Medical Device Industry and where to go from here!

Hello,

I will get to the point. I have 6 years of pharmaceutical experience (during the merger/spinoff era of pharma 99-205). I had successful numbers but got shuffled and re-aligned so my resume from the early going has 3 different companies on the bottom half of my resume for a 6 yr time frame.

Then from there I broke into Medical Device working for a Distrutor (straight commission) building a large geographical area from 60K to making 150K over a 6 year period. When a couple of lines were bought out by major manufacturers I was forced to look to work for my first major manufacturer in the device industry. Things didn't go to well as I struggled to have orders filled due to back orders etc. The company was undergoing a huge corporate makeover and feeling unsettled I took a job with a world leader less than a year later. A recruiter just kept calling and I just couldn't turn it down because it offered stability, large income, keys to the Ferrari so to speak. The pressure was to go and take the rest of the market in the territory and convert what ever was left in surgeons, contracts etc. It had a capital component as well as a disposable component. I was extremely successful and ranked in the top 10 percent my final 2 years after a 4 year stint. I was then layed-off with a strong severance package as I was the one with the "least seniority".

I quickly took a position with a start up and although I was close to getting off retainer and ranked from a growth perspective favorably i was fired without warning. This was a first for me. I was not warned and it was unexpected. I am now 40 and all over medreps.com and so forth. I am getting decent attention regarding interviews and so forth.

my problem is the following:
-each recruiter has told me that the interviewer really liked me and doesn't want to cross me off their list but wants to interview others more because i didn't quite fit the bill.
-a few of the recruiters told me that i made too much while at the world leader.
-the territories are larger and pay less on avg and they want someone younger and hungrier.
-one recruiter was concerned that during my career i was never promoted to a managerial position although i have been a trainer at various.

Im just kinda scratching my head at 3 months out with a decent savings account, retirement account, and of course an avg mortgage and so forth as to where I am to go from here. Im not seeing a ton of lucrative, or interesting positions and getting turned down by positions Im being told I'm too experienced for???

Its the first time I am beginning to look outside of the industry. Im not sure where to go or what to expect. I assume there are many in my position. Any insight anyone?

I would love some feedback!!!

 

Sell everything and move to the phillipines...

 

Just stop making a big deal out of a career and grow up.

 

grow up? please explain???

 

Where to start?
1. Its just a job. Get over it. You probably live well above your means, and have put yourself and your family in a position of comfort above job happiness and peace of mind. Big flipping mistake. You will understand this more clearly as you get older.

2. Stop letting the corporate machine dictate your life. There are plenty of good sales jobs that pay 50-60k that don't require more than 40 hours a week, and you are treated like a valued employee. Sure, in medical sales, you might double or triple your salary. But, you are going to pay for that, with longer hours and micromanagement.

3. Downsize, downsize, downsize. When you become a grown up, going on silly vacations and spending money on a 3rd pair of new tennis sneakers, and going out to eat, and buying a second car (I really hope you are not that dumb) become a waste of time and money. Better to help other with your access money or invest in your retirement account.

The point I am getting at is stop letting your job dictate so much of your life. Nobody really cares, and you should work hard and smart, but don't become so worried about your job because at the end of the day your employer really could care less about you.

good luck!

 

Jeesh, sounds like you may have really been through the ringer.

1) 2) 3) Actually to the contrary, I bought a reasonable house an "reasonable on a national scale for sure" just outside the boundary of the school district we wanted our son to attend. My wife is a teacher so he can walk to school although he is only blocks away. I went to college on an academic and athletic scholarship and have zero school debt, my "reasonable house is nearly paid off" and thats where every dime, bonus $ has pretty much gone since i was 23 years old. Outside of that I have my 401K and one investment"commercial real-estate property that i have a small share in. We have an 8yr old that enjoys camping and my wife and I like to spend our time at home. I did however take my first vacation in 16 years to take the 8 year old to Disney World. I personally like to paint, fly fish, and spend one hour in the gym each day trying to stay in shape. We eat at home and i only have one pair of sneakers thank you!! lol! I appreciate the advice but its sounds like you spent more time judging or seeing a picture painting in your head of who i am. I actually still think I got it in me to take on more challenges in the device field I'm even open to management for the first time I just wanted more time with my family. Sorry if I offended you I just made my own way in this industry and can tell that the downsize IS real and what i might need to do next. I have had calls from out of industry type opportunities that sound good! Just a little scared to leave. And thats what I'm looking for! If 60K has given you a great life thats fine I just simply aspire to do more. Just reflecting back and living in the present I hate being categorized as a job hopper

 

Thanks for your response.
Yes, I have been burned many times in the corporate mind game. I am sick of it. Won't happen again. I just don't take them seriously anymore, and I am content being the most ambitous sales person in the world making 65k a year selling X,Y,Z product, because making more and having to work with lazy managers that can't sell and have to hide behind my work ethic and ability is not worth it. It is what it is. Welcome to a fallen world, full of conmen and jezebels. What was that song about men being cons and women being jezebels, there is a good song out there about that. I forget what it was, but it clearly is true. I think it was a Bob Marley song.
Trust me though. Downsizing is the key to so much in life. Stop believing the lies that your children have to go to the best schools and colleges. You are better off teaching them on your own, and teaching the ways of wisdom that is readily available for under $10 in most bookstores and free at the library. Its the best selling book in the world, and that is all they need. Apply that to their lives, and go to a community college and go from there. Downsize. The key. The smart move.

 

Look i don't really have a beef with the industry or the pecking order of it all. I think you have mistaken myself and the people I have competed with. I always felt pharmaceuticals was too much of a lunch em' buy em' mentality and i got out and always was quite successful during this downward spiral of downsizing. The companies are just adjusting to new socialized healthcare and commoditizing and locking into contracts. The latest healthcare mandates have made it real difficult to continue to try to innovate or improve anything it truly has just been a downsize in the need for sales people. I never took it personally and i really enjoy what I do. I live a pretty down to earth life and so does my family. He can go to school wherever he chooses as long as he understands the ROI of it all. I just want to work hard for another 15 years so I can retire...Im not far away from that!!!

 

Once in while I will be selected to fill the over 50, unemployed, white guy EOEE quota to expedite the hiring of the manager's sorority sister who is currently working the make up counter at Nordstrom's.

My last interview was with a young female DM. She was dressed to the hilt with a 500 hand bag and shoes to match. She was cold and somewhat unsure of herself. The entire time I could cannot wrap my head around the fact that this girl is in a leadership role and making 150k annually with a communications degree from the local state college. Was she pretty? Sure. Beauty fades and dumb is forever.

I wanted to advise her not to get to big for your hand bag and title because... In about 7 years she will be selling lab services on straight commission or working as teller in the Safeway U.S. Bank as teller while wearing $20.00 pumps from Volume shoes.

Just the way cookie crumbles.