Got a call about 2 weeks ago from a recruiter, had a f2f interview last week for a 'very profitable' territory. This is what both the recruiter stated on the phone, and hiring manager said at the interview. Obviously there was a previous rep in the territory prior, but now the territory is open. Did pfizer lay off reps recently? Also, if it's a highly profitable territory, why would they lay off the rep, then turn around and hire someone else for the position?? I'm curious as I wouldn't want to leave my current position, only to be fired a year or two down the road, 'just because' this is the protocol here. Judging from the products, I am certain the rep did very well. How often are reps laid off for PC BU territories? And if lay offs are common, does pfizer lay off the lowest ranking reps or how do they determine who will be laid off? Thanks in advance
Pfizer will retain those who generate the lowest overhead. ie: the new guy….low salary, no pension, etc
What's considered a low salary for PC BU division? So basically pfizer lays off reps even when there are no mass lay offs in the company?
No. Usually only mass layoff. Unless rep was fired due to performance or other issue. Or promoted. Low salary is probably about 65K. I am really only taking an educated guess at the salary, though. I do not know for sure. Probably accurate, though. When you say the territory was described as profitable….what does that mean? Profitable for the company or profitable for the rep?
Hiring manager implied profitable for the rep. Knowing the medication now, I am sure it does well in any territory.
Your prob talking about Viagra but obviously if the drug performed well in the past then the quota will reflect that. To be honest I wouldn't want to step in to a profitable territory since the goals will be higher. I rather go into an underperforming territory that has low goals
So what's base, commission or total take home in this division? I was told over 100k but now I feel like maybe they're pullin my leg a bit. For PC the numbers seem a bit high. Stock included?
The rep could also have left on his/her own for a better gig. If you read the posts on this site, most of the people would jump at a chance for a better job. There are lots of people who leave Pfizer (or are looking to leave). I heard in the NE that a number of DSR's and even DMs are jumping ship for better jobs/companies. Company tries to keep the news of DMs leaving quit- but in 2013 there are at least two who left for greener pastures. Also consolidations going on when DM'S move inside so they aren't replaced(Pain side). Yes boys and girls-it's happened.
The territory is likely open due to the rep getting promoted to another division, because an opening popped up recently in the rheum division selling xeljanz [sp?]. "Profitable" is a joke. If you kick butt and make goal, you're looking at about $18k in bonuses as a PHR. Positions come open all the time, but they do take their sweet time deciding when and if to fill them. Pfizer as a company IMO is stuck on stupid. They still believe in the big pharma detailing and force you to show ipad slides in a certain order every single time you see your doctors, like a used car salesman forced to sell by script. The only reason we succeed is because most of us don't follow such stupidity and just converse with our docs and try to persuade them professionally and not like robots. If you have a cool manager, then the only thing in this job that sucks is the corporate training, the lack of samples, the low bonuses and the way they constantly "revise" and change our goals and IC plans, along with the inaccurate IMS numbers we constantly come across and nobody gives a shit above you to correct them.
Oh, the reasons there are some territories open are many and varied. The only commonality is that none of them are good: 1. Managed care sucks and the product is not covered anywhere. There are territories that cover Urology with Toviaz, for example, that have been dead in the water since the drug was launched 2. There is a direct counterpart that sucks the life out of the room that no one wants to work with. Most people can figure out how to work around an asshole/prima donna DM, but a counterpart is a different story 3. Geography. Some of the territories are huge. Especially when you are in a Subaru with seats that actually hurt to sit on. 4. Some products are getting their asses kicked by the competition or generics and sometimes competition AND generics and there is a very limited list of things of things that can be done (like VIAGRA. Lilly's marketing team wiped the floor with Pfizer's)
All damn good points! I'd add, some very solid reps have been pulled away by other companies offering much more money and smaller territories, with no foreseeable layoffs. Ex-DMs have gone to new companies and recruit their good reps with them. Some territories have a larger share of a few managed care insurers that changed their formulary status for your drugs and it absolutely fucked you over, yet Pfizer does not give one shit about it and you get fucked by no or little bonus, a bottom ranking, and a shitty annual review, which puts you on the chopping block if any layoffs or your manager wants to put you on plan. Now your DBM decides your fate when it comes to half your bonus and ranking, because they will SUBJECTIVELY decide how well you do for half of your bonus, even if you kick ass on your Rx goals, they can screw you over on their portion of reviewing you. So you must go above and beyond what's needed to do your job well, just to please your DBM. Pfizer requires so much extracurricular activity to look good in managements' eyes, you would never believe what it takes. This company is all about show and ass kissing, but you also must have phenomenal numbers. This feat is nearly impossible, so people jump ship and find companies that reward you for making them money, and that's it.
