Embarrassed to be in pharma

Yeah you're gone so why don't you go away...

 

At least I am not a dickhead like you.

 

Agree100% and top mgt still have no clue, or do they?

 

Top management does what they have always done: take care of themselves and screw the people at the bottom.

I would have to say that most "sharp" managers are not in pharma. They can't be, because the industry has little, if no integrity, and they hire cheerleaders over technical salespeople.

Anyone that has respect for themselves would leave this industry.

 

I've always had good enough common sense to "scope" the office on a visit to know if a doc was running behind. It only taakes half a brain to do so but how many times do we see some idiot rep running his/her mouth on and on basically "tugging on the docs coat" when doc is trying to see a patient? I had a moron boss like this once and docs told me to never bring him with me again.

This is from MSN today re why docs keep patients waiting-just one of many reasons:

They're getting the hard sell
The next time you're hung up at the doctor's or dentist's office, pop-ins by pharmaceutical and other sales reps could be to blame.

"Sales reps just 'stop by' unannounced to sell dental or office supplies a lot. Some of these sale reps can be persistent and talkative and don't know get the hint that we either don't have time to talk about the product at that particular time or that we're just not interested and we need to get back to our patients," says Catrise Austin, M.D., a cosmetic and general dentist in New York City who treats celebrities, and author of "5 Steps to the Hollywood A-List Smile: How the Stars Get That Perfect Smile and How You Can Too!"

 

I never thought I would be embarrassed by Eli Lilly turning into a slimy huckster porn promoting company as in their "four hour erection" ads on family news channels either! Of course CBS money grubbing , greed mongers, can be blamed also for putting up the ads.

 

Funny to see all the negative comments about pharma sales and the lack of work ethic in the industry. I would guess that most people who post on this board are douchebags and/or sandbaggers and that top sales people rarely if ever post or visit cafepharma.

 

Ummm, you've guessed wrong. Obviously you don't know what on earth you're talking about, as I was in the industry for years, award-winning, promoted up the rep ladder as fast as you could be, always on the leader boards, blah blah blah...like many others I knew. Pretty much most of us visited/read CP, as it can be pretty entertaining at times.
Get off these boards if you're too clueless to even make logical, at least semi-informed comments. Even management reads the CP boards. What a tool.

 

How long have you been brainwashed Jacko,lmao?

 

Jacko must be a newbie who has never been in the healthcare field. Thats the reason pharma cos are hiring these unqualified hucksters-to train them like a monkey is trained to parrott the lies they are told.

 

very, very, very, very, very, very, very true.

This is why experienced reps get shut down for jobs.

 

Ok, once in pharma for 10 or 15 years and over fifty, you are not going to find another job unless it's waiting tables or 1099. That is just a fact unless you were or are a RN. The job, even if you are a good rep (courteous, professional, smart, quick, pleasant), is of little value. I do not care who you are because what we do and what we can say is very scripted and doctors hate it. I even had a surgeon recently tell me that she is sick of device reps as well because she does not "need" them in a case and yet they think they are entitled to be there. Most of the offices across the country are closing to reps. Many no longer take any samples at all. Companies have not changed much and, regardless of what they call it, are still in reach and frequency mode despite the cuts and contract workers. I do not see much of a future for pharma sales and maybe not even for big pharma. New channels of marketing will have to be created and ARE being created that do not involve the expense of sales people. Years ago, I remember how training was six months of highly clinical product and disease state knowledge. Now, it is all messaging without substance. Where I used to be able to sit in a back office and truly help to better manage a problem pt and that was my entire day, some asshole in marketing wants me to make six to ten calls a day. Considering drive time is at least three hours on the road, the task is all but impossible. Then there are the ten to twenty emails all with "action" items that are complete B.S. in my mail everyday. Then there is the synching and call recording with business plans. None of it is going to help sell shit since managed care, hospital formulary and the pt themselves are going to dictate what drug is used. As government runs more and more of healthcare, this is only going to worse. I had a doctor the other day afraid of what samples will look like for him with the Sunshine Act. He said most of the healthcare system he belongs to are NOT going to take samples or go to programs anymore because of the public scrutiny. The job is over and it was fun while it lasted. I am going to start my own business in hopes of finding something meaningful to do since there is no way to ever retire on what we've saved, even though we really tried. I don't know if I'm embarrassed to be in pharma but it is a real waste for anyone with a brain who wants meaningful work where they feel truly needed or, at least, productively busy. If there is embarrassment, it comes from the corruption and dumbing down of the job partly due to over-regulation, but mostly due to pharma deciding that training us clinically was no longer necessary. Teleconferences are all about messaging and using some marketing program or compliance and not about keeping current on competitive or clinical information. Sadly, after a ten hour day, I am just too damn tired and unmotivated to sit down and research the field for myself. I know and so do all reps, extra work gets you nothing and no one really cares. Top performers get fired or downsized and some never work again. Why bother in a field that only rewards asskissers?

