I can give you my experience. I was a downsized as a manager at Pfizer a few years ago. I found work at a device company at a lower base but more total compensation pretty quickly. I knew a few people in the company and didn't really have to go through the interview process so the Pfizer label didn't come into play. After spend a couple of years with a device company, I longed to do something different. I really wanted to get out of the medical sales business altogether but my resume was so focused on pharma/device, it was hard to position myself with outside industries. I got a couple of phone interviews with healthcare consulting companies, but I really wasn't qualified in the hiring companies eyes - and I couldn't really argue. The many years in the same field, doing pretty much the same thing, really gave my skill set a very narrow view.
I finally did land a job in an entirely different industry and unlike other interviews, the Pfizer/medical device experience really didn't come up. The industry is so different that, frankly, the people I interviewed with (for the most part), didn't really know what pharma reps did and they saw Pfizer as big, well-known company. It was weird how little I talked about my previous experiences - it was more about my skill set and vision into being successful in this new role.
From my experience, I can tell you that, for me, interviewing in the medical industry was tough. It's amazing the labels and opinions people had. Since I was a Pfizer guy, they assumed I was aggressive, arrogant and whatever it takes salesperson and leader. And the salaries and bonus they are paying, even for managers, is eye opening. Very low. I would, after double-digit years as a manager, had gone back to almost entry level money.
With my new company, the overall comp package is much better than my best days as a Pfizer DM but I work harder, have fewer benefits and have had to reinvent myself as a leader in a very different industry. It's been very enjoyable but not easy. Many of the people I know at Pfizer and still stay in touch with, are miserable. They are just hanging on. I hung on for years and frankly, though I loved my time at Pfizer, I should have left five years earlier. Getting up to go to work is not a grind. I like what I do. It can be a tough road and my road had more than a few bumps on it...but in the end, if you really want to leave the industry, you can. You just have to be patient and think about your skills and how they translate. And frankly, get a little bit lucky.
I cherish my days at Pfizer. I really do. But I am so glad I have left. It's still a little bit scary but honestly, I am a little bit proud of myself for taking a positive action to get out of a situation that found me miserable. Pharma and device sales simply aren't the jobs they used to be. I was ready to die from boredom! I just got tired of selling my soul for a steady, good income.
Best wishes to you.
