Salix Training

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Put the crack pipe down.... Come on... No place of employment should beat it's employees down like Salix. Training is ....not a positive experience. In fact, it makes even the best reps question their decision on coming aboard Salix. Sadly, they have it ALL wrong.

Truth above. Well said. If a talented good rep does slip in due to involuntary unemployment or lay off from their prev. employer, they sure as hell do not need anything more than a few weeks at that training to confirm that they just took a huge step backwards on their resume and are now in career killer mode with these bafoons running this micro managed gong shw.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Serious replies please...possibly someone from HR. (I understand most people on cafepharma are very negative and like to stir up trouble but sometimes an HR person will have information that is actually useful.)

If training is 3 weeks, do you have your weekends free?
Will they allow you to go home for the weekend if the employee pays for it themselves?
Are territories large or small?
Are the training dates set for the expansion? If so, what are the dates?
How long is home study?

Thanks.

Those are all verifiably good questions, but I do not get your point? All of these questions would be answered by your hiring manager...are you trying to get an idea before you invest into an interview? If so then I understand your concerns and questions. Read the threads on this board, they are mostly true. The managers at Salix are green and are very insecure and many have no idea what they are doing so they go with the fear and intimidation tactic, the problem is this does not work with a tenured successful talent, only with the rookies for a few months until they catch on to the DM's incompetence. Training is awful, if you happen to need a job, you will most likely quit at training when you realize what you are getting yourself into with this culture and the breed of rep here. Of course this is all being based off the assumption that you are talented and an independent entrepreneurial thinker....those things clash at Salix with the make shift managers. U have been warned.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Do we get paid overtime for the long training hours?

Well you are on to something here ~ this would fall under the current "overtime" lawsuit that is currently being reviewed in the courts for pharma reps...

Originally Posted by Anonymous

You didn't have to accept a job with Salix. You realize that don't you? If it's so awful, take a job with another company, or join another industry. The ones who whine and complain on this board do so because they can't convince another company to hire them away.

Seriously ~ your employees are your most valuable assets at any company, honey. Boy you are young, stupid and probably abused!

I personally didn't mind training. It was definitely harder and faster paced than my previous big pharma training, but I also did not have as much dead wood in this training class. I have been here for about 6 months and don't get all the bitching on this site. My manager told me I would work hard and guess what...I am working hard, but not that much harder than I had for my previous employers. The only difference is I feel that I can dictate my own future here, so time will tell, but I feel the hard work will pay off.

As a recent training graduate I can honestly say that the training at Salix was not as bad as other Pharma jobs I've had. When I think back on how awful people and cafepharma posts said it was I have to laugh. You work hard, learn, and prepare. It's not intended to be a vacation. My thought is they may have taken some of the negative feedback and improved things a bit. Some of the trainers were better than others but such is life. They could probably shorten it to 2 weeks.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

As a recent training graduate I can honestly say that the training at Salix was not as bad as other Pharma jobs I've had. When I think back on how awful people and cafepharma posts said it was I have to laugh. You work hard, learn, and prepare. It's not intended to be a vacation. My thought is they may have taken some of the negative feedback and improved things a bit. Some of the trainers were better than others but such is life. They could probably shorten it to 2 weeks.

How many weeks was it?

Originally Posted by Anonymous

How many weeks was it?

3 weeks of hell. Have fun!

No time to poo either.

Did you really have to write out your answers? Are any of the tests multiple choice?

2 weeks home study and 3 weeks away? Sounds like training is pretty intense. Do you get to go home on the weekends?

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Did you really have to write out your answers? Are any of the tests multiple choice?

2 weeks home study and 3 weeks away? Sounds like training is pretty intense. Do you get to go home on the weekends?

Wake up at 5am and begin study session at 6am.
Classroom 7:30 am - 5:00pm
Hotel study sessions from 6:00pm - 11:00pm
Re-read first line.
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SMILING OR LOOKING LIKE YOU ARE HAVING FUN, THAT IS FROWNED UPON. You aren't taking the training serious enough if you are smiling.
No trips home or weekend vistors.

Six days a week for three weeks. No free / personal time. They even pay for your dry cleaning so you don't have to do laundry. You can order room service to the hotel study suite so you can remain trapped in the room.

