Hi Pharmaland, I'm wondering how I can start a career in pharma sales or medical equipment sales. I'm just about to graduate with a business degree and I've had tons of sales experience with territories and products through owning my distribution company, but I have no background in the medical field whatsoever. I hope that I'll have some luck being that I'm young and will work for cheap. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Are there any companies here in N. California that sound like a good fit for me? Any insight is appreciated!
You have to have sales experience so definitely construct your resume to be as sales oriented as possible and include any technical experience to smart/intellectual targets. Persistance is the key. If this is really your goal and you are willing to work and commit whatever time it takes you will get a job. You've got to do whatever it takes.
Don't do pharma. Stay as far away as possible. The fact that there are no jobs out there should help a little bit too.
Like the others said, unless your dream is to be a lackey, look for another industry or at least device. Most of us are over 100k base, too far gone to just walk, start over, or take a big pay cut. What are you passionate about? Do that instead.
I agree. If you are young and starting your professional sales career I recommend choosing a field that you are passionate about and will allow you to flourish. This industry forces you to be a robot and doesn't allow you to use your ability, personality, and instincts. Do you want to be a lackey? Many of us are trapped because we do make great money. You can't get one of the good spots as a recent graduate. Jobs in this industry are getting harder to get and job security doesn't exist. Don't do it, not worth it.
As all of the above have said...look elsewhere. RUN the other way! DON'T look into the light! Pharma is dying...so are the jobs. It is a humilitating day of dropping samples. And you need a degree to do that?! Find something that allows you to utilize your talents. Good luck!
Sales is a default career for people who are too lazy to reach higher. I say this as a pharma rep with a decade of experience. If I hadn't been so lazy in college, I would have gone to medical school and at least made other people's lives better. In pharma sales, you spend your time selling mostly me-toos and patent extenders, which basically add no value and increase the cost of healthcare for everyone. Only the top sales reps get to sell life-changing drugs for Gilead and Genentech, etc. Take the extra effort to get yourself into a real career, even if that means going back to school. If you are a smart person, you will regret throwing your life away on pharma sales.
Pharma and Medical sales are pretty much over. It'll get worse in the next few years as ObamaCare continues to role out
The above comments are inaccurate, ignorant and uninforme. There are many different types of medical sales a person could pursue. The fact that the above poster lumps medical and pharma sales into the same waste basket, is clear evidence they do not know what they're talking about. I have worked in specialty pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals, and diagnostic device sales. None of these positions were like your typical pharma rep jobs. The problem is that most people don't do enough investigation or do not have the backgrounds to understand that out of necessity, there are many different types of medical sales representative positions and many different types of companies/products and services one could represent. I was proud to do the work I did, representing foreign, domestic and international companies in non traditional positions. Not many can say this about their sales careers, but I know I helped save lives, stop tremendous suffering and educated many a professional in the latest research, technology and provided them with tools and otherwise, for which they thanked me and my company profusely. I am proud of the career path I chose. Don't let anyone convince you it's just a lackey, pill pushing role. That's Bullshit, often liberal driven crap and a slap in the face to many outstanding reps, who work hard to educate docs and improve patients care and lives in profound ways. Go for the type of job that suits you. Pick from a huge variety of medical sales positions and enjoy the differences. No one has to be ashamed of their job, just themselves for poor performance Let the cry babies scream Do your job with passion, integrity and a desire to heal so you can be proud.
Well said above poster. Too many disgruntled reps come here and try to ruin it for people with better attitudes and aptitudes. There are many great jobs in the medical sales industry. Sure there are problems with any job, but with the right attitude, its what you make it and there are all types of sales and positions in sales. I say go for it. Its good money, but don't go into it just for that. You will be miserable if you do. Go into sales because you have a gregarious personality, get along with a lot of different types of people, enjoy talking, traveling and most of all selling. You also have to be highly self motivated, honest and willing to work hard and odd hours. I said honest. You need to be able to be alone with yourself, because you will be, a lot. If you can't handle a hotel room alone, tailor your job choice to no overnights. If you can't handle entertaining a room full of people you don't know, forget it. If you can't eat a meal by yourself, regularly and motivated yourself in the face of daily rejection, look for something else. There is a lot of misconception about medical sales and as you read from above, even some reps don't get it. Not all sales rep jobs are the same. There are huge differences. If you aren't quick on your feet and can't take a joke, an insult or recover quickly, this isn't for you. If you don't meet these basic qualifications, don't even think about it.
I love my job here. Wouldn't go back to 9 to 5 for any amount of $. No, not for everyone, but if you like independence, there is no other job like this one. I love working alone, taking charge of my day and knowing it is just me, no b.sing coworkers.