Need Honest Info For Interview On Contrast Sales!!!

[Anonymous]

Have a F2F in August for an opportunity with the company and contrast sales. Would appreciate any honest info on the company, products, salary, and training. Do have pharma experience, just trying to branch off into something more in the specialty arena. Thanks in advance!!!

[Anonymous]

There are a couple topics below on contrast sales; take a look at them. (I've been out of the company for a couple years, but I think some of this is valid).

First thing I'd find out is what Group Purchasing Organizations are strong in your area (call some of the key hospitals purchasing depts. and maybe you can find out). If they tell you HPG, you have a problem. GE has a lot of equip. contracts with those hospitals and prohibit the imaging team from selling their products there. Novation is good (GE contract), Premier less helpful (Coviden/Mallinckrodt).

Next, I'd find out about the nuclear pharmacy and nuclear cardiology situation. In about two weeks, Cardiolite (sestamibi) goes generic. GE (via Draxis) and Coviden/Mallinckrodt will distribute generic sestamibi. That's going to be tough for Myoview (GE's tetrosfosmin) to compete in a more price sensative environment ... and from what somebody told me, many independents and Cardinal Health radiopharms are switching folks to sestamibi now ... makes sense since I had a stress test yesterday with my cardiologist, who used Myoview for several years up to my last stress test in January now is using Cardiolite. How do you get that information? Get in touch with some nuclear cardiology clinics (techs, etc.) and ask.

Your major competitors are Bracco, Coviden/Mallinckrodt, Bayer/Berlex, and whoever is producing generic sestamibi. I forget what the new ownership of BMS Medical Imaging is, but I don't expect them to fold their tent and cry about Cardiolite going generic.

I think starting salary is in the 50-60 range with around 20 bonus average, but you can kick it up to 40. Last I heard, the plan is weighted towards selling Visipaque. You get a car and the usual benes. Training is field based, usually one-on-one with a field trainer in their territory.

It is significantly different from pharma sales; you're dealing with hospitals, clinics, a wide variety of decision makers (doctors, techs, administrators, purchasing agents, nuclear pharmacies). Sample drops are a thing of the past.

Generally, it's a pretty mature market. Still some significant dollars, but nothing like it was in the launch days in the 80's and 90's, but not a bad way to spend your day. At worst, you're hanging around cardiologists, radiologists, cath labs and hospitals and there's always news about the next great opportunity there.

I enjoyed my time and the people. In fact, yesterday, I ran into two folks that I hadn't seen in several years (a doctor and another rep) and it was like old home week, almost makes me want to grab a detail bag and get back into the game ... the GE "culture," well, that's another thing.

[Anonymous]

Thans for the reply! This has been very helpful in my preperation for the interview. Also, thanks for the candor about the products and environment!

[Anonymous]

The previous post had some great information. Do you have any information on mammography sales positions?

[Anonymous]

don't look at covidien. It is the worst possible career decision. Very poor pay below entry level sales, unattainable quotas, way TOO MUCH paperwork. You'll have spreadsheets out the ass and never have time to see customers to get sales.

It used to be a great company, went down hill a bit when TYCO took over and now that they are covidien, they reside in the shit hole below the gutter. There is not a single rep planning to stay with this shit bag job. Look for loads of openings in 6 months.

[Anonymous]

don't look at covidien. It is the worst possible career decision. Very poor pay below entry level sales, unattainable quotas, way TOO MUCH paperwork. You'll have spreadsheets out the ass and never have time to see customers to get sales.

It used to be a great company, went down hill a bit when TYCO took over and now that they are covidien, they reside in the shit hole below the gutter. There is not a single rep planning to stay with this shit bag job. Look for loads of openings in 6 months.

Rumor I've heard is that Coviden (Mallinckrodt) told their sales force that their version of generic sestamibi would be in the market in early August; now it's been moved back two months.

But quotas still include expected sales for those two months.

Don't know about you, but it's pretty tough to sell a product that doesn't exist ... and if you can, you can make more money in industries other than medical sales.