Neuroscience Account Manager North Seattle

Discussion in 'Otsuka' started by anonymous, Oct 4, 2019 at 12:04 PM.

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  1. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Can anyone give me any insight regarding this position and territory? How is territory performing? How has it been performing historically? Anything else of value would be much appreciated!
     

  2. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    I am in CA, WA is part of our region....this territory has been underperforming for years and continues to do so, don’t know why...if I were you, I’d stay away.
     
  3. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Great DM, poor performing territory=great opportunity!! Only the soft and timid will disagree.
     
  4. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    If the DM is great, that is fantastic. Good for the reps!!

    However, to say: Great DM + poor performing territory = great opportunity is ridiculous, little Einstein!!

    If the territory has been performing poorly for years, then there are reasons for that. Most likely poor formulary coverage and/or reduced access to key providers, not necessarily in that order. The DM, as you know, has absolutely no control over access to providers. He or she may help facilitate formulary access with the managed care team.

    I don't understand how "timid" and "soft" relate to pharmaceutical sales. Its not like we are jumping out of airplanes!!

    So, work on your math skills, include the two factors I mentioned in your equation, and you probably have a valid point!!
     
  5. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Headhunter here...you are absolutely correct!!

    To the original poster: You need to ask yourself what you are willing to do, or can do, that the previous rep(s) were not willing to do or could not do. If you can't answer that question, move on immediately.

    If you believe you have an answer to that question and you are able to get an interview, the most important question is: "Why is this territory open?" This is the most important question you can ask. Now pay close attention to the manager: Does he look you straight in the eye? Is he evasive with his answer? Does it look like he is trying to make up an answer? Is he less than forthcoming? If you think the answer is "yes" to any of these questions, a huge red flag should go up! First of all there is a problem somewhere. Secondly, the manager is not honest. Do you really want to work in this territory with this manager???

    I can tell you that most employers are NOT very truthful when you ask them: "Why is this territory open?"
    There are exceptions, such as retirement, promotions, illness and relocations of a spouse. But mostly, reps leave for a reason. There is always a story behind the story. You need to get to the bottom of it. The last thing you want to do is step into a bad situation that could have been easily avoided by asking the right questions. Ask the manager for the names of 2 or 3 reps and speak with them. If the manager does not want to do give you the names, he has reason for that! It's another red flag!

    I can't tell you how many candidates do not ask this question. As a result, they end up in the wrong job, with the wrong company. 2 years later, when the sales numbers are not there, they contact me with a less than stellar resume. The rep just wasted two years of his life and has difficulties marketing himself. For many, it's a career killer! Of course, now they compete with candidates that had an excellent performance. If I submit this candidate to my client, he is going to ask me: "Why are you presenting me this candidate?" What am I supposed to say? It makes me look like I don't know what I am doing!! So the resume goes in the trash!

    Having a good manager is great, but if there are problems in the territory you can't overcome, it is meaningless. Your next employer only cares about your last set of numbers and your track record. Whether or not your manager was good or not is no interest to your future employer.

    I probably would not pursue this job.

    Whatever you do...Best of luck.
     
  6. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    I work for a company that co-markets with Otsuka. I am not in the Seattle territory, but was a close friend with to the people that worked there. Notice I said WORKED...

    There was turnover...careers were ruined...not only reps, but manager was affected as well... I can tell you that all of them did their best and they had plenty of experience. I really don't know what they could have done differently.

    In the end, a new manager was "installed", a real jerk in my opinion, but that's what upper management apparently thought was needed.

    Within a short period of time, almost all territories in the district showed a miraculous improvement...

    In order to "prove" that the fault was with the Seattle reps and the old manager, the company gave a significant increase in sales quota to all the districts within the region, except our district. Well you can imagine what that did to the numbers! Within a few seconds and the help of computers at the home office, the new DM and his district looked great. Conclusion: Since the numbers now looked good, it must have been the new DM and his "management skills" that are responsible.

    Funny how that works, isn't it??? It is one thing being a moron, it is a another thing being a moron and nasty, but it is a completely different game when you are a moron, nasty, and in a position of power! I just don't know how these people can look at themselves in the mirror every day and be proud of themselves.This has nothing to do with healthcare. It is all about money and power!!

    I have lost all respect for our "ethical" pharmaceutical company. Besides the fact that we have virtually no drug pipeline, I am deeply disappointed at the leadership of our company. This industry seems to attract the worst people. When I tell my friends what is going on, they can't believe it. I have relatives and friends that work in Real Estate and Construction, and they tell me they could never work in such a toxic environment and feel so powerless. They would forego the high income and rather be happier somewhere else...
     
  7. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    OP here, thank you for all your responses. It was certainly worthwhile visiting this board. I will not waste my time applying for this position. There are other opportunities out there...

    I can only hope that other candidates visit this thread before stepping into a bad situation.
     
  8. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Oh, no, please apply, we have Nuedexta SR coming out for only $1900 a month. Billion Dollar blockbuster drug!! Don't miss out!!
     
