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What I enjoyed most about my Merck/Pharma sales experience...

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Anonymous

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Ahhh...pharma sales...the Rolls Royce of careers they used to call it. And it sort of was...Full-time pay for part time work...Eat at lots of fancy steakhouses and order premium drinks from the bar...

I was young, naive and a bit smug...I really thought I was cheating the system. Here I was making 100 grand, and not really having to work that hard at it compared to most of the people with "normal/real" jobs I saw around me...They were working their asses off for 1/3rd to 1/2 of what I was making, and not having near as much fun...

Then I got the Golden Handcuffs and realized one day, that it was impossible to leave the industry because of my cushy salary, and that no one else besides pharma, even considered my skills to be slightly valuable...

I woke up one day not so young anymore...As a matter of fact, I was old (for a Merck rep) and my wacky DM was not showing me too much love to put it mildly...It was time to go and I found myself up Sh&t creek in a big way...

I wasn't cheating the "system" at all...As it turned out, the whole time I was cheating myself.

:eek:(
 






I could have written this myself.
Many of us with the exact same story. However, you weren't cheating yourself. You had a great job that you loved (very lucky), and the rug was pulled out somewhere along the way. Just too bad we didn't see it coming, and we didn't know that the rest of the world would find us pretty useless, as professionals.
Like I've read a million times, pharma is like the mob. Hard to get in; even harder to get out.
 




It's a big world out there and it's full of opportunity. Screw Merck and the a--holes that have ruined the company---from the back-stabbing reps to the back-stabbing management.
 




Anonymous said:
Ahhh...pharma sales...the Rolls Royce of careers they used to call it. And it sort of was...Full-time pay for part time work...Eat at lots of fancy steakhouses and order premium drinks from the bar...

I was young, naive and a bit smug...I really thought I was cheating the system. Here I was making 100 grand, and not really having to work that hard at it compared to most of the people with "normal/real" jobs I saw around me...They were working their asses off for 1/3rd to 1/2 of what I was making, and not having near as much fun...

Then I got the Golden Handcuffs and realized one day, that it was impossible to leave the industry because of my cushy salary, and that no one else besides pharma, even considered my skills to be slightly valuable...

I woke up one day not so young anymore...As a matter of fact, I was old (for a Merck rep) and my wacky DM was not showing me too much love to put it mildly...It was time to go and I found myself up Sh&t creek in a big way...

I wasn't cheating the "system" at all...As it turned out, the whole time I was cheating myself.

:eek:(
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Great post and so so so true on all points. this is why those that act like they are working so hard and the company is so unfair make me laugh. They act like they are so business savvy yet you say it correctly. Most people making 100 plus bust their as for it and handle much much more responsibility and accountability. So you guys that want to stay just put up with the ride alongs, get what you can from them and realize everyone has a job to do and most are doing their best for themselves and their families, including managers. Managers are really nothing without the reps working hard and most try to support this effort and make things good. They offer advice and help where they see opportunity and they filter much more than you might think in most cases. Lets all just do the jobs we have and go home and enjoy our lives. Thanks for the previous post.
 




Anonymous said:
Great post and so so so true on all points. this is why those that act like they are working so hard and the company is so unfair make me laugh. They act like they are so business savvy yet you say it correctly. Most people making 100 plus bust their as for it and handle much much more responsibility and accountability. So you guys that want to stay just put up with the ride alongs, get what you can from them and realize everyone has a job to do and most are doing their best for themselves and their families, including managers. Managers are really nothing without the reps working hard and most try to support this effort and make things good. They offer advice and help where they see opportunity and they filter much more than you might think in most cases. Lets all just do the jobs we have and go home and enjoy our lives. Thanks for the previous post.
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You contradict yourself...on the one hand you say that those who claim to work so hard make you laugh....then on the other hand you say that the managers are nothing without reps working hard....so which is it? The original poster was a slacker. There are plenty of reps out there who do indeed earn their 100K and then some. To uncover all opportunities in a territory, and to consistently execute in rain, sleet and heat waves throughout the year is mentally and physically draining. Pharma has always been what you make it. The non-slackers know what they are all about and can sell themselves in another industry if needed.
 




