Something to consider when you decide to leave Pfizer

[Anonymous]

Small biotechs HATE PFE peeps! we will never get hired!

OP here. The company I was hired by was CR BARD. Many device companies are indeed opposed to hiring pharma reps, but some are not, including some big ones.

...It's not hopeless.

 

[Anonymous]

Small biotechs HATE PFE peeps! we will never get hired!

Small biotechs and device have ALWAYS hated pharma reps who stay for more than 5 years. They think we are complacent and can't sell. But the interview question is not challenging especially in this work environment... you were well rewarded for your hard work and the pros outweighed the cons and the occasional instability, blah blah blah. Everything in this industry is unstable. Anyone potential employer with an ounce of sense gets it.

 

[Anonymous]

Small biotechs and device have ALWAYS hated pharma reps who stay for more than 5 years. They think we are complacent and can't sell. But the interview question is not challenging especially in this work environment... you were well rewarded for your hard work and the pros outweighed the cons and the occasional instability, blah blah blah. Everything in this industry is unstable. Anyone potential employer with an ounce of sense gets it.

You couldn't be missing the point anymore than you are, and this is the attitude that you need to change if/when you leave Pfizer and try to get another sales job....pharma is unstable, yes, and most people get that. The problem is that in the past few years it has ceased to be a sales job, and the longer you wait to get out the more potential employers will question how much you want to be in sales. You are not compensated to sell anymore and another potential employer may want to know why you waited so long to leave.

 

[Anonymous]

You couldn't be missing the point anymore than you are, and this is the attitude that you need to change if/when you leave Pfizer and try to get another sales job....pharma is unstable, yes, and most people get that. The problem is that in the past few years it has ceased to be a sales job, and the longer you wait to get out the more potential employers will question how much you want to be in sales. You are not compensated to sell anymore and another potential employer may want to know why you waited so long to leave.

Ask the employer why aren't they number 1 in the industry if their past hiring tactics are so great? That they presume a pharma rep can't kick ass and sell their product, considering they seem to hire non-pharma salespeople and aren't number 1.

Ask him "how's that working out for you?"

Challenge the asshole, he needs it. Apparently that may be what he's looking for? A huge set of balls in a salesrep. We pharma reps really have nothing to lose.

 

[Anonymous]

Did it ever occur to some of you that there are still some of us who enjoy working here? Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of tools here, particularly in sr mgt. But i have a great DBM who doesn't create busy work and who understands i have a life outside of Pfizer. As long as i put in a reasonable effort and stay engaged (i.e. don't drop the ball on projects/deadlines), he's 100% in my corner and sings my praises to the RM & SD.

While the job has changed over the 3 decades i've been here, i still manage to enjoy most of the interactions with my customers, even though they are typically brief compared to what they once were. Lunches provide me a better opportunity to get into more involved discussions, and i know that i can still impact business when my products are on formulary. The biggest change (and greatest frustration) is that I no longer have any real impact on formularies, something i once did (in both small HMOs and accounts). I have even worked with a number of the account managers in our area, as i tend to have better relationships and am simply better at THEIR job, but currently so many decisions are made at the national level that it just doesn't matter.

I'll keep doing this job until i retire or they lay me off. Either way I'll be OK. I have enough contacts to land something sufficient to meet my needs. This job is what you make of it, and i'm certainly not ashamed of being here. Financially I've done fine, and from a job satisfaction aspect, i could have done a lot worse. I could give you some BS about staying positive, but quite honestly, it's a whole lot easier when you work for a good manager. 5 years ago i worked for the AntiChrist and was ready to quit had i not been reassigned during FFO.

Now I'm back to my old good-natured self, and have a realistic chance of making it to retirement. Good luck to all in the coming weeks, i know i don't want to go back to working for Satan. Life's too short, and some people will suck the joy right out of it. Don't let them do it.

