skills and knowledge are downgraded overnight. Compared to babes in the woods who have just begun the learning curve journey. With time, you'll see it takes years and years of expereince and professional growth to have same that level of knowledge they bring. Valuable things never come easily........

 

[Anonymous]

I welcome the young blood initially. I thought fresh ideas are great. They sometimes gain access to places I could not. But soon I realize the younger reps have a different set of values than I. They tend to be overly confident. They do not politely seek help. Sometimes they get indignant way too easily. A few do not look at themselves as the cause of a problem and always look outward and blame others. This job is hectic enough. All these are unnecessary craps making it even more difficult. Merck does not reward us in mentoring nor babysitting anymore. I don't go to bed wishing the younger reps would fail. I am just disillusioned.

Agree with all you said. Though these are generalizations (which mean they don't apply to EVERY young rep), we see them enough to warrant strong associations. Overly confident, impolite, indignant are just a few of the applicable words that describe a substantial number of younger reps. Entitled is another accurate description. Forget the old-fashioned, outdated "putting in your time" idea with this group (i.e., the years of experience needed to become knowledgable), they want it all yesterday and feel deserving before they even have an efficient routing put in place. if I had to do it all over again, I would never sell in a territory where there is more than one rep. I advise everyone who asks me to go with small companies.

 

[Anonymous]

Agree with all you said. Though these are generalizations (which mean they don't apply to EVERY young rep), we see them enough to warrant strong associations. Overly confident, impolite, indignant are just a few of the applicable words that describe a substantial number of younger reps. Entitled is another accurate description. Forget the old-fashioned, outdated "putting in your time" idea with this group (i.e., the years of experience needed to become knowledgeable), they want it all yesterday and feel deserving before they even have an efficient routing put in place. if I had to do it all over again, I would never sell in a territory where there is more than one rep. I advise everyone who asks me to go with small companies.

I joined Merck when we went from one rep to two reps per territory. We had a large portfolio of products. It helped to share the work load. We were accountable for anything that happened. No excuse about no access or not knowing a key doc. It was either you or the other rep to get it done. You started to add reps and soon there was no accountability. You then added specialty reps. Soon no one can be held responsible but your manager still rate you as if you control the entire territory. There was one young rep that left after two years because he did not become a manager. The guy came with money. Parents bought him a house and a luxury car where he was assigned. Instead of putting in his time or showing his worthiness, he bitched about his entitlement in becoming a manager within two years since he was a (very privileged) minority.

 

[Anonymous]

I have solved the problem of both the smarmy ass trophy kid millennials moving back home AND the depressed housing market at the same time. I suggest to my friends that when it's time to empty the nest, go ahead and put your house on the market. Tell all potential buyers that you will immediately knock $100K of the price of the house if the buyer agrees to take your kid off your hands for one year, with another $25K each year that they keep the kid.

No muss, no fuss.

 

[Anonymous]

I have solved the problem of both the smarmy ass trophy kid millennials moving back home AND the depressed housing market at the same time. I suggest to my friends that when it's time to empty the nest, go ahead and put your house on the market. Tell all potential buyers that you will immediately knock $100K of the price of the house if the buyer agrees to take your kid off your hands for one year, with another $25K each year that they keep the kid.

No muss, no fuss.

Now that's a great idea. It figures it came from someone with years of experience and a little wisdom tossed in.

 

[Anonymous]

it cant be that deep-you cant have reps selling 10 products. we have heard nothing about cuts from above. if it happens, it wont be this year, and maybe not even next year.

Top products Merck modified sales force. Old products nearing patent expiration contract staff. New launches, possible conservative hiring and strong supplement with contract. Lean, not so mean. A money saving approach and not a career anymore. Makes sense?

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I'm a pain in the ass and my numbers are not good. So far no one has threatened me with anything but I wish, oh how I wish, to have a package and get let go. Please no one come back and say my attitude is why my numbers suck. I have been sporting a positive can-do attitude all year and working 10 hour days. Tactics approved by my manager and still shut down or shut out by all attempts, even my extended team has tried. I think OUR division's days are numbered. Really, really sad. I remember when this job was fun and nurses, managers, pharmacy and docs actually enjoyed visiting with us and getting a few details.

That's when people at the top worked their way up the ladder and knew the business! Now,assholes at the top,starting with our previous ones,are out of touch lawyers or bean counters who don't have a clue that selling is more than throwing ten reps per week at the same docs with the same message. They have RUINED this profession,and don't have a clue how do fix it except to hire more consulting companies who got us into this mess in the first place. Being a lawyer and bean counter is black and white,selling is not!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Top products Merck modified sales force. Old products nearing patent expiration contract staff. New launches, possible conservative hiring and strong supplement with contract. Lean, not so mean. A money saving approach and not a career anymore. Makes sense?

Exactly as you stated. "Big Pharma" is over. Lucrative jobs now are few and far between. Forget about the "New Merck"....time to worry about the "New USA".