Memorize the P.I. because most of the exams are essay (write out the indication, study conclusion, dosing instructions WORD FOR WORD, etc. - Ashley, a.k.a. The Lieutenant, will mark it wrong if one word is missing). The Trainers work very hard but will rat you out if it makes them look good. They are all vieing for the next DM position.

You don't learn how to sell the product. All you learn is how to memorize a study or P.I.
They enjoy have a "tough boot camp" training program because they only want the "best of the best". They think they are the Pfizer of the GI world.

This is still accurate and true.

[quote=Anonymous;4413425]Wake up at 5am and begin study session at 6am.
Classroom 7:30 am - 5:00pm
Hotel study sessions from 6:00pm - 11:00pm
Re-read first line.
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SMILING OR LOOKING LIKE YOU ARE HAVING FUN, THAT IS FROWNED UPON. You aren't taking the training serious enough if you are smiling.
No trips home or weekend vistors.

Six days a week for three weeks. No free / personal time. They even pay for your dry cleaning so you don't have to do laundry. You can order room service to the hotel study suite so you can remain trapped in the room.

Memorize the P.I. because most of the exams are essay (write out the indication, study conclusion, dosing instructions WORD FOR WORD, etc. - Ashley, a.k.a. The Lieutenant, will mark it wrong if one word is missing). The Trainers work very hard but will rat you out if it makes them look good. They are all vieing for the next DM position.

You don't learn how to sell the product. All you learn is how to memorize a study or P.I.
They enjoy have a "tough boot camp" training program because they only want the "best of the best". They think they are the Pfizer of the GI world.

This is still accurate and true.[/

Anyone that is still at Saylicks is an idiot. Worst company ever.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Well said, and those phonies will through you under the bus at every opportunity. I equivocate it to hell on earth. The worst part was I knew those dullards were not even close to being on my intellectual level and had no clue what good selling skills are. They go in to corporate to escape the challenges in the field. They obviously could not cut it.That tall skinny one who used to work a territory in NYC was as dumb as a rock!!!!

You spelled throw wrong...no wonder you have such a problem with training

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Wake up at 5am and begin study session at 6am.
Classroom 7:30 am - 5:00pm
Hotel study sessions from 6:00pm - 11:00pm
Re-read first line.
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SMILING OR LOOKING LIKE YOU ARE HAVING FUN, THAT IS FROWNED UPON. You aren't taking the training serious enough if you are smiling.
No trips home or weekend vistors.

Six days a week for three weeks. No free / personal time. They even pay for your dry cleaning so you don't have to do laundry. You can order room service to the hotel study suite so you can remain trapped in the room.

Memorize the P.I. because most of the exams are essay (write out the indication, study conclusion, dosing instructions WORD FOR WORD, etc. - Ashley, a.k.a. The Lieutenant, will mark it wrong if one word is missing). The Trainers work very hard but will rat you out if it makes them look good. They are all vieing for the next DM position.

You don't learn how to sell the product. All you learn is how to memorize a study or P.I.
They enjoy have a "tough boot camp" training program because they only want the "best of the best". They think they are the Pfizer of the GI world.

This is still accurate and true.

Yep.

Only real responses please:

Can you have guests come visit over the weekends?

Do you have any free time on the weekends?

Typically, how many people are in the classes?

Starting with the company soon. I heard that we are not allowed to leave on the weekends ? Can anybody verify this ? Just wondering how they can legally keep us if it is not during work hours ?

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Starting with the company soon. I heard that we are not allowed to leave on the weekends ? Can anybody verify this ? Just wondering how they can legally keep us if it is not during work hours ?

Chill out.. It's preferred but not mandatory. Have someone come in vs you leaving.
Trust me, you'll want to be there over the weekends if you can.

Thanks for the clarification & response. Why would I want to stay on the weekends ? I really hope it's not to hang around and get tipsy to watch married folks hooking up for 3 weeks. If that's the case, I may have to reconsider some choices.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Starting with the company soon. I heard that we are not allowed to leave on the weekends ? Can anybody verify this ? Just wondering how they can legally keep us if it is not during work hours ?

You made a huge mistake. No one is happy here. Money is decent, but this job will consume you 24 hours a day.

[quote=Anonymous;4436909]You made a huge mistake. No one is happy here. Money is decent, but this job will consume you 24 hours a day.[/QUOTE

I understand that this board will give me some pretty negative responses. It was a real struggle for me to find truth during your interview process, as there are so many people looking for work right now. The managers during the interview process made it very clear that there are a lot of people that they were considering for my position & I don't doubt them for a second. I made the decision to come here but my gut feeling is not giving me a very positive response.

