Throwing in the white flag...tired of living a lie

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Anonymous said:
I assume you meant to say "show a good font" since presentation is everything in pharmaceutical sales. An attention getting font is worth its weight in gold (and that's plenty these days) when trying to engage a prescriber in dialogue. We know how critical it is to use visuals and not just talk with the doctor. Don't we??
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It's the whole package. I can understand how people think our job is worthless as most people feel that way with any kind of sales or rep (whatever you want to call me). I don't mind what you think. I do my best and at the end of the day, this is what I do, not who I am. I have a great relationship with customer because I have been with them for a while. There are a lot of signs stating we only talk to reps on XXXX days. The will let me go in when I please because the bond I have established with them. I enjoy what I do and for people to say it's not a career, I guess it their own opinion and I respect that. As stated before, the hardest thing to get around is the QA issues. Customer feel that should be the easiest part of the process. The hard part is R&D and getting the drugs through the phases. Will we hit a homerun every time, no. Generics don’t bother me because they will still go with brand as long as the patient has the proper insurance. If a patient is layed-off and needs to buy generics, the more power to them. I am at the end of my days here and it was a wonderful ride. I get to fish more and play with the grandkids. 

Just a word from a person who has seen it all. QA needs an overhaul because the negative press is a whole lot of damage control. I newer person who is less experienced will not be able to contain the damage. A lot easier to fix the QA standards.


I also don't need to throw in the white flag. It's was always just a job that I succeeded in because I liked doing it.
 


















Anonymous said:
It's the whole package. I can understand how people think our job is worthless as most people feel that way with any kind of sales or rep (whatever you want to call me). I don't mind what you think. I do my best and at the end of the day, this is what I do, not who I am. I have a great relationship with customer because I have been with them for a while. There are a lot of signs stating we only talk to reps on XXXX days. The will let me go in when I please because the bond I have established with them. I enjoy what I do and for people to say it's not a career, I guess it their own opinion and I respect that. As stated before, the hardest thing to get around is the QA issues. Customer feel that should be the easiest part of the process. The hard part is R&D and getting the drugs through the phases. Will we hit a homerun every time, no. Generics don’t bother me because they will still go with brand as long as the patient has the proper insurance. If a patient is layed-off and needs to buy generics, the more power to them. I am at the end of my days here and it was a wonderful ride. I get to fish more and play with the grandkids. 

Just a word from a person who has seen it all. QA needs an overhaul because the negative press is a whole lot of damage control. I newer person who is less experienced will not be able to contain the damage. A lot easier to fix the QA standards.


I also don't need to throw in the white flag. It's was always just a job that I succeeded in because I liked doing it.
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You know, you sound like one hell of a nice person, I got to give you that. You've reminded me of Del Griffith, the shower curtain ring salesman from Planes, Trains and Automobiles, another hell of a nice person. Del could give a rip that he sold shower curtain rings. He was a hell of a salesman, his customers loved him, and he treated everyone with kindness and respect. He enjoyed life. I only regret John Candy didn't get to enjoy a longer life. We all could have benefited from it, I'm sure. The best to you.
 






Anonymous said:
It's the whole package. I can understand how people think our job is worthless as most people feel that way with any kind of sales or rep (whatever you want to call me). I don't mind what you think. I do my best and at the end of the day, this is what I do, not who I am. I have a great relationship with customer because I have been with them for a while. There are a lot of signs stating we only talk to reps on XXXX days. The will let me go in when I please because the bond I have established with them. I enjoy what I do and for people to say it's not a career, I guess it their own opinion and I respect that. As stated before, the hardest thing to get around is the QA issues. Customer feel that should be the easiest part of the process. The hard part is R&D and getting the drugs through the phases. Will we hit a homerun every time, no. Generics don’t bother me because they will still go with brand as long as the patient has the proper insurance. If a patient is layed-off and needs to buy generics, the more power to them. I am at the end of my days here and it was a wonderful ride. I get to fish more and play with the grandkids. 

Just a word from a person who has seen it all. QA needs an overhaul because the negative press is a whole lot of damage control. I newer person who is less experienced will not be able to contain the damage. A lot easier to fix the QA standards.


I also don't need to throw in the white flag. It's was always just a job that I succeeded in because I liked doing it.
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So much truth to what you said. How this silly debate about career vs. job. I live my life never factor the bonus part as "income". More as an extra. That way I never get into overspending. My energy is spent on my faith, church, family, hobbies, friendships, etc. Getting a VP Award was okay and that was it. All those other awards are in a folder. I can also walk into a clinic through the back door and no one would stop me. My relationship allows me to do that. My customers see me almost as part of the clinic after decades calling on them.

