Medical Sales Representative

Pros:

► It is easier to shine and advance at small pharmaceutical companies

► Small scale industries become big pharmaceutical companies very rapidly

► Small companies offer stock options as incentive to stay with them long-term

► Often smaller companies are sell out to larger companies, and the original stockholders get wealthy

Cons:

► For entertaining clients, small pharmaceutical companies do not provide significant expenses

► Territories are bigger, and you have to drive more instead of working in a limited territory

The most re-warding about being med sales representative is satisfaction of helping patients and becoming a medium of providing them a lifesaving medication. Apart from that you help physician to make the right decision about the product and nevertheless you get an opportunity to see many people throughout the day.

The unspoken question: Most obviously this question is about your ability to handle authority. But your interviewer also wants to see how tactfully you handle delicate situations and how you pick your battles, both important skills in pharmaceutical sales jobs.

Response: Describe a situation where you were correct, and the (polite) arguments you made to bring the boss to your side. Make sure the result was a win-win.

► Try to communicate with their staff (receptionists, medical secretaries, practice nurses, etc.)

► Send him product information and literature through e-mail

► Drop literature regarding product to their clinics

► Invite him to speaker meetings and see him at CME meetings

A sales call of a med representative does not end like that or normal sales call. Instead it sounds like offering an option like

► Trial usage

► Repeat prescription

► Continued usage

► Extended usage

► Expanded usage

Once the client or physician identifies it requirement, it will choose one of this option.

The unspoken question: Are you optimistic enough to succeed?

Response: No matter what you really believe, the answer they want is yes. And prepare to give examples. "Even if you've hit a stretch of bad luck, you must find the nuggets of gold in your life,"

The unspoken question: Do you have the drive it takes to build your margins?

Response: Everyone says they're an eight or nine, which features job interview tips for pharma sales reps and other professionals. "But you also need to explain why you are that kind of person," he says. "Give some situations of how you're competitive both on and off the job."

The unspoken questions: How do you work? Is your work style organized or improvised? Will you fit into our culture, or be a maverick? Will we have to worry about you? Are you likeable?

Response: Tell the truth, but don't focus on minutiae. This is your chance to highlight traits that are helpful in pharma sales jobs, such as initiative, organization and the ability to follow through.

Depending on the situation I would prefer which cycle to opt for, usually a long sales cycle as it gives enough time to know the physician and can spend time educating him about the benefits and uses of the product. However, if the physician is well-informed about the product, then short sales cycles would be more preferable.