The last thing I want to do is leave after I start that 3 week training. Just can't even say much, as I don't want to identify myself with too much info on here. All I want to do is get an idea from people that have been here for at least a year on the true culture of this place. Wish I had a better feeling about Salix because all this is leading me to do is to look for answers on this anonymous board. I can't even trust asking someone who works here because I would end up putting a target on myself.

Thanks to anyone out there who can help.

[quote=Anonymous;4437209]

Originally Posted by Anonymous

You made a huge mistake. No one is happy here. Money is decent, but this job will consume you 24 hours a day.[/QUOTE

I understand that this board will give me some pretty negative responses. It was a real struggle for me to find truth during your interview process, as there are so many people looking for work right now. The managers during the interview process made it very clear that there are a lot of people that they were considering for my position & I don't doubt them for a second. I made the decision to come here but my gut feeling is not giving me a very positive response.

The last thing I want to do is leave after I start that 3 week training. Just can't even say much, as I don't want to identify myself with too much info on here. All I want to do is get an idea from people that have been here for at least a year on the true culture of this place. Wish I had a better feeling about Salix because all this is leading me to do is to look for answers on this anonymous board. I can't even trust asking someone who works here because I would end up putting a target on myself.

Thanks to anyone out there who can help.

If you need a job then it's a paycheck. If you want a happy work environment and a good quality of life this is not the place. It's a churn and burn job. Most reps dontnstay past a year or two, the culture is that bad. If you have other options in suggest you explore them.

You definitely are going to start hating life. No joke... just wait and see when training starts. you probabaly wont even need to go to training to start experiencing how fucked up this company is. I can't believe it hasn't been run down to the ground yet. I've got 4 months under my belt here and I regret my decision to join this hell hole every day. Looking for another gig at the moment, just wish I would have made a different decision before I knew what I was getting into. The paycheck and stock options are the only positives, and that's not saying much at all. Gonna be a rough ride, hang in there!!

[quote=Anonymous;4437274]

Originally Posted by Anonymous

If you need a job then it's a paycheck. If you want a happy work environment and a good quality of life this is not the place. It's a churn and burn job. Most reps dontnstay past a year or two, the culture is that bad. If you have other options in suggest you explore them.

Why is quality of life here so bad?? Yes, training looks like hell and is super long but once you return home from that isnt this just a 8-5 job and you get out of it what you put in?? I am confused why the work/life balance is so off? Please explain further....

Also, what is so bad about the culture?

Thanks to posts 70 & 71. That regret that one of you mentioned is my worst fear. I just know it would eventually eat away at me and cause me fall into that dark place that many of us in pharma have visited in our careers. Just tough to get out of it and then you begin to question your career choice. Leave pharma to take a stab at something completely different or look again in pharma for that company that gives you that sense of self worth and accomplishment ?

Why can't Salix just turn into that place ? Are these folks really as arrogant as they come off or is it just a front to find the best sales candidates out there ?

I guess if I have all these questions so soon, I already know the answer to my questions....

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Thanks to posts 70 & 71. That regret that one of you mentioned is my worst fear. I just know it would eventually eat away at me and cause me fall into that dark place that many of us in pharma have visited in our careers. Just tough to get out of it and then you begin to question your career choice. Leave pharma to take a stab at something completely different or look again in pharma for that company that gives you that sense of self worth and accomplishment ?

Why can't Salix just turn into that place ? Are these folks really as arrogant as they come off or is it just a front to find the best sales candidates out there ?

I guess if I have all these questions so soon, I already know the answer to my questions....

If you're choosing this site for honesty then you're looking in the wrong place. 90% of the posters here are either ex employees or about to be. The culture is good. Work hard, move the numbers and stay active in your territory. Isn't that what a sales job is? Sounds like your issues with self-doubt may be getting in your way. You either can or you can't...which is it?

