Merck to cut 600 Sales Reps by end of next month

BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Correct

 

Sales reps have addresses in PA

 

The number of employees let go since 2008 ----- 46000+ !!!!!

 

Wow...in just six years....

 

They aren't even close to being finished.

 

It's not old news to anyone who doesn't work at Merck.

 

Okay, what is your suggestion then? Just keep interviewing for sales jobs?

 

Step 1- Find a recruiter in your area that deals with pharmaceuticals or biotech. Companies are hiring, just not the Big 5. You have talent and skills which smaller companies want, so start with these guys. You will find that smaller (start-up) companies revere experience. Be flexible; will you replace the salary at Merck...probably not but you should come close.

 

why in the world would you want to stay in the pharmaceutical industry, unless you plan on getting into management to try and make a career out of it?? that makes no sense…

You are almost assuring yourself of a crisis (by staying in pharma) when you get into your 40s and 50s because the job "skills" are not recognized by other industries, and you will be left high and dry at a critical time…

bad advice cochise…yes, maybe the biotech's offer a little better chance of survival, but even with them, you are just waiting for the next layoff…

go back to school and get out of sales, or get into an industry, where they don't throw away older sales reps like yesterday's garbage.

 

Idiots. Read the 10-k, which is a legally binding document. It's 29000 (to round). Not small, but that's the real number. There are about 12,000 positions still to be eliminated though. Sigh....

 

Dental mfg reps
Insurance or Real Estate
Banking / Finance
Grainger likes ex pharma

All these offer lower salary but better stability.

 

Why are we working?

 

You are actually paying attention!!! Why are people surprised at new lay offs, the company has told us they will cut until 65,000 are left. Last I heard, the company still employs 76,000.

 

As of end of June, 73,000 (in earnings announcement). 2250 more folks will be gone when Consumer Care sale to Bayer goes through end of 2014.

 

I didn't know you were

 

You're a little behind. Ken was saying 65k after the horror of the merger started to show. Now, with patent cliff after patent cliff and far fewer launches than were anticipated he's looking for a much lower number. My guess is about 45k when all is said and done.

 

Thanks

 

Good info

 

Could be 15-20k or more on loss and another 5k less on bonus with contract. Have strong resume and jobs are tight. Big competition. Small companies fewer and will not pay big.