Is being a Lab rep any better than a Pharm rep?

Hi, I quit my pharma/biotech rep job last year after being in the industry 8 years. I now need to get back in the work force. I hated pharma sales because it was total bull. President's club was a lottery and more importantly, doctors and their staff didn't take us seriously ie. they shit on us. I'm tired of being shit on. Is life as a lab rep. any different? Do you feel you're taken seriously? Are you shit on as bad as a pharma rep?


Thanks

 

a lab rep is usually selling a service. Some company's like TriPath you sell a product. Service and Product sales is completely different than a drug. You don't have to beg for the business. You dont have to be a catering service! (pharma is catering). A pharma rep spends more time ordering lunch than meeting with MDs. Laboratory sales is relationships!!! Pharma is a$$ kissing. The best thing that happens when you are lab/product rep is the ability to say: "Oh no, I am not a pharma rep, I am a laboratory rep, big difference" & "I work with your lab, I dont sell drugs and beg for scripts!"

I did the pharma for 4 years and the service/product for 10+ years. Hate the pharma! Back stabbing and no selling, just catering. Service/product is selling, relationship building, thinking outside the box and very rewarding!

Hope that helps!

 

I agree with the above post. I was a pharma rep for 4 years and hated it the begging and catering to dr's just sucked. I feel now i get more respect and more time with the dr's and they don't shit on you. you occasionaly will get a dr who is an ass but you will find that everywhere you go.

 

what about corp culture? Are you required to follow a "selling Script" like in pharma? and micro managed?
Thanks for your replies

 

MORE $ LESS WORK. looser budget guidelines (golf/theater tix are acceptable). However, car allowance vs company leased car can be expensive if you go over esp. with the rising cost of gas. You can create your own sales tools.. BUT it is difficult to get used to the hundreds of tests if you (like me) are not a med-tech.

 

..continuation from the last post.. I was in pharma for 3 years and agree with the fact that lab reps get more face time and respect with docs because you serve more like a consultant.

 

A lab/medical rep educate the physician, a pharma rep begs for scripts and kisses a$$-different type of respect for a lab/medical rep.

Best thing about not being a pharma rep is stating "I dont have a drug, I sell xyz product"....the response from the gatekeeper is a big smile and access to the decision maker!

 

So what products do lab reps sell and what companies do you work for?

 

I was in pharma for 7 years and I've been in lab sales (a.k.a diagnostics) for over 5 years. Money is in mid 6 figures (base $105+comm), plus all the perks (travel, flexible management, recognition). I'm selling point-of-care diagnostic tests, competitive but so rewarding. You are trully a consultant, they come to you, you don't have to beg them to see you. We are very much respected as an expert in the industry. We are even invited to offer lectures in medical/nursing schools, colleges and interviews. Trust me, once you go lab sales, you will never, ever go back to pharma unless something really bad happen with either you or your company. Go for it!

 

6 year pharma spec rep and looking to get into something more rewarding

any lab companies anyone can recommend or avoid?

are the recruiters the same as pharma?

 

Recruiters are not the same as for pharma and most of the time they don't want to look at pharma for diagnostics or lab positions since their clients want current experience.

 

I have been in pharma for over 10 years and I got a call from a recruiter for a new mid-west position, but it would be with Gen-path a new division in Women's Health. Does anyone know anything about this?

 

Funny how all the "run the other way" and "our company culture is toxic" posts look identical to pharma...I would say the culture isn't any better. Sales is sales whether you're selling intangibles, products,or services. Lab guys still do a lot of catering as well.

 

did you take this position?

 

way less micro managing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!