If you are under 50

Discussion in 'Merck' started by anonymous, Nov 23, 2018 at 11:25 AM.

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  1. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    If you are under 50, you should be sprinting out of the sales role in pharmaceuticals. Everyone comments about what a farce this job is, they are correct and management knows it.
    Within 10 years the contraction will have reached a point that about 10% of current reps will be employed. I know many of you are hoping you can be in that 10% and some are in denial about what is occurring before them. The Merck rep will be remembered as a Blockbuster clerk.
    If you have a family to support then you have a responsibility to take care of them.
     

  2. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    While you are correct that the job is a complete farce and a very poor "career" choice, I wouldn't worry to
    much about this huge contraction you speak of...Sure, there has been a contraction to some extent, but for
    the most part, the more things have changed the more they have stayed the same...

    The pharmaceutical industry is among the richest and most corrupt industries in the world...The are ridiculously heavy in middle and senior management and are one of the best places you can receive corporate welfare in America. Management knows the job is a farce, but they need their useful idiots below them to keep their jobs
    and gravy train rolling.

    Your advice is good...Leave pharmaceuticals because its a terrible, unfulfilling job that is pure food delivery now. Don't leave it out of fear of job cuts...They happen in any company these days...
     
  3. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Heard this 10 years ago, will still be Chicken Little’s like you 10 years from now. Need to hire people who have the ability to sell, they will always be in need in all industries. You are correct, people like you will get weeded out, anyone can go collect signatures!
     
  4. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    These comments may be true but many reps have become millionaires over the longterm. This will change for sure but if you were on this train historically and kept your nose clean you probably did very well.
     
  5. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    I concur with OP.
    While it is true there is a huge multilayered midddle management glut in this industry that is dependent on a sales force to manage, this only slows the inevitable.

    It was once a great industry where many folks retired in enviable positions. Today, we are simply hanging on to a wounded and dying animal. If you actually believe this gravy train will continue unabated for another 20 years then you are indeed a fool. Wait another 1 to 3 years (depending on the litigious aspects of Januvia patent) and you will see chronic care disappear. Merck will maintain a specialty sales force and that’s it. A slow and painful death will have occurred over about a 20 year period. How many Mreps were there in 2000? How many will be here in 2021? If you do not think that is a contraction of major proportions then you are simply ignorant.

    This same path is being followed by every major pharma company. There are smaller specilty companies with smaller sales forces covering huge geographic areas but the overall numbers are way down. In 2000, there were almost 100,000 reps across the USA. Today there are about 65,000. This will continue as delivery networks consolidate, managed care shapes choices and products lose patent.

    Sorry guys but this is simply not a good career choice. Maybe you get lucky but that like hedging you retirement on the lottery
     
  6. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Better odds with the lottery. Pharma failed to change with the times and remained adamant and arrogant that their way was the only way. Well, customers showed them who’s the real boss.
    Retiring in Jan after 34 years, it was a great ride for the first 15, so-so for the next 5, and totally miserable the last 14.
    I’m leaving with a very sound financial position, had a good ride, but can’t wait to say goodbye.
    If you stay .... or even last 5 yrs..... get the hell out before it’s too late. Even specialty and biotech is going to the Pharma ways.
    Their days are numbered.
     
  7. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    sooo true—Happy Retirement!
     
  8. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Is 3 million or 5 million needed to retire?
     
  9. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    2-3 Million will do just perfectly! Obviously the more the better especially if your spouse is high maintenance requiring designer items, pool boy, gardener, lavish vacations three times a year. Gonna need 8-10 million for that lifestyle.
     
  10. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    3M it is then!
     
  11. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Thank you.
     
  12. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    I've got $2mil. No debts. Enjoyed the good life while I we were younger, but always spent below our means.
    With SS, Medicare don't see running out of money anytime soon.
    If we do, there's always the welfare dole that half the country is receiving. If the govt has the bucks to support the illegal parasites and the bums of society, they have the money to support me.

    Plan to spend our money spoiling the grandkids.
     
  13. decade501

    decade501 New Member

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    What a bunch of bull, solid salary, benefits 401k, 3 hour work days, out of any other industry this is top of the top for college grads
     
  14. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    yes, but you fail to see what happens when you are no longer a fresh-faced college grad...

    this is a great first job right out of school, but if you stay more than 2 years in pharmaceutical sales,
    you are really looking for trouble and sabotaging yourself for the future...

    Pharma sales is an absolutely terrible job. Let me repeat: Terrible job...It was once one of the best
    jobs in America. Now, it is like gnawing off your own arm cuz you need a snack...

    Bad, bad job choice for the future...Greed ruined the industry.
     
  15. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Not for me. Maybe it’s just you?
     
  16. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Had a great 35 year run in the pharmaceutical industry. The comments above are interesting. Little do these people (who THINK) they are so secure see what is on the horizon. Social security will be redistributed as it and Medicare are not sustainable. Be prepared to forfeit some ss and you will be paying a lot more for Medicare especially when universal health care gets started thanks to the socialistic democrats. People will be assessed by their total wealth and upwardly taxed accordingly. As for the industry: heard the doom and gloom going back years. The job would not be there; etc. Sort of like President Trump: he will never win, he will never finish one year, two years....wrong. The salary is great as are the benefits and the car; you have to do something so you might as well do a pharma rep job as it beats a lot of others no matter what the pessimists say; most of them are just JEALOUS and angry. Like the socialistic democrats who lost the election.
     
  17. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Exactly - right on. Enjoy retirement, you earned it.
     
  18. decade501

    decade501 New Member

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    Yea I see many pessimists on these boards but little do they realize how hard it is outside pharma. Above average salary, 401k benefits car seals the deal for any job out of college no matter what you say. Depending on TA and territory and your boss, you could have a good long run
     
  19. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    I been at this for 27 years. Gonna retire within 6 mos. I got over 2M and I’m not worried about a thing. No debt.

    This job is and has been for a long time absolutely silly. I don’t give a shit, I was just riding it out for the $$. FU corporate America, I will take you for every cent I can. We r nothing but a number on a ledger to them, they will fuck you so I will fuck them first. I say play this game as long as possible, drive around lying about calls. Drop a few samples, sling some deli and cash that check.

    Anyone think KF gives a shit about anything beyond his own ass——nope.

    FU mother.
     
  20. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    So grateful that I got to be a part of this industry for almost 20 years. It has changed greatly for the worst - greed did that - but it gave me & my family a better than average life & I am thankful.