| Over the last few years, I've helped hundreds | | | | wouldn't you spend $300 bucks to make $50,000 |
| of people successfully land jobs as | | | | - year after year after year (plus bonuses)? |
| pharmaceutical representatives. But there's | | | | |
| still work to be done! If I've learned | | | | 3. Be a liar |
| anything over the years, it's that some | | | | |
| people learn differently than others. It is | | | | You want to prevent yourself from getting any |
| said that the great inventor Thomas Edison | | | | job? Just lie. The pharma industry is under |
| failed nearly 25,000 times before he created | | | | intense scrutiny from consumer watchdog |
| the battery. When asked what he thought of | | | | groups and the federal government. They |
| all his failures he replied, "I haven't | | | | don't need a liar to complicate what, in many |
| failed. Over the last 20 years I've learned | | | | cases, is already a delicate relationship. |
| 25,000 ways NOT to make a battery." | | | | Be honest, be yourself, work hard, mind your |
| | | | P'S and Q'S and you'll be fine. There's no |
| So, in the spirit of Thomas Edison, I bring | | | | need to be a liar. |
| to you, 5 ways NOT to get hired as | | | | |
| pharmaceutical sales representative. | | | | 4. Don't prepare for the interview |
| | | | |
| 1. Send your resumé hopelessly off into | | | | It's not a stretch to say that a |
| the neverland that we call the Internet. | | | | pharmaceutical sales interview is one of the |
| | | | toughest, most competitive interviews you |
| Before you go ballistic and tell me that job | | | | will ever face. There are a boatload of |
| sites work, hear me out. Job sites do work. | | | | other people out there Jonesing for the same |
| Sometimes. The majority of all jobs, | | | | job you want. And they want it BAD. If you |
| however, especially pharmaceutical sales | | | | don't prepare for your interview, they will |
| jobs, are filled through referrals. If you | | | | beat you. Study the industry. Study the |
| want to give online submissions a shot, go | | | | company. Review common interview questions. |
| ahead. If you really want to make strides | | | | Most importantly, know yourself and know your |
| toward getting a pharma sales job, spend your | | | | [from the heart] answers to those interview |
| time networking and get a referral from a | | | | questions backwards, forwards, and in your |
| current drug rep or district manager. | | | | sleep. |
| | | | |
| 2. Be a scrooge about self improvement and | | | | 5. Don't follow up with your contacts |
| promotion materials. | | | | |
| | | | We've already discussed how important |
| Are you listening? The pharmaceutical | | | | networking is in this search. What's more |
| industry is rather infamous for its ability | | | | important than knowing someone who is in a |
| to create kick-butt marketing campaigns that | | | | position to help you? Being able to remind |
| generate results. Make no mistake, your job | | | | that person of his/her ability to help you |
| search is a full on, all out, high intensity | | | | and encouraging him/her to do so! Practice |
| marketing campaign. The product is you. | | | | saying this to everyone you talk to about |
| Pharma companies create awesome campaigns | | | | business. "OK John, I'll check in with you |
| because they aren't afraid to spend a little | | | | in a few weeks to see if you need anything |
| money to generate maximum results. Be | | | | else from me?" It's low key. It's low |
| reasonable about how much you can (and | | | | pressure. But it gives you a reason to |
| should) spend while looking for a job as a | | | | follow up with your contacts and hold them |
| pharma rep, but don't be so darned determined | | | | accountable for any action you've requested |
| to do it for free! Spend some money on a | | | | on their part. |
| book or two to improve your interview skills, | | | | |
| to learn a little bit about companies you | | | | There probably are 24,999 ways not to get |
| might be interviewing with, or on a | | | | hired as a pharmaceutical sales |
| professionally written resume. Consider it | | | | representative, but these should get you off |
| an investment in your career. After all, why | | | | to a good start! |