Anonymous said:
You contradict yourself...on the one hand you say that those who claim to work so hard make you laugh....then on the other hand you say that the managers are nothing without reps working hard....so which is it? The original poster was a slacker. There are plenty of reps out there who do indeed earn their 100K and then some. To uncover all opportunities in a territory, and to consistently execute in rain, sleet and heat waves throughout the year is mentally and physically draining. Pharma has always been what you make it. The non-slackers know what they are all about and can sell themselves in another industry if needed.
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Wow, you really have sucked down all the Grape Kool-Aid, huh? You are kidding yourself if you think anyone takes this industry's so-called "sales reps" seriously. Overpaid UPS delivery specialists is what their title should be. Pharma isn't now nor will it ever be what you make it. It's a joke, just like the dumb asses who take themselves seriously doing it.
 




Anonymous said:
You contradict yourself...on the one hand you say that those who claim to work so hard make you laugh....then on the other hand you say that the managers are nothing without reps working hard....so which is it? The original poster was a slacker. There are plenty of reps out there who do indeed earn their 100K and then some. To uncover all opportunities in a territory, and to consistently execute in rain, sleet and heat waves throughout the year is mentally and physically draining. Pharma has always been what you make it. The non-slackers know what they are all about and can sell themselves in another industry if needed.
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100K???? Not me, with grad degree and years in. Does drinking Kool Aid get you a raise?. Serve me a glass I could use it!
 




Bottom line, here is reality (taken from a Reuters article seen online):

"We have to remember that 10 years ago these firms were extremely bloated and in an entirely different operating mold and it's really shifted to one where you don't need the gigantic sales forces that you once needed," Conover said.

If you believe you are good at your job and you can sell, go out and sell yourselves to get a new job. Times are tough so find what is necessary to keep yourselves afloat and happy. Good luck.
 




Anonymous said:
Wow, you really have sucked down all the Grape Kool-Aid, huh? You are kidding yourself if you think anyone takes this industry's so-called "sales reps" seriously. Overpaid UPS delivery specialists is what their title should be. Pharma isn't now nor will it ever be what you make it. It's a joke, just like the dumb asses who take themselves seriously doing it.
Click to expand...

You are generalizing....and stuck in you own perceptions. Everyone paves the way for themselves. What I can attain may not be what you can attain.
 








Anonymous said:
Bottom line, here is reality (taken from a Reuters article seen online):

"We have to remember that 10 years ago these firms were extremely bloated and in an entirely different operating mold and it's really shifted to one where you don't need the gigantic sales forces that you once needed," Conover said.

If you believe you are good at your job and you can sell, go out and sell yourselves to get a new job. Times are tough so find what is necessary to keep yourselves afloat and happy. Good luck.
Click to expand...

How will you doing your job search?
 




Anonymous said:
How will you doing your job search?
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I think the way out for many pharma reps will not be trying to get another job in corporate america (which is a game that is rigged against you) but to create their own jobs by buying a franchise, starting a company, or getting retrained or going back to school...

I rarely hear about 50 something drug reps getting new drug rep jobs...it just isn't built into the system....most hiring managers dont want to justify hiring an older worker to their bosses...

sad but true...pharma ruined alot of careers and many of us that stayed at the party to long have to take ownership of that fact....
 








Anonymous said:
I think the way out for many pharma reps will not be trying to get another job in corporate america (which is a game that is rigged against you) but to create their own jobs by buying a franchise, starting a company, or getting retrained or going back to school...

I rarely hear about 50 something drug reps getting new drug rep jobs...it just isn't built into the system....most hiring managers dont want to justify hiring an older worker to their bosses...

sad but true...pharma ruined alot of careers and many of us that stayed at the party to long have to take ownership of that fact....
Click to expand...

Takes money to start a business, buy a franchise or to go back to school. Spouse makes very little and we do not have a any big savings or retirement funds. Few people I know can even dream of this. Most will be scambling to make their immediate obligations.
 




Just be prepared to take a job that you may very well see as "beneath" you. A pay cut? Almost certainly. From someone who's still out there looking around for employment, it truly is ugly, and don't even think about sending your resumes off into cyberspace. You will waste a lot of time and get nothing out of it. Only through others will you find something. Get a part-time job in addition to your unemployment (in our state, at least, you can make up to a certain amount of money and not have your bens reduced). Don't think you can take your time to start looking. Everyone I know has taken around a year to find a job. The car issue is big. Think about what you'll do once you lose your company car. Can you afford to get another right now, or will you hold out thinking you'll get another car from another co.? Most likely you will not. Many jobs just pay car allowance now.
Just be smart with your money. It will seem weird not having all that pharma money to throw around (at least that's how it was with me-- dual income/no kids -- lots of discretionary income before). I don't spend much now.
All I can say is to be as prepared as possible, and start networking with everyone you know, and keep your options open to anything and everything "new". Good luck, all, and Peace.
 




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