Job Responsibilities
Professionally promoting company products to health care
professionals.
Developing and executing territory business plans.
Conducting analysis on product and market trends.
Coordinating efforts with territory partners in a team
environment.
Organizing educational programs for health care professionals.
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Job Requirements
Most important requirement is that you have sales experience.
Although they also hire a lot of fresh graduates. Background in
Life Sciences especially in Pharmacology (like having a PharmD
is a big plus- you can probably get a job as a Medical Liason
directly). MBA a big plus as well. They also like to see self
starters, entreprenuerial-minded people who are capable of
managing a territory.
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Uppers
Great hours-you can be flexble with this. Lots of freedom
No boss watching your every move.
Company car and expense account
Lots of opportunity for advancement. They want to move out and you can be open
with your boss on your career goals within the company.
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Downers
Lots of regulations (FDA, HIPAA) that restrict the promotion of
your product.
Hard to get face time with docs. Too many reps in the field
competing with doc's time. Depending on territory, tough access
to physicians. Like any sales positions, you have to build
rapport to get face time and sell.
Your boss is your company environment. If you get along with
him/her, it can be great and the opposite is true too.
Hard field to break into.
Can be very tiring-dealing with clients and their complaints.
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Lifestyle
Its a great sales job. One of those with the best lifestyle. One basically sets
his/her hours. If needed, one can always make room for life's emergencies by
either leaving late in the morning or leaving early in the day. I find ways to
make up for it tho by working longer hours in other days. The company really
takes care of you. Great health and dental plan. One can always see the doctor
if sick and in an emergency (its actually a great way to get some face time).
Company car and expense account is provided and to be used at your discretion.
You have to be careful tho to never be caught where you're not supposed to be.
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Compensation
Starting salary is typically $45-55K. Bonus for Primary care
(where most people start in) is typically $13-21. You can always
sell yourself and negotiate for more cash, however. I had prior
sales and management experience and an MBA so I had a higher
starting salary.
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Advice to Jobseekers
A great way to get into this would be to network and get in
touch with somebody already in this field. Their
recommendations count so much more then anything. One should
also their register with the company website. But don't expect
to hear anything for the next 2-3 months. They get so much
resumes and hits as it is. I got my job through a career fair.
I got in front of a HR recruiter and district mananger right
away. When you do get an interview - prepare like crazy! Know
the company and its products (with correct pronunciation)and the
latest industry buzz (cafepharma.com has a lot of Pharma related
news). Be prepared to go over your resume as well as through
some off the wall tests. I had to sell mundane office products
on the spot. Be prepared with stories of successful and not so
successful sales experiences. The career guide of vault was a
lot of help as well.
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