One of the best posts I've read on CP--you captured my sentiments and philosophy for why I'm still here 10 years later better than I could have. For those of you who haven't been in the workforce for decades yet, you'll come to discover that sometimes the "grass is greener" and sometimes it isn't, and at most companies (whatever the industry--I've been in two others prior to pharma) there are profitability cycles and always some clowns and a-holes who can make your life miserable if you let them. Sometimes easier said than done, I agree...

 

[Anonymous]

your mgr makes or breaks the job- too bad there are too many ceo wannabees

 

[Anonymous]

One of the best posts I've read on CP--you captured my sentiments and philosophy for why I'm still here 10 years later better than I could have. For those of you who haven't been in the workforce for decades yet, you'll come to discover that sometimes the "grass is greener" and sometimes it isn't, and at most companies (whatever the industry--I've been in two others prior to pharma) there are profitability cycles and always some clowns and a-holes who can make your life miserable if you let them. Sometimes easier said than done, I agree...

Listen, if you like the job that's great, good for you. No one is judging you for that (well at least I'm not).....but think of it this way.

You like flying. You have access to a beautiful plane and get in it every chance you get....then one day you find yourself speeding down the runway on your plane you love so much, but you're outside hanging onto the wing! What do you do? As the plane begins to take off, you think "Hey, if I let go now I'll probably just get bruised up which won't be so bad"....You get a bit higher and you think "Well if I let go now I'll probably break a few bones, but I'll live"....a bit higher now and you think "Shit, now if I let go I may not make it"....well all I'm saying is let go of the f'ing wing before you're so high in the air that letting go will surely kill you.

 

[Anonymous]

your mgr makes or breaks the job- too bad there are too many ceo wannabees

Absolutely, totally! There are too many incompetent, egotistical, narcissistic, ass-kissing idiots in management...that's why they're there. I was very lucky, in my 30 years in this industry. I had only three truly incompetent assholes. All three were with Pfizer.

 

[Anonymous]

I just left Pfizer and was asked that very question several times as well as a couple variations of the same. I also missed on a job because the brand of Pfizer is one that isn't positive, the reason stated was 'we frankly are concerned about the culture at Pfizer and how much would be brought with you'. I don' t miss Pfizer. Leadership is not leading they are protecting themselves and allowing the DBM's and reps wither.

 

[Anonymous]

Listen, if you like the job that's great, good for you. No one is judging you for that (well at least I'm not).....but think of it this way.

You like flying. You have access to a beautiful plane and get in it every chance you get....then one day you find yourself speeding down the runway on your plane you love so much, but you're outside hanging onto the wing! What do you do? As the plane begins to take off, you think "Hey, if I let go now I'll probably just get bruised up which won't be so bad"....You get a bit higher and you think "Well if I let go now I'll probably break a few bones, but I'll live"....a bit higher now and you think "Shit, now if I let go I may not make it"....well all I'm saying is let go of the f'ing wing before you're so high in the air that letting go will surely kill you.

And the more experienced people are saying "enjoy the breezy outdoors for awhile", "hang on tight and you'll probably land safely".

 

[Anonymous]

This is about the first decent thread on CP in ages..(I still miss the who's the hottest rep in my territory posts)

The OP's response to the question was great, I bet the interviewer saw thru the BS answer and gave you points for thinking on your feet..and let his manager make the hiring call..

Pharma was once seen as Pinnacle sales job but doughnuts, cute cheerleaders and dropping samples is more of the perception today,,making it harder to standout and overcome those type of interview questions, especially in such a horrible economy.. I say be extremely prepared to justify what you've been doing in pharma.

 

[Anonymous]

If the interviewer was looking for people who could do more than "30-sec" commercials, then why did he interview your friend?

Lots of people out there have Pfizer, Merck, Sanofi, Novartis, Amgen, envy - hiring managers too - who love to interview reps from big pharma to tell them off.

What a waste of time. If that company's product has value, a qualified, talented and dedicated sales professional will be able to work through it. Product and industry knowledge applied well leads to sales more often than "hard closing" and intimidation.

