Is pharma sales even worth it anymore?

The pay vs. the work sucks.
There is no stability.
So, I think its not worth it. But, I wanted to see what the rest of you thought about it.

 

If you need stability or if you have children to support it is not a good job.

 

No. Pharmaceutical sales is dying a slow, painful death. If you're looking to get in, don't. If you're under 50 and in pharma sales, get out for your own good.

 

Its never too late to get out of pharma. It is an industry that doesn't value producers, as odd as that sounds. Its values employees that wear good make up or wear good suits, but can't sell. The Training and Development for the pharmaceutical industry is easily the worst of any industry in white collar corporate America.

OP, move on. I am going to take the next six months off to find a good job outside of pharmaceuticals. If that doesn't come up, then I will go back into a stupid contract job and keep looking for that non pharmaceutical sales gig. They are out there. Find a good fit.

Also, not only is there no stability, but you are going to be treated like shit in this industry. Worse, even if your numbers are good, you are still going to be treated like shit. This industry doesn't even play well, and they seem to have everyone fooled that it is still a great job, and and entrepreneurial opportunity, when nothing can be further from the truth.

In short, pharmaceutical sales sucks.

 

i agree with this poster . Very unstable and it gets worse each year ! I would try to phase out or don't even pursue . Nerve wracking and not worth it . I started out 19 years ago and11 of those years was with one company ... The last 8 years have been a roller roaster nightmare

 

NO! Run far far away!!!!

 

I am going to have to disagree a tiny bit with the previous quotes. Pharma sales allows someone an incredible amount of autonomy and opportunity. The base salary is usually pretty good. The opportunity for bonus is usually pretty good. Benefits, etc.

According to several organizational survey's...many pharma places are the "Best Places to Work". Here is one from Glassdoor that includes a couple of pharma companies.

Of course, talk to others in sales of other types of products...industrial, captial equipment, etc...see what their lives are like.

 

Pay vs work sucks? Pharma reps don't work 40hr weeks and get paid well compared to what else is out there. Guess that's why so many stay after being continually beat up with layoffs and ridiculous corporate expectations for sales!!

 

agree with previous poster about being treated like shit even when you're a top producer! Is pharma unique in this manner? You can be a sales superstar and still lose your job because your zip code doesn't align properly with company needs...hilarious!!

RUNNNNN FAR AWAY.

 

I was in pharma for almost 30 years. I added my tax returns the other day and made over $2 Million dollars doing this. I am 59 years old now. It was very fun for the first 20 years. Then when the computers came in, the whole ballgame changed. Then they started to hire a lot of women, and many were very good, but many were lazy and stirred the pot all the time and made everyone's life miserable. I had one female rep, back we got paid by zip code, had a few of mine transferred to her, because she was sleeping with the DM, so at the end of the year I was at 68% of goal and she was almost 150% of goal. I went to HR, RSM, VP of sales and made the biggest stink, and they fired her, but somehow wanted to blame me after that. Go figure!
Also the lunches got to be too much, done over 2,500 in those years and most offices are pleasant some are just the worst. Plus many reps (not me) would order too much and take a bunch home.
I started in 1983 at $19K/yr + bonus ~$10K/yr, and ended up $110K/yr and ~$25K bonus. PLus I have never had a car payment, except in high school.
So overll I would give it an 8 out of 10.

 

Here is something many of you miss: the job itself sucks. Doctors don't want to see us. Managers don't care about us. And the coworkers are mostly jealous types that are only looking out for themselves.

Also, the money is OK, not great.

There are many other sales jobs, in other industries that are better.

 

Here is something many of you miss: the job itself sucks. Doctors don't want to see us. Managers don't care about us. And the coworkers are mostly jealous types that are only looking out for themselves.

Also, the money is OK, not great.

There are many other sales jobs, in other industries that are better.

 

Ive been in Pharma for almost 20 years...been laid off 5 times...been on one contract gig...if u are single and plan to be for life...go for it. Fairly flexible with good income potential. If u have a family and want to provide some stability and not be stressed out of your mind either due to impending layoffs or basic 365 day per year threatening pressure filled bullshit...RUN for anything else.

 

This sounds right.

If you are a recent graduate, then this is definitely NOT where you want to be. Not only is there no stability, but you don't get any credit for your track record in this industry. Its a crap shoot for the most part.

Those that have had the same jobs with the same company, are just lucky. They will never admit that. But that is the truth.

 

Pharmaceutical sales is the worst job ever. It is probably the most micromanaged position on this planet. I got out and will NEVER go back. The thought of someone calling or emailing me saying they will be riding with me for two days makes me want to vomit.

 

It all depends on the mgr., some are easy going because they see you doing a good job and make it fun...maybe 20% of the mgrs. The rest never shut the fuck up....

 

I have about the same amount of time you do in this industry. My story is similar and I would say for me, the last 5 years have been a roller coaster. My family wants me to leave this industry. I keep holding on hoping I will land somewhere I can stay awhile - away from contract. I don't know what to think anymore.

 

I have been a rep since making a career change 15 years ago. I have mostly enjoyed the job over the years, but have endured my frustrations like many of us, including a couple of periods of unemployment due to layoffs and contracts ending. If we thought the time of regular layoffs (mid-late '00's when the number of pharma reps was estimated at 110,000 - estimate is now 55,000) were behind us, we would be wrong. Job security has not improved in recent years, and the industry is perhaps more volatile now. One positive about my situation is that I have years of experience in several specialties that are often in demand and pay well, therefore I can effectively compete for lucrative opportunities in our industry. But I have to always have my Plan B exit strategy in place for when I need it - and usually after a couple of years I need it! I will begin a new job later this month. And, my daughter will graduate college as a business major in the next couple of years and has already completed her first summer internship where she was in a sales capacity and was successful at it. She very much wants to pursue a career in sales, but will avoid the Pharma industry. She has seen what her father and his friends/colleagues have experienced and has no desire to be subjected to the instability. The pay is good, but the constant threat of job loss is a ubiquitous black cloud that shadows us all. Don't kid yourself, don't become over-confident. Have your back up plans in place.

 

Good analysis!