If you haven’t already put some serious thought into this one, stop everything you’re doing and do it now. You should consider why you want a job in pharmaceutical sales from two points of view . . . (1) Yours (2) Your interviewers’.
In the end, sales is really all about negotiation. Use the STAR format to answer this question keeping the following points in mind.
S Fully explain the situation taking special care to show how you uncovered the customer’s point of view (even if you didn’t agree with it). Discuss how you asked sympathetic questions [...]
As is the case with many interview questions that require a STAR response. Thinking of an example is the toughest part. As with all questions that require a STAR response, make sure your example is fully-formed with tangible results. R - Results is the most important letter in the STAR acronym.
Ultimately, the [...]
There’s nothing like a sales interview to give you an opporotunity to brag on yourself. Use the STAR format to answer this question in a way that.
Aligns your values with those of the company’s
Displays your desire to succeed (win)
Gives clear examples of how you can work with others
Shows your work ethic
Displays skills like communication, [...]
Though there are some questions that you just can’t prepare for, this isn’t one of them. If you bring a bat to this ball park, you will hit a home run.
The interviewer wants to know how your current job has prepared you to be successful as a pharmaceutical sales representative. The best tool [...]
Sports are often the first thing to come to mind for an unprepared interviewee, so go there if you must. If it’s possible, don’t go there as your example. Go there as support for your example. It’s probably in your best interest to answer this question using the STAR Format with an example of how you have been competitive in your work history.
The interviewer is not only asking this question to find out the actual actions you took in preparing for the interview, but also to see if you were deliberate in your preparation. If you prepared for the interview in the same way you would prepare for a sales call, you win. Do [...]
Be honest and briefly outline your performance appraisal process. The interviewer is looking for two things. First, do you know (are you really working on) these things? Second, what are your areas of improvement?
You’re not the only one who dreads this question. Never fear, a bit of preparation will put your mind at ease. Do your best to avoid answers that seem trite or “canned.” Things like, “Well, I work too hard.” or “I’m just always happy and sometimes people don’t need that.” are way over the line.
Above all else, be positive. If you are currently employed, use this opportunity to focus on what kinds of things you’re looking for in your next job (not the things you hate about your current one). As you already know, pharmaceutical sales offers a highly competitive, cutting edge environment. If you dig science, say so. If it’s the marketing that gets you going, say that too. Finish by talking about how well you know you’ll do in the job that meets all of the demands you seek.