Your friend should have handed the interviewer a brochure to have him give a presentation. And then asked for reimbursement for gas and time.

Because he had gotten through the 1st round of phone screens? Who knows? He was a multiple time VPC won VPMC once or twice as a manager. The interviewer was not pleased with my friend's reponse to a couple of questions, I suppose. Either way, it was not just one company that had the issue with his Pfizer background. If there is any 'envy' out there, it is that we got paid too much to do so little. C'mon now, "selling" Lipitor and Viagra or Aricept over a 30 second hallway detail doesnt exactly qualify us for selling against experienced medical device reps or REAL salesmen that close quarter million dollar programs. Good thing my husband makes alot of money (at least for now), because I am realistic about what awaits us.

 

[Anonymous]

So that's the key! I'm getting rid of the wife and moving to MA or HI and find me a good husband with a decent job and just concentrate on working out and trying to keep the house clean (those are real jobs you know)

 

[Anonymous]

We LOVE you micromanaging Pfizer asshole managers. Keep 'em coming. Sincerely, Amgen

 

[Anonymous]

So that's the key! I'm getting rid of the wife and moving to MA or HI and find me a good husband with a decent job and just concentrate on working out and trying to keep the house clean (those are real jobs you know)

Everybody's a comedian. Until they are stuck on hotjobs and LinkedIn, trying to find another 80,000 job that will allow them to steal expense account money, drive a 25K car for $80 a month, and drop off samples all day. Go ahead, look up your former DBM on LinkedIn, and you'll see what I mean. What you WONT see is that in addition to what's on her site is that she's also shilling for Isagenix or Melalueca, or some other network marketing company. Its not funny, this mess we're facing. Not at all.

 

[Anonymous]

Pharma sales job...... a monkey with a note could do this mundane job....

Park and puke

 

[Anonymous]

Small biotechs and device have ALWAYS hated pharma reps who stay for more than 5 years. They think we are complacent and can't sell. But the interview question is not challenging especially in this work environment... you were well rewarded for your hard work and the pros outweighed the cons and the occasional instability, blah blah blah. Everything in this industry is unstable. Anyone potential employer with an ounce of sense gets it.

Biotech looks down on pharma, but the reps literally do the same thing, but without the benefit of samples to encourage at leat some contact. They do 30 second sound bites, and deliver lunches. The fat is that the only difference is biotechs are mainly injectable biologics, and pharma is mainly pills.

 

[Anonymous]

You couldn't be missing the point anymore than you are, and this is the attitude that you need to change if/when you leave Pfizer and try to get another sales job....pharma is unstable, yes, and most people get that. The problem is that in the past few years it has ceased to be a sales job, and the longer you wait to get out the more potential employers will question how much you want to be in sales. You are not compensated to sell anymore and another potential employer may want to know why you waited so long to leave.

Pharma hasnt been sales in decades. Sales means that you give your customer a product or service, and in return they give you money. When has your customer ever given you money, in exchange for your product. The courts agree that it is not sales, and the US Justice department says that its not sales. You know that you are simply a walking/talking live 30 second commercial.

 

[Anonymous]

Pharma hasnt been sales in decades. Sales means that you give your customer a product or service, and in return they give you money. When has your customer ever given you money, in exchange for your product. The courts agree that it is not sales, and the US Justice department says that its not sales. You know that you are simply a walking/talking live 30 second commercial.

Amen....like I said..a monkey with a note could do the same thing

 

[Anonymous]

Small biotechs and device have ALWAYS hated pharma reps who stay for more than 5 years. They think we are complacent and can't sell. But the interview question is not challenging especially in this work environment... you were well rewarded for your hard work and the pros outweighed the cons and the occasional instability, blah blah blah. Everything in this industry is unstable. Anyone potential employer with an ounce of sense gets it.

Thats why they will always be small biotech companies. Success is all that matters. Most of the biotech managers are losers that never could make it in big pharma. That's a fact.