That last post is a joke... "isnt that what sales is all about, working hard" blah blah blah. "its really not that bad". Wake Up! I can't stand the people who defend this bullshit we are dealing with everyday. All these posts in CP are 99% true and we all know it! You just keep telling yourself that this place isnt so bad if that's what makes you sleep better at night. UR IN DENIAL and DILUSIONAL! All Salix's products are used off label and formualry sucks with most of our bag. Goals are forced ranked and most of the top 10 reps have 1 or 2 docs (speakers, thought leader, liver transplant centers,and heavy off-label writers) that keeps them afloat. I love the ones who are always in the top 10 because they think they are super star sales people when in fact, if you looked at all their business, the bulk of Rx's come from 1-3 writers only. Script volume is low accross the board so it's not hard for these few docs to keep them cruisin through. You will soon see what I am talking about and Im not trying to scare anybody away, you'll experience for yourself. Dont say I didnt warn you. I was hired 4 months ago and I read the same stuff on CP, thought it was just a bunch of disgruntled employees, but it all turned out to be 100% accurate. Lookin for another job at the moment....

Originally Posted by Anonymous

If you're choosing this site for honesty then you're looking in the wrong place. 90% of the posters here are either ex employees or about to be. The culture is good. Work hard, move the numbers and stay active in your territory. Isn't that what a sales job is? Sounds like your issues with self-doubt may be getting in your way. You either can or you can't...which is it?

Just to clarify, I wasn't looking for honesty here, just opinions and thoughts of some of the people that have spent some time at Salix. I understand that this board will not always yield serious responses, but I feel that I can filter out the pertinent information from the colorful entertainment.

With respect to your reply, I appreciate the information and perspective. You have given me food for thought. The answer to your final question is...I can. The question for me still remains...is this the place where I will do what I can ?

The ignorance of America is friggin hilarious...buncha lazy pharm reps

Originally Posted by Anonymous

The ignorance of America is friggin hilarious...buncha lazy pharm reps

What do you mean? I work 3 days a week.

Ya got me beat. I'm checkin in about 2x/month. Salix my balls bitches !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Anonymous

That last post is a joke... "isnt that what sales is all about, working hard" blah blah blah. "its really not that bad". Wake Up! I can't stand the people who defend this bullshit we are dealing with everyday. All these posts in CP are 99% true and we all know it! You just keep telling yourself that this place isnt so bad if that's what makes you sleep better at night. UR IN DENIAL and DILUSIONAL! All Salix's products are used off label and formualry sucks with most of our bag. Goals are forced ranked and most of the top 10 reps have 1 or 2 docs (speakers, thought leader, liver transplant centers,and heavy off-label writers) that keeps them afloat. I love the ones who are always in the top 10 because they think they are super star sales people when in fact, if you looked at all their business, the bulk of Rx's come from 1-3 writers only. Script volume is low accross the board so it's not hard for these few docs to keep them cruisin through. You will soon see what I am talking about and Im not trying to scare anybody away, you'll experience for yourself. Dont say I didnt warn you. I was hired 4 months ago and I read the same stuff on CP, thought it was just a bunch of disgruntled employees, but it all turned out to be 100% accurate. Lookin for another job at the moment....

Well if it is a low volume product and you can't get 3-5 Docs to carry you- then you suck as a sales person. The company gives you unlimited (practically) dinners that you can do and you can spend $200 per person. Yeah the call checking and micro managing sucks but if you are a semi decent SALES person its easy to do well here (without a liver transplant center)- everyone writes off label. Its like PED in the Olympics- once you can admit that everyone is doing it is it really cheating?

Lots of money to be made here. If you can develop relationships and understand what motivates specialist to prescribe then its not that hard of a job. The micro managing does suck though and the managers for the most part are pretty weak (at least the ones I've met).

R u drunk or high? The unlimited dinner programs are you and a physician watching a webcast or pre-recorded program. Don't make it sound like we can take docs to dinner because that ain't the case.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Well if it is a low volume product and you can't get 3-5 Docs to carry you- then you suck as a sales person. The company gives you unlimited (practically) dinners that you can do and you can spend $200 per person. Yeah the call checking and micro managing sucks but if you are a semi decent SALES person its easy to do well here (without a liver transplant center)- everyone writes off label. Its like PED in the Olympics- once you can admit that everyone is doing it is it really cheating?

Lots of money to be made here. If you can develop relationships and understand what motivates specialist to prescribe then its not that hard of a job. The micro managing does suck though and the managers for the most part are pretty weak (at least the ones I've met).

I hope a doctor turns you in. Or a rep overhears your off label promotion. Karma is a bitch lol!

Originally Posted by Anonymous

R u drunk or high? The unlimited dinner programs are you and a physician watching a webcast or pre-recorded program. Don't make it sound like we can take docs to dinner because that ain't the case.

