Thoughts on Ready Now program

[anonymous]

Here is a perfect example of the debauchery in this industry. 7 INTERVIEWS for an RN! This company should have been elated to have an RN even apply in 2020. Instead they do at least 3 unneeded interviews probably by some RM/DMs that barely has a 5th grade education to see if this RN is a "good fit" or "see if they can rattle" this person who easily has more healthcare education than the 3 extra interviewers put together.

7 interviews tells me that you have at minimum 3 Managers that had to insert their ego into the process to an actual Medical Professional w/ an RN title. Conversely when one of their friends show up it's just fill this application out and you have a job.

Newbies, take notice if they are putting you though more than 2-3 interviews it's all BS by a bunch of A-holes trying to stroke their own egos. This isn't rocket science here, it's not even sales so anything more than 1.) Tell me about yourself. 2.) Tell me about something that put you through adversity once in your life and how did you handle it. 3.) How do you handle a disagreement w/ someone you work with. Anything more than these questions it's all a sham. And it's definetly a sham if they start interrupting you while you are speaking. These Managers are a bunch of babies that try to relive the ole' Pharm days but those days are long long gone.

Typical at Otsuka!!

Spot on...the RD interviewing me told me: "Walk me through your resume!"

Really???? ... Are you telling me you can't read????

I am afraid to know what these idiots earn to ask such stupid questions...

 

[anonymous]

Typical at Otsuka!!

Spot on...the RD interviewing me told me: "Walk me through your resume!"

Really???? ... Are you telling me you can't read????

I am afraid to know what these idiots earn to ask such stupid questions...

In their defense they have to do 7 interviews in one day too on those days, i wouldnt read all the resumes either.

 

[anonymous]

In their defense they have to do 7 interviews in one day too on those days, i wouldnt read all the resumes either.

Hiring managers usually spend around 30 seconds on a resume before deciding whether or not to interview a candidate. It is not asking too much of the hiring manager to spend 2 minutes on the resume of the candidate they plan to interview. That is 14 minutes for 7 candidates. Seems very doable to me...

They expect us to pre-call too, don’t they????

Asking a question such as “Walk me through your resume”, only shows that you have not done any homework whatsoever that justifies interviewing the candidate.

It’s like walking into a doctor’s office without knowing what to ask or talk about.

We would get a bad field contact report for that, but a RD get’s a pass!!!

 

[anonymous]

Hiring managers usually spend around 30 seconds on a resume before deciding whether or not to interview a candidate. It is not asking too much of the hiring manager to spend 2 minutes on the resume of the candidate they plan to interview. That is 14 minutes for 7 candidates. Seems very doable to me...

They expect us to pre-call too, don’t they????

Asking a question such as “Walk me through your resume”, only shows that you have not done any homework whatsoever that justifies interviewing the candidate.

It’s like walking into a doctor’s office without knowing what to ask or talk about.

We would get a bad field contact report for that, but a RD get’s a pass!!!

They literally don't spend anytime looking at the resume. They have a recruiter or HR screens them for 30 seconds. So as you said...they are going in blind and don't do any prep, no call planning. zero.

Best question of all is when you are in your 40's and you get a question about High School. What the hell does HS have anything to do about me in my 40's w/ a family and 10 year experience have to do w/ any of this. At that point I know this is all just more lip service.

 

[anonymous]

Going for a job interview is naturally expected high in anxiety and stress. Let's face it, the interviewee is trying to get the job so the the feelings are expected. The interviewee is expected to sell their self. Everyone know and expects this. The interviewee even expects and plans for the interviewer to test their "thinking on their feet" ability. It's the nonsense related questions that serves no purpose and does not dig into their experience for the job or industry that serves up nothing to either party. If these guys are not looking for experienced mature individuals then they should just say that in the job description instead of the normal speak of "Experience Required" lingo.

Let's face it, most of the time these manager are looking for nothing more than "sheep" that they can "Coach" "Are you coach-able?" they are not looking for the "best" hire but the one they can push around, coach to death and satisfy their own ego. This is another reason the Industry is such disrepair in 2019 instead of hiring mature adults that could easily and willingly do the job everyday they look for "yes men" and coach the life out of everyone in 6 months. As some one said earlier "This isn't rocket science" unfortunately Management has found a way to turn the easy into unreasonably complicated.

 

[anonymous]

Going for a job interview is naturally expected high in anxiety and stress. Let's face it, the interviewee is trying to get the job so the the feelings are expected. The interviewee is expected to sell their self. Everyone know and expects this. The interviewee even expects and plans for the interviewer to test their "thinking on their feet" ability. It's the nonsense related questions that serves no purpose and does not dig into their experience for the job or industry that serves up nothing to either party. If these guys are not looking for experienced mature individuals then they should just say that in the job description instead of the normal speak of "Experience Required" lingo.

