In 5 Years......

Would like to take the 20 years of Leadership experience I had with Merck off of my resume. Can't even get an interview with CSO's. I am starting to think my experience is a handicap.

For positions with smaller companies that I can do in my sleep...no call backs.

 

I will be gone!

 

In 5 years I'll have 40 and be extremely ready to retire, with a pension, maybe? I've given my all to this company, with mixed feelings to be sure. After 15 years, I began to have serious doubts about Merck and really didn't think I'd last this long. Our management has been atrocious since Vagelos left. That's when I began limiting my contributions to our 401-k. I started investing in Regeneron, believing Roy's leadership would be a great benefit to them. It's taken a little time but my original purchase at $5/share closed today at $451.77/share. Thank you Roy for your time at Merck and giving me 15 great years of employment with this company. But more than that Roy, thank you for Regeneron and making me a multi-millionaire. Now I don't worry so much about the next 5 years or what might happen to my glorious Merck pension.

 

True dat!

 

Good for you!

 

I remember when Roy V. Left Merck. I too bought stock in Regeneron at single digits but sold it way to early. Wish I would have held on longer.

Took the early retirement package at Merck last summer after 26 years ( 17 in management mostly in CV ).

Applied with Regeneron for a DM position and did not even get a phone screen. Applied for a reimbursement / access specialist and did not qualify because of mandatory self injection experience. They ended up hiring people with no CV experience to launch their PCSK9 cholesterol drug but knew how to handle an epi-pen like the best of them.

Don't think Vagelos is in charge anymore. I would unload the stock and take your profit from the boom in biotech. Correction coming soon.

 

Hey, Regeneron has a reputation! I applied a few times and never heard a thing. Even had the exact requirements. Impossible site to enter and then your resume is swallowed up into a black hole....Bet you need to know someone. Strange. Don't ever expect to hear anything...

 

Yeah- P Roy will be 86 this fall but he enjoys excellent health. I think he is still Chairman of the Board at Regeneron believe it or not! I'm concerned about the potential biotech bubble but it is nothing like the tech bubble, so it's difficult to predict. Big pharma all use biotechs these days and that's not likely to change anytime soon, so biotech still may be able to extend their positive performance. That said, I did sell half of my shares.

 

I agree with other poster who said Regeneron is hard to get into. But also working against you is age. Seems like every pharma company (contract sales organizations included) prefer to hire young people...mostly because they cost less....but I'm sure there are other factors: older employees intimidate younger managers...the idea that "sex sells", and you're no longer that sexy. And the worst part is, there is nothing you can do about this rampant age discrimination that is going on.

 

I had a female manager who only wanted young, single, people because she wanted them out with doctors at programs/dinners all of the time and felt older reps had too many responsibilities when they had kids. This industry is a riot.

 

But typical oldies usually have q strong work ethic. A few trips to he hairdresser can do wonders for older reps, male and female! Wine, not soda pop!

 

Totally agree...but no amount of fixin' will change the age that you are...and they know your age (can't apply online without specifying year of college degree). You would think that a strong work ethic would make a difference...but with the abundance of laid-off pharma reps to choose from, they are selecting those with only a few years of experience.

In one case I questioned a recruiter about why I wasn't being called for an interview, when I had all of the qualifications for the position...he actually said "my client is a young company, and they are looking for young reps".

If you have specialty sales in your background, and a hiring company is looking for and willing to pay a higher salary for your particular experience, then the older rep has a better shot at being hired. But if as an older rep your background is in primary care, you are toast (unless you know someone who is pushing for you...that's a different story).

Bottom line, in this market, everyone has to network...just applying online usually means your resume ends up in a black hole.

 

I've been interviewing and I notice its a quick end to the process when a young and or inexperienced manager meets you. That eliminates about half the jobs immediately. Its usually all about their insecurity.

 

I feel for all of you where age has become a factor in your employment. It is a great challenge to deal with being overqualified for jobs that you'd at least like to be given a shot at interviewing for, that you could probably do in y our sleep, and yet you're lucky to be given even a rejection letter in reply to your correspondence. It simply sucks but that's the way it is. I'm at the point where I'm not sure what I'll be doing in the next 5 hours, 5 days, or 5 months, let alone 5 years!

 

Comment like young company wanting young reps could get that company in big trouble. Why are they immune to EEO laws? Age balance of hires is an issue.

Jobs usually don't ask the years of graduation theses days, they might have had law suits about this age screening method. Some people say just don't go back more than 10 years on your resume. Problem arises when experience from 12 or 15 years ago is stronger than your newer jobs.

 

Do not enter school dates.

I'm finding companies promote their own primary care reps into specialty and for these jobs generally take their own before an outsider. My network is worried about their own jobs because their companies are also having downsizings! A few helpful but nothing muc here.