Oncology reps reputation

Discussion in 'Novartis' started by Anonymous, Jan 27, 2012 at 12:41 AM.

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  1. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Have you ever met (other than FLM's) a group of people that think they are better than you just because they changed positions? They went from selling Diovan to selling another Novartis product and suddenly they are superior to the rest of us. I guess it is expected, maybe I would feel the same way.
     

  2. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    They don't think they are superior if they came up via the ranks at Novartis, the ones that are a bit snobby are the reps that were hired from the outside....
     
  3. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    So true...I came from PC and think Oncology is just as stupid!
     
  4. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Haters!! Oncology is where it is at!! Remember boys and girls, "Hate" is considered misguided envy. Now go back and drop your samples biotches while I count my $180K I made last year!!!!
     
  5. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    It is considered an upward move at Novartis (and almost all pharma companies). If you are with Novartis it means that you no longer have a roomate at meetings, an upgraded selector on cars, higher bonus plan and usually within two years you have an increase in your base salary of $10-15K. Within 3-5 years you can make over $130 (I made about $133K by my 5th yr - better than hoping to hit $80K my 5th year selling Diovan). More personal responsibility, (plus dealing with drugs that cost $thousands per month with difficult side effects, and fewer, if any "me too drugs"), treated somewhat better by management, and usually much larger territories and difficult access.

    If you have studied our industry, you know that the biggest ROI is in Oncology and most pharma companies are investing heavily in this area.

    While they may not be "better" as a person they are better off. If you think you can change the "snobby" attitude, then make the move.....if you do make it, your old buddies will certainly call you "snobby" within a year or two...I'd bet on it. Plus, is it confusing Pride with Snobby? So, clean out your nose and stick it high in the air!
     
  6. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    See what I mean?
     
  7. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Mmm, don't agree entirely with you on that. Had close to some 10 managers, 2 were real decent - 4 were totally self absorbed know it all types (they could sell better than anybody they met) and 3 downright horrible. The last one has been a 5 year Oncology Manager and "knows all there is to know about Oncology" - god she is a disappointment. Thinks you have to "detail" high dose, high volume, institutional researchers who use your product exclusively. She doesn't get it that these MDs are more in touch, more often with the Medical Affairs, MSLs, and Brand Teams than she is.

    These types of MDs have treated more patients, had more successes, dealt with more side effects of our product than she'll ever know, read or hear about - yet...damn if she doesn't think I should be out there showing them a brochure and asking for commitments on the talking points. I should be asking them what commitments we can make for them to keep using our product in the fashion they do - but not her. Got to sell the high dose, high volume committed user on what is in the brochure or I'm not a level 5.

    Other than managers, I don't know if I've met many Onc reps that thought they were better than anybody else just because they got into oncology. Most were grateful - some are just full of themselves before they got there - and want to be in management.

    I don't want management - I want to leave the industry and soon as I find an alternative, I'm gone. - Oncology Reps are only interesting to other companies that have oncology products - outside that arena you're just another drug rep likely to be knocking on the door of unemployment.
     
  8. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Of course the Novartis Oncology Rep has been branded as a "Pod Monkey" because of years when 7 reps from Novartis called on every Oncology Office.

    Not a lot of demand for that kind of talent.
     
  9. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Hahaha Pod-Monkey I love that.

    It's embarrassing to see how many of us can pile into an office. If the Oncology position is supposed to be filled with so experienced, so elite representatives, then why do they need managers? Christi says her division is filled with professionals, tons of award winners blah, blah blah - then why do then need managers? WTF has any manager ever really done for a Rep other than make them uncomfortable?
     
  10. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA..."more personal responsibility" HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA spoken like a true cardio rep that was hired by the DM who was a puppet from cardio to add "value" WHAT A FUCKING JOKE.

    One day you will wake up and realize that one of two things are absolute:

    A. I make about as much a difference as a piece of gum placed in the crack of the Hoover Dam or

    B. I can enter calls/programs/QTQ/EDGE/SFDC/ better than a Subway Sandwich Specialist!

    Good luck on the other side.....trust me. I work there...and IT SUCKS.
     
  11. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    My manager carries a Louis Vuitton into calls. She is high on her own importance. She actually believes those coaching reports she fills out after a field contact are good for you. She makes me giggle.
     
  12. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Is she the one that usually takes calls during a presentation and is constantly reading her email when customers are sitting at the table? Problem is...this may describe several of them.
     
  13. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    This thread is the reason why the pharmaceutical industry has a horrible reputation. A bunch of reps bickering over money and "snobbery". Don't forget the end all of your job is the patient.


    I work at Novartis Oncology in clinical development and I never discuss how much many I make or don't make compared to others. It's not about the cushy chairs, modern buildings, or extra 10k bonus it's ultimately about preserving the health of the patient.

    You all should quit the healthcare industry and join wall street if you're so interested in making money.
     
  14. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    You really think Novartis is about helping patients and not about making money? That's funny...
     
  15. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    PC is an entry level job. Oncology is a promotion. They are better than you.
     
  16. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Onc is no better (Hem here) than any other specialty division. If anything we work less. I started with the second wave of hires way back in the 90s. It's disappointing and not good for the work ethic, but your busiest part of the day is getting to and catering lunch. Many days we're just jumping in on a partner's lunch because we have nowhere else to go. NVS reputation management may likely jump in with some nasty slam on this post - but the fact is - we work only a few hours a couple of times a week. We're not better than any other division.
     
  17. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Good post. Money isn't all that. It's COMFORTABLE at best. Hell, my wife makes what I make in 3-4 transactions. People here are content, that's all. Wall street, banking, attorney/partner at a law firm, investors, real estate, NOW THAT'S where the money is. Pharma is 'ok' money, you're not gonna be rich and retire on an island with this pay, that's for sure!!!
     
  18. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Oh come on now! You really think we got in this field because we wanted to help the patients?! That's a really funny statement. It would really be something if one of the MDs I have called on for 20 past years would come up to me and tell me how awesome it is that one of my products improved the life of one of their patients! I think that happened a couple of times after we launched Gleevec but not since that. Most of the time you can see the look on the face of a doc looking like they want to run and hide when they see us!
     
  19. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    You mean reputation as in respect? hahahaha no doctor respects us for spewing management's talking points - they don't respect reps at all. sheesh

    Us old timers have established relationships - but those are built on years of lunches.
     
  20. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    And do you think that they would have any more respect if you lying ignorant fucks were allowed to spew anything that you just pulled out of your uneducated asses?

    And the Sunshine Law has pit an end to those lunches.