Let's face it, most of the time these manager are looking for nothing more than "sheep" that they can "Coach" "Are you coach-able?" they are not looking for the "best" hire but the one they can push around, coach to death and satisfy their own ego. This is another reason the Industry is such disrepair in 2019 instead of hiring mature adults that could easily and willingly do the job everyday they look for "yes men" and coach the life out of everyone in 6 months. As some one said earlier "This isn't rocket science" unfortunately Management has found a way to turn the easy into unreasonably complicated.

Very well said!!! Spot on!! You are even more likely to be hired if you are a total ass kisser and/or suffer from irrational exuberation about how good things are at this company. Impressing them with your "positivity" also helps...

 

[anonymous]

Very well said!!! Spot on!! You are even more likely to be hired if you are a total ass kisser and/or suffer from irrational exuberation about how good things are at this company. Impressing them with your "positivity" also helps...

Yes, they know when you have irrational positive exuberance that you are a "YES" man and a "Sheep". They know that you will not think for yourself and Mgt can do and say as they wish to you and you will just keep being a sheep.

 

[anonymous]

Yes, they know when you have irrational positive exuberance that you are a "YES" man and a "Sheep". They know that you will not think for yourself and Mgt can do and say as they wish to you and you will just keep being a sheep.

Well for what im being paid at my young age? BAAAAAH

 

[anonymous]

Well for what im being paid at my young age? BAAAAAH

Your young age most certainly shows in the stupidity of your comment!!!

 

[anonymous]

ok. The elephant in the room. Pharma sales sucks ass. Yes the pay can be pretty good but the stability is a joke. Every company is undergoing a new reorganization every 18 months. Why would anyone want to build a career in the industry. It’s dying and within 5 years I guarantee u nationwide there will be another 25% reps laid off.
If u have kids or u are u see 50 please go find a real career. Besides we don’t do anything except cater food for fat ass nurses and pretend to be important. We r not.

Yes. True.

And you are setting your life up for failure with all the uncertainty.

How can you buy a house, or make long term plans in such an awful industry?

You cant.

That is why we need to expose this fraud of an industry to warn others.

Pharma sales is the classic bait and switch career. They bait you with a good salary and perks. But, soon after you arr hired, you get treated like a 1st grader, are micromanaged, and then discarded by age 30.

Its quite sad.

Quit and sell something with more integrity and professionalism.

 

[anonymous]

Why don't you work for yourself? Start a company or buy a franchise.
That way you are in control, can't gripe about a boss, and don't have to worry about being laid off.

 

[anonymous]

Why don't you work for yourself? Start a company or buy a franchise.
That way you are in control, can't gripe about a boss, and don't have to worry about being laid off.

The sad part about the above post is how these company tell you to think out of the box, it's your business run it how you would, own your numbers and be entrepreneurial. They tell you it's your business.

My question to (probably a DM/HR) above poster is why in the hell do you say one thing and act like another? You micromanage the territories to nausea, coach 15 year veteran reps that have more experience than you to exhaustion and dissect fake numbers to fit your agendas.

There really shouldn't be a need for comments like your above post when you have created the incredulous atmosphere in pharma yourselves.

 

[anonymous]

Then in that case, keep your head down, your mouth shut , and get back to work little soldier!
You are complicit in this game and understand the rules. Sounds to me you just want the paycheck and not do the work. The work being to check boxes and serve lunches. Don't act all sanctimonious about changing lives and helping patients. You know what you've gotten into. You're getting paid for whatever the company wants you to do. You don't have to like it, and if you don't like it, quit.

 

[anonymous]

I don't see this as an entrepreneurial situation. It is highly regulated, and we are not even on commission. We collect fat salaries and relatively small bonuses in proportion to our total take home pay.
Yes, we run our territories how we see selling opportunities, but we are directed to see high and very high targets and are given a budget to help us promote. How much we spend and where we spend it is the 'business' die of our decision making. I don't see where we have to think out of a box. Seems pretty cut and dried to me. If we sold a device or true medical sales, that is different. We are drug reps and are actually frowned upon if we apply for any hard sales like medical device sales. Those are real entrepreneurs and risk-takers. We have no real risk.

 

[anonymous]

I don't see this as an entrepreneurial situation. It is highly regulated, and we are not even on commission. We collect fat salaries and relatively small bonuses in proportion to our total take home pay.
Yes, we run our territories how we see selling opportunities, but we are directed to see high and very high targets and are given a budget to help us promote. How much we spend and where we spend it is the 'business' die of our decision making. I don't see where we have to think out of a box. Seems pretty cut and dried to me. If we sold a device or true medical sales, that is different. We are drug reps and are actually frowned upon if we apply for any hard sales like medical device sales. Those are real entrepreneurs and risk-takers. We have no real risk.

Great post. But, you are giving device reps way too much credit.

True risk takers are those that are 1099 or start ups.

If are working for any highly known company, you are definitely not a risk taker.

 

[anonymous]

No worries, the good ol' boys will protect sunny boy!!