You really make them watch it? Come on...

Originally Posted by Anonymous

3 weeks of hell. Have fun!

No time to poo either.

So true. I had to hold it in all day. My pharts too.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

So true. I had to hold it in all day. My pharts too.

I'm the one who left the upper decker last Tuesday morning. Homos !

Sounds like any other well trained Biopharma to me. Nothing new, but still very stressful. I'll take it....

I hear Emily is outstanding at Dictation. Everytime she opens her mouth... the dictation begins and she is very thorough! In fact - you might say she makes a clean sweep of her Dictation. I'm proud of the work load she is able to swallow in her Dictation

The epitome of a pharmaceutical company, but worse. I cannot express how oppressive this shitbag company is. JT may be the biggest scumbag on this planet and will kill his mother if it got the numbers up. He will sell you on this amazing idea of what a great company this is. Will take the class to REI and buy you stuff to sucker you in. Don't fall for it!! Get out now. This place changes people for the worse. I've seen great people sell out after buying in and are completely different people. It's really sad. Fuck Salix and all of management. Bunch of scum, all of them. And before the replies come that I probably couldn't handle it and got fired. Go fuck yourselves. I quit this bitch!

Originally Posted by Anonymous

The epitome of a pharmaceutical company, but worse. I cannot express how oppressive this shitbag company is. JT may be the biggest scumbag on this planet and will kill his mother if it got the numbers up. He will sell you on this amazing idea of what a great company this is. Will take the class to REI and buy you stuff to sucker you in. Don't fall for it!! Get out now. This place changes people for the worse. I've seen great people sell out after buying in and are completely different people. It's really sad. Fuck Salix and all of management. Bunch of scum, all of them. And before the replies come that I probably couldn't handle it and got fired. Go fuck yourselves. I quit this bitch!

Isn't JT like 70, and still dresses like a teenage boy. What a weirdo that guy is. Then there is SP. He can't even speak clearly.

I have an interview coming up in Texas. I am really hesitant after reading all this...I very rarely look at cafepharma, but was curious about what to expect on Salix. Other than paycheck, can anyone please give some positives..anything....if you only have negatives, please do not reply. Thanks

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Wake up at 5am and begin study session at 6am.
Classroom 7:30 am - 5:00pm
Hotel study sessions from 6:00pm - 11:00pm
Re-read first line.
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SMILING OR LOOKING LIKE YOU ARE HAVING FUN, THAT IS FROWN UPON. You aren't taking the training serious enough if you are smiling.
No trips home or weekend vistors.

Six days a week for three weeks. No free / personal time. They even pay for your dry cleaning so you don't have to do laundry. You can order room service to the hotel study suite so you can remain trapped in the room.

Memorize the P.I. because most of the exams are essay (write out the indication, study conclusion, dosing instructions WORD FOR WORD, etc. - Ashley, a.k.a. The Lieutenant, will mark it wrong if one word is missing). The Trainers work very hard but will rat you out if it makes them look good. They are all vieing for the next DM position.

You don't learn how to sell the product. All you learn is how to memorize a study or P.I.
They enjoy have a "tough boot camp" training program because they only want the "best of the best". They think they are the Pfizer of the GI world.

OMG.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

OMG.

SO TRUE!!

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Wake up at 5am and begin study session at 6am.
Classroom 7:30 am - 5:00pm
Hotel study sessions from 6:00pm - 11:00pm
Re-read first line.
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SMILING OR LOOKING LIKE YOU ARE HAVING FUN, THAT IS FROWNED UPON. You aren't taking the training serious enough if you are smiling.
No trips home or weekend vistors.

Six days a week for three weeks. No free / personal time. They even pay for your dry cleaning so you don't have to do laundry. You can order room service to the hotel study suite so you can remain trapped in the room.

Memorize the P.I. because most of the exams are essay (write out the indication, study conclusion, dosing instructions WORD FOR WORD, etc. - Ashley, a.k.a. The Lieutenant, will mark it wrong if one word is missing). The Trainers work very hard but will rat you out if it makes them look good. They are all vieing for the next DM position.

You don't learn how to sell the product. All you learn is how to memorize a study or P.I.
They enjoy have a "tough boot camp" training program because they only want the "best of the best". They think they are the Pfizer of the GI world.

This is still accurate and true.

Word is the Ladies can make it easier on themselves by letting the lutenient "tutor" them after hours.....