  9. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    The agitation trial failed if this ever gets approved it still 2-3 years away at Earliest
     
  10. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Yeah, I know, by that time there will be other, better drugs available. Nuedexta is a total joke, and everybody knows it. The only reason people sell this garbage is because they have big mortgages and are willing to sell their soul.
     
  11. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    A well written 50-page business plan which should include at least twelve 30-minute sitdown calls per day with probing, positive tension and ruthless closes plus 10 dinner programs in 3 month with ONLY your 25 top prescribers would easily solve your access and formulary problem. That's the reason we have business plans! Your DM will tell you how successful you will be when you do this. It's really easy, just do it!
     
  12. Cat

    Cat Guest

     
  13. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Haha, good one... My manager would get a huge, 10-inch erection looking at that business plan!!

    These business plans are such bullshit. What you are expected to do on paper and what you can actually do in some territories.... management often just does not get it!!

    Every RD who wants a rep on a PIP should take his/her territory for about six months. If the RD can't improve it, he or she should not get his or her job back...Virtually all RDs would lose their jobs!!

    This idea actually came from an old manager of mine, believe it or not.
     
  14. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Sunovion here...Seattle used to be a great territory in the 90’s...since then it has gradually gone down hill to the point where you can’t see any providers anymore as management cut out all reps...

    Virginia Mason Medical Center...closed to reps
    Poly Clinic...closed to reps
    University of WA...closed to reps
    Minor and James Medical Center...closed to reps
    Harborview Medical Center...closed to reps
    Providence Medical Centers...closed to reps
    Swedish Medical Center...closed to reps
    Evergreen Medical Center...closed to reps
    Group Health...closed to reps
    Further North: Everett Clinic (12!! offices)...closed to reps

    On top of that, some of the rural hospitals have bought clinics and individual offices. As soon as that happened the hospital ordered the clinics not to see reps anymore....

    United Healthcare is purchasing clinic systems nationwide instituting a policy of no access to reps...So, wherever you are, sooner or later you will be affected.

    The old days will never come back...Pharma companies will have to come up with new ways to peddle their drugs...no reps needed...
     
  15. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    RD here...while I realize this post was from a competitor, there is no excuse for you not seeing your providers!! You have to figure out how to get in front of them!!
    We don’t pay you for NOT seeing your targets. I have a few suggestions for you:

    1.) Spend the entire day in the men’s washroom. Tape a sales aid above the urinal and also on the inside of each stall. Then, when a provider comes in, tackle him. If he goes into a stall, climb into the stall or crawl underneath the stall. There is a reason the stall walls are 18 inches above the floor!!! That was done so that you can crawl underneath and deliver those important messages while the doc takes a shit. Then close....1 call down, 8 more to go. The doctor will absolutely be thrilled. Wear a gas mask so you don’t pass out!!

    2.) Tape your vis-aid on the outside of Doctor’s office windows. Get a ladder and set up in front of the offices for those offices on the second and 3rd floor. It’s impossible for the doctor to remove the vis-aids as these windows can’t be opened. If the doctor is in the office while you are on the ladder, make sure you engage the doc in a dialogue and close hard!! You can easily make 9 calls within an hour...

    3.) Ride the elevator of the office building up and down all day!! Up, down, up, down, up, down, ...This is fun and you can catch all doctors, nurses, office staff right there. It’s a total office call. Easy!!

    4.) Drive-by presentations: When a physician leaves the office and drives off the parking lot, follow him with your car. Pass him up on the highway and during passing give a drive-by presentation! He will absolutely love it. This is your last call, now you can drive home, prepare for your next day, write your fake call notes, check email, enter a dinner program and shine your shoes for another exciting day as a drug rep.

    I just showed you how to easily see 10-15 providers a day. So please, no more excuses. Now get to work. If you are not willing to do this, please leave. We have enough monkeys waiting to do this job...
     
  16. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    In the midwest that is called setting the standard of excellence.
     
  17. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Haha...good one... not only the Midwest...it's getting tougher pretty much everywhere. As a result, all the metric data we create is just smoke and mirrors...
     
  18. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    All that is solid advice except for resume killer. You just lie, we all do it...for every single interview.
     
  19. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Haha, I love it...can I work for you? I love the T4 territories, Tuesday and Thursday Ten to Two. I also take 2 hour lunches, followed by a one hour nap in my car, followed by entering BS call notes...
     
  20. cat

    cat Guest

    LB here...Part of the issue is that WA State as a whole is pretty much anti-pharma...it does not matter who does work in Seattle...you can't do much to impact sales...dinner programs? Sure, you get a few low writers that want to get a free dinner, you can count on them to show up for free food every time...but nobody has any answers to the issues here. There are no answers, but we are expected to have them!! We can't put a gun to people's head and force them to see us or go to any programs, but if we can't get the right people we get blamed...It's a no-win situation...just awful...