Don't let your job, especially with Merck, defines you as a "successful" or "failed" human being. Don't base your happiness in life on Merck. It will fail you.
 






Anonymous said:
Ummmm, you should probably start saving some of that $$$. This job will not be around long enough to sustain that lifestyle. You are living beyond your means. Assuming that you have a four year degree and only Pharma experience, you cannot expect to make as much as you are currently making when this ship sinks.
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- I save plenty;
- I have an MBA;
- I have more than Pharma Rep experience;
- Mortgage is low (large down payment made, plus refinance below 4%)

Rep job is pure cake, due to cluster, I am not directly accountable, and can blame my partners if products not moving. I can work 2-3 hours per day/ 3days per week, and have held another job for the part 3 years, where I have been able to put my MBA to use. Also, I will not put merck on my resume; a freind of mine owns a company, and will verify any employment that I want. So you see, my experience for the past 5-7 years will be whatever I say it is. Now, will I make as much as I am making as a rep, absolutely not! We all know that we are waaaaaayyy overpaid, but I will at least have a decent chance to land a good job.

What you know now, I have known for years, so I have been smartly saving most of the money that the industry foolishly pays for these part time jobs, getting my mba, and supplementating my income while getting REAL professional experience.
 






Anonymous said:
- I save plenty;
- I have an MBA;
- I have more than Pharma Rep experience;
- Mortgage is low (large down payment made, plus refinance below 4%)

Rep job is pure cake, due to cluster, I am not directly accountable, and can blame my partners if products not moving. I can work 2-3 hours per day/ 3days per week, and have held another job for the part 3 years, where I have been able to put my MBA to use. Also, I will not put merck on my resume; a freind of mine owns a company, and will verify any employment that I want. So you see, my experience for the past 5-7 years will be whatever I say it is. Now, will I make as much as I am making as a rep, absolutely not! We all know that we are waaaaaayyy overpaid, but I will at least have a decent chance to land a good job.

What you know now, I have known for years, so I have been smartly saving most of the money that the industry foolishly pays for these part time jobs, getting my mba, and supplementating my income while getting REAL professional experience.
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Well then...give yourself a cookie. MBA's are a dime a dozen so it's good you have "REAL" professional experience and a decent chance to land that "REAL" job according to whatever definition you choose.
 






Anonymous said:
Well then...give yourself a cookie. MBA's are a dime a dozen so it's good you have "REAL" professional experience and a decent chance to land that "REAL" job according to whatever definition you choose.
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Stop the hate, MBAs are NOT a dime a dozen., as less than 5% of adults over the age of 25 have one. I do agree that a degree alone does not give you success in employment; you get hired because of your experience, this is why fired reps will have such a hard time. The MBA is a secondary preference, for example many good jobs will say "5 years experience REQUIRED" and "MBA Preferred".

No cookie is needed, I was just smart. Instead of goofing of while taking advantage of my "flexible hours", I was bettering myself by going to scholl on the companies times and the companies dime.
 






Anonymous said:
No cookie is needed, I was just smart. Instead of goofing of while taking advantage of my "flexible hours", I was bettering myself by going to scholl on the companies times and the companies dime.
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No hate was intended. As you said, experience without an MBA trumps MBA's without experience. We can disagree about the relative benefits of an MBA. I think you will agree with this: MBA programs are a dime a dozen. They are an overblown cash cow at many colleges and universities all over the US with highly variable content and of questionable value. And thanks for the bate ;) but I'll pass.
 






Anonymous said:
You are correct, but ignoring my conscious allows my wife to stay home, put my kids in private school, live in a big house in an affluent town, work part time while being paid full time, go on great vacations, etc.

Listening to my conscious gets me, bankruptcy, wife waiting tables, staycations, living life in a blue collar neighborhood.
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Who are you?????? I'm a rep and live in a blue color neighborhood, have public school educated kids (cant afford private!) have an old house that needs plenty of work and havent had a real vacation in years....yea, I cant afford to spend like that. Geez...Ive been a rep for years...
 






Anonymous said:
No hate was intended. As you said, experience without an MBA trumps MBA's without experience. We can disagree about the relative benefits of an MBA. I think you will agree with this: MBA programs are a dime a dozen. They are an overblown cash cow at many colleges and universities all over the US with highly variable content and of questionable value. And thanks for the bate ;) but I'll pass.
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Agree. MBA is not a ticket to success or getting ahead as some think. Plenty here have one and plenty more have other masters degrees that are just as "valuable." But the majority of the most successful people I know just have a plain 'ol BA. Its intelligence and determination that makes the difference. ;)
 






Anonymous said:
No cookie is needed, I was just smart. Instead of goofing of while taking advantage of my "flexible hours", I was bettering myself by going to scholl on the companies times and the companies dime.
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How did you manage to get the MBA degree?