 

[anonymous]

Why don't you work for yourself? Start a company or buy a franchise.
That way you are in control, can't gripe about a boss, and don't have to worry about being laid off.

I actually have a cleaning business on the side, right in my territory. I make about an extra $1000 -1200 on average in a week during working hours with the company car and gas being paid for by Otsuka. There is always enough time left in the day to get a signature for samples to cover my ass. It's a great gig. I stay under the radar with ok metrics, it's all lies anyways. My wife schedules appointments for me before and after lunch, so I can do at least a lunch and learn and cover my tracks. Customers are still visited by the Ready Now rep and my partner who have no clue what I am up to. I have all the supplies in my Ford in the back seat. Everything is covered up with a blanket. I am getting my customers through Facebook, Angie's list, Home Advisor as well as a few ads on neighborhood websites. The rest are referrals. Keeps me busy. I also have a website where customers can enter appointments.

Sometimes my wife helps out if its a larger job and I need additional equipment or supplies. I highly recommend it. Companies don't value loyalty anyways. Create your own future before someone else creates it for you. There is a territory in our district that is always on the bottom, so I don't create too much attention. My DM and RSD are also totally clueless of course. I am going to milk the cow till she stops giving. However, some customers have wondered why I smell like Oxyfresh, haha....had a few customers asking me whether or not I am single but I am really picky...there are opportunities to get laid...life is great!

And guess what, I don't even feel guilty. The company rips people off with their outrageous prices, so they are being taken care of.

 

[anonymous]

I actually have a cleaning business on the side, right in my territory. I make about an extra $1000 -1200 on average in a week during working hours with the company car and gas being paid for by Otsuka. There is always enough time left in the day to get a signature for samples to cover my ass. It's a great gig. I stay under the radar with ok metrics, it's all lies anyways. My wife schedules appointments for me before and after lunch, so I can do at least a lunch and learn and cover my tracks. Customers are still visited by the Ready Now rep and my partner who have no clue what I am up to. I have all the supplies in my Ford in the back seat. Everything is covered up with a blanket. I am getting my customers through Facebook, Angie's list, Home Advisor as well as a few ads on neighborhood websites. The rest are referrals. Keeps me busy. I also have a website where customers can enter appointments.

Sometimes my wife helps out if its a larger job and I need additional equipment or supplies. I highly recommend it. Companies don't value loyalty anyways. Create your own future before someone else creates it for you. There is a territory in our district that is always on the bottom, so I don't create too much attention. My DM and RSD are also totally clueless of course. I am going to milk the cow till she stops giving. However, some customers have wondered why I smell like Oxyfresh, haha....had a few customers asking me whether or not I am single but I am really picky...there are opportunities to get laid...life is great!

And guess what, I don't even feel guilty. The company rips people off with their outrageous prices, so they are being taken care of.

Never feel guilty about these companies they way they treat employees. Until the companies are loyal to employees (which will never happen), don't make the Reps run around and lie all day about activities and finally treat like adults (this is a product of Dm being promoted to fast or just terrible individuals who think that this is actually sales). Always have a side hustle, always.

 

[anonymous]

I actually have a cleaning business on the side, right in my territory. I make about an extra $1000 -1200 on average in a week during working hours with the company car and gas being paid for by Otsuka. There is always enough time left in the day to get a signature for samples to cover my ass. It's a great gig. I stay under the radar with ok metrics, it's all lies anyways. My wife schedules appointments for me before and after lunch, so I can do at least a lunch and learn and cover my tracks. Customers are still visited by the Ready Now rep and my partner who have no clue what I am up to. I have all the supplies in my Ford in the back seat. Everything is covered up with a blanket. I am getting my customers through Facebook, Angie's list, Home Advisor as well as a few ads on neighborhood websites. The rest are referrals. Keeps me busy. I also have a website where customers can enter appointments.

Sometimes my wife helps out if its a larger job and I need additional equipment or supplies. I highly recommend it. Companies don't value loyalty anyways. Create your own future before someone else creates it for you. There is a territory in our district that is always on the bottom, so I don't create too much attention. My DM and RSD are also totally clueless of course. I am going to milk the cow till she stops giving. However, some customers have wondered why I smell like Oxyfresh, haha....had a few customers asking me whether or not I am single but I am really picky...there are opportunities to get laid...life is great!

And guess what, I don't even feel guilty. The company rips people off with their outrageous prices, so they are being taken care of.

Good for you on fucking over the company, however your wife’s kind of a dumb ass to put up with having to do your job… That’s kind of stupid on her part, especially considering that you’re Considering cheating on her.
Oh well I guess you can’t help it that she’s a dumbass.

 

[anonymous]

I think it’s stupid you choose your side hustle to be a cleaning business for only $50,000 a year.
Why don’t you mow yards or deliver newspapers? Seems like a lowly way to make so little money considering you can just work harder at Otsuka and make more in bonus or get promoted.
Is your wife too dumb to get a job on her own or did you marry your cleaning lady and this was a natural career progression for her?