 

Pharma is an ENTRY LEVEL JOB. That is the answer to all of your problems and complaints. I am sorry for you if you are stuck in this horrible world. When the job market gets better, make your move to a better life.

 

Problem. The job market is not going to improve for those over 45. Not going to happen. The majority of pharma reps will be working in retail for minimum wage and living out their lives in regret.

 

Why? You must be one of those "nitwits" that truly believe we bring value with our canned messaging. We are not allowed to have indepth clinical discussion much anymore due to the perception of off-label promotion. She can read the label on her phone. When it comes to "new" drugs, no doctor really trusts the industry anymore and would rather wait and see how Europe does before prescribing. When you consider all the horrible side effects that pop up after a drug is approved, I think that is wise. If you really knew how bad the industry is at policing itself (not on our end) but on the research side, you'd be hardpressed to take anything new. This industry is in bed with our government and the food industry and none of them really give a damn about better health or your life. You are a dollar sign. They want you to take drugs and stay sick but not end up in the hospital. YOU think about it. Start to add up the shear number of healthcare jobs compared with twenty years ago. Think about all the medications that we take today. Has this really increased life/QOL in the U.S.? No. So, why do you think my doctor is bad and compared to what? I think she likes to read her own information and make her own decisions. She certainly does not need some BA telling her how to practice medicine. Really.

 

thanks for this.
it has been a few months since my last downsize, and I finally understand that this is just a JOB, and nothing else. there is no future here. there is no value in staying in this industry either, as there is no promotion. nothing.

can't bel. just how bad this industry went, so fast. didn't see it coming. and that is too dam bad, because its hard to switch industries, but one must do it, because if you don't, you end up just digging a bigger hole for yourself. not only do you have less opportunites as you get older (if you stay in), but you really don't learn any new skill set and you don't challenge yourself (I am a go getter type that likes challenges).

Its just to the point right now in pharma, that being average is embraced. just don't rock the boat with questions or anything. tote the line. make your ten calls a day. and shut up.

in a few years, you will not see anyone with any intelligence or ambition stay in this industry, except for the golden handcuff crowd, most of whom are not worth two cents anyway.

 

I am embarrassed to be retired from big pharma every time I see one of those stupid, moronic ads on TV or newspaper, especially the ones from the 3 "erection" hustlers. I would never tell anyone I once (or presently) worked for those jerks.

 

you are right, people should not apologize for a paycheck.
HOwever, this industry is sort of like working in the adult entertainment industry. And educated people should find something better to do than work a pole.
Guess it is the same with other industries, being the salesperson, running around and begging for business.
The difference is that doctors are strange, and your pole dances have to be creative and offer much more than the $20 you are getting paid for that dance or $100 for the VIP dance.
I don't go to strip clubs. Can't stand them. Also, I have had enought of pharma sales. Left after 18 months, when the industry was good.
There are better industries that offer better career development is what I am getting at.