School, not scholl.

On the company's time, not on the companies times

Company's dime, not companies dime.

Did you even have to write a paper? University of Zimbabwe? Or Pacific Coast University of Business?
 












Anonymous said:
No hate was intended. As you said, experience without an MBA trumps MBA's without experience. We can disagree about the relative benefits of an MBA. I think you will agree with this: MBA programs are a dime a dozen. They are an overblown cash cow at many colleges and universities all over the US with highly variable content and of questionable value. And thanks for the bate ;) but I'll pass.
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You forgot to go the next step "Experience WITH MBA is much better than experience WITHOUT MBA". And yes, business schools offering MBAs are greatly accessible, that does not mean that MBAs are a dime a dozen. Not everyone has the intellect or the disclipline to advance their education. For most levels of education, and not intellect or access that prevents people from attaining degrees it mostly a matter of desire, discipline, and work ethic. Most people realize the value and the need to get more eduction, they simply lack the fortitude to do so. Thus the 5%
 






Anonymous said:
Who are you?????? I'm a rep and live in a blue color neighborhood, have public school educated kids (cant afford private!) have an old house that needs plenty of work and havent had a real vacation in years....yea, I cant afford to spend like that. Geez...Ive been a rep for years...
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Hey, in many, many, areas of the country reps are so over paid, that they make more money than the docs that they call on. Remember, regardless of where you live, the pay is the same. For example, A rep in NYC makes the same pay scale as a rep in Tupelo mississippi, or charlotte NC for that matter.
 






Anonymous said:
Hey, in many, many, areas of the country reps are so over paid, that they make more money than the docs that they call on. Remember, regardless of where you live, the pay is the same. For example, A rep in NYC makes the same pay scale as a rep in Tupelo mississippi, or charlotte NC for that matter.
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Pay needs to be by area of country. Live in high cost area need higher pay.

Another rep who is just getting by ......need to go to PoDunk...like yeterday.
 






Anonymous said:
You forgot to go the next step "Experience WITH MBA is much better than experience WITHOUT MBA". And yes, business schools offering MBAs are greatly accessible, that does not mean that MBAs are a dime a dozen. Not everyone has the intellect or the disclipline to advance their education. For most levels of education, and not intellect or access that prevents people from attaining degrees it mostly a matter of desire, discipline, and work ethic. Most people realize the value and the need to get more eduction, they simply lack the fortitude to do so. Thus the 5%
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Big laugh is the double masters, MA/MBA, MS/MBA...illustion of 2 degrees but really one. The other laught is the program that is really a crash course for 18-24 months.

Now is that as good as a real MBA that took 8 years in a traditional program? No way Jose!
 






Thanks for the nicely mixed-metaphor Michael Scott. You either wave the white flag or throw in the towel. The color of the towel is of no consequence, although I would imagine that most of your towels are pink by now since you're probably not smart enough to separate your colors from your whites. Well, that's the way the sour milk crumbles, doofus.
 






Anonymous said:
You forgot to go the next step "Experience WITH MBA is much better than experience WITHOUT MBA". And yes, business schools offering MBAs are greatly accessible, that does not mean that MBAs are a dime a dozen. Not everyone has the intellect or the disclipline to advance their education. For most levels of education, and not intellect or access that prevents people from attaining degrees it mostly a matter of desire, discipline, and work ethic. Most people realize the value and the need to get more eduction, they simply lack the fortitude to do so. Thus the 5%
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As a rep without the MBA, I always found it interesting that the blame for much of the nonsense we have had to contend with goes to those MBA degreed folks we have on the inside that had little to no experience carrying the proverbial bag in the field. Admittedly, that has jaded my perception of the value of an MBA. Additionally, many CEO's with solid reputations possess only an undergraduate degree.
 






Anonymous said:
You forgot to go the next step "Experience WITH MBA is much better than experience WITHOUT MBA". And yes, business schools offering MBAs are greatly accessible, that does not mean that MBAs are a dime a dozen. Not everyone has the intellect or the disclipline to advance their education. For most levels of education, and not intellect or access that prevents people from attaining degrees it mostly a matter of desire, discipline, and work ethic. Most people realize the value and the need to get more eduction, they simply lack the fortitude to do so. Thus the 5%
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Have to be higher than 5% though. I have my MBA. I was not an exceptional, disciplined, nor smart student. It was challenging but I finished it. Some switched major at the last minute to Public Administration because they failed one critical class. Some due to family or time constraints.
 






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