As a 6-year veteran of pharmaceutical sales recruiting, I hear this question at least 77 times a day.
Breaking into pharmaceutical sales is hard work. Throughout life, you learn “life rules” like “respect your elders” and “wear a shirt at the dinner table”. Likewise, there are pharmaceutical job-hunting rules…secrets. Only nobody has told you them. However, [...]
In the beginnings of the pharmaceutical sales job search, a common question potential candidates ask is, “I know that doctors don’t actually place orders for your medicines, so how do you get credit for your sales?” It’s a great question that could take hours to explain, but there are a few highlights that may help [...]
How many fishermen do you know who only have one lure in their tackle box or always use the same bait every time they go fishing? None, probably. That’s because a smart fisherman knows different situations require different lures and different baits. A smart job hunter knows this, too, and includes several types of lures [...]
You are treating your pharmaceutical job search like a full-time job itself, right? You are practicing a pattern of daily activities that include networking , cold calling, reading the employment section of the newspaper and surfing the Internet. You may even be maintaining your competitive edge by reading up on the latest pharmaceutical news. So, [...]
Steve left the interview smiling and totally convinced that he had “connected with the hiring manager.” As he stated, “The job is mine to lose.” Now that the interview was over, he just had to sit back and wait for the magical phone call. Right? Definitely not.
While Steve went about his usual activities, the interviewers [...]
Excerpt from 3 Days to a Pharmaceutical Sales Job Interview by Lisa Lane
What is a bragbook?
A brag book is a must have for any face-to-face pharmaceutical sales interview. If you want to stand out from the competition and add credibility to the claims that you make in your resume, you should spend a little time [...]
Copyright © 1998 by Kevin Donlin
Prepare for the Interview
The best way to ace your next job interview is to prepare for it. This may sound obvious, but it’s not. Too many applicants walk into an interview without knowing as much as they should about the industry, the company and its problems. Remember: You are there [...]
I have an interview in a couple of days and have been asked to prepare a “detail” for a certain product? I’m so overwhelmed. What should I do?
The Sales Process
Step number one – uncover the customer’s needs
When you detail or when you are going to sell something it is important to first ask a series [...]
Glinton on the PharmBoard.com Message Boards asks . . .”When I go in for an interview, I like to know the drugs that particular company sells as well as the competitors’ drugs. How do I research the drugs and their competitors?”
That’s a great question glinton, and it’s one that many people seeking a job in [...]
