So, You've been out of Pharma for 5+ yrs. How's it going?

[anonymous]

Hi,
I was devastated when let go as soon as i hit my 40's on some trumped up/bogus compliance charge.

I'm 50 now and so very glad to be out. I established myself on the healthcare administrative side and earned another Masters -MHA/MBA. I've advanced 3 times in this new career and find myself valuable due to years of experience before, during and after pharma. So, I dont feel threatened like I would in pharma to sustain my family. I

What are you doing with your pharma experience. It's really great experience to leverage, if you know how. I was trained in early 90s on the total sell via personalities and tailoring the conversation and close to that personality. As i need to gain buy-in with other cross-functional teams, I use my sales techniques conversationally to gain commitment and advance goals. I also learned how to multi-task, present and manage a crowd in pharma. I use that daily. Also, I stay current on technology implementation to streamline workflows.

Instead of complaining about what a waste of time Pharma has been. Share what you have done with your experience and how you've transformed it to pay your bills. If you havent learned how to do that, I hope this thread helps you. Every experience has something to gain from it.

 

[anonymous]

Hi,
I was devastated when let go as soon as i hit my 40's on some trumped up/bogus compliance charge.

I'm 50 now and so very glad to be out. I established myself on the healthcare administrative side and earned another Masters -MHA/MBA. I've advanced 3 times in this new career and find myself valuable due to years of experience before, during and after pharma. So, I dont feel threatened like I would in pharma to sustain my family. I

What are you doing with your pharma experience. It's really great experience to leverage, if you know how. I was trained in early 90s on the total sell via personalities and tailoring the conversation and close to that personality. As i need to gain buy-in with other cross-functional teams, I use my sales techniques conversationally to gain commitment and advance goals. I also learned how to multi-task, present and manage a crowd in pharma. I use that daily. Also, I stay current on technology implementation to streamline workflows.

Instead of complaining about what a waste of time Pharma has been. Share what you have done with your experience and how you've transformed it to pay your bills. If you havent learned how to do that, I hope this thread helps you. Every experience has something to gain from it.

You just helped me out tremendously on how to explain or “spin” what I do on a daily basis...interview coming up soon.

 

[anonymous]

You just helped me out tremendously on how to explain or “spin” what I do on a daily basis...interview coming up soon.

Well, the heavy rain is due later this afternoon! It's very cloudy now, but the temperature is in the low 70's. Hopefully by tomorrow afternoon, it will stay in 70's, and any rain will stop. Amitiza and I went to the lake earlier and saw some of...

 

[anonymous]

It is going absolutely terribly from a financial standpoint...Have been living on savings for the better part of 8 years now and am a few winks away from 60. Pharma turned out to be an absolute disastrous career choice. I thought everyone made 100K for working part time? The industry is a sham and the job is a charade.

I spend my days pickin' thrift stores and flea markets trying to make a few shekels online with Ebay, Craigslist etc. It' ain't pretty but at least I'm not lying everyday and filling out some dumb, pointless spread sheet to keep some nitwit in a monkey suit at bay.

I fell about as far as you can fall. (I was management level corporate and national accounts manager.)

On a positive note, I am fully awake now. Spiritually, I am way more zen and looking back on it all, I can't believe I peddled those poisons and jabs to make a living.

Evil evil friggin' industry. Fleecing the public...So glad I am out...Bank account looks sucky but I have grown
tremendously from the experience. Mothers, don't let your children become drug reps.

 

[anonymous]

Hi,
I was devastated when let go as soon as i hit my 40's on some trumped up/bogus compliance charge.

I'm 50 now and so very glad to be out. I established myself on the healthcare administrative side and earned another Masters -MHA/MBA. I've advanced 3 times in this new career and find myself valuable due to years of experience before, during and after pharma. So, I dont feel threatened like I would in pharma to sustain my family. I

What are you doing with your pharma experience. It's really great experience to leverage, if you know how. I was trained in early 90s on the total sell via personalities and tailoring the conversation and close to that personality. As i need to gain buy-in with other cross-functional teams, I use my sales techniques conversationally to gain commitment and advance goals. I also learned how to multi-task, present and manage a crowd in pharma. I use that daily. Also, I stay current on technology implementation to streamline workflows.

Instead of complaining about what a waste of time Pharma has been. Share what you have done with your experience and how you've transformed it to pay your bills. If you havent learned how to do that, I hope this thread helps you. Every experience has something to gain from it.

 

[anonymous]

Hi,
I was devastated when let go as soon as i hit my 40's on some trumped up/bogus compliance charge.

I'm 50 now and so very glad to be out. I established myself on the healthcare administrative side and earned another Masters -MHA/MBA. I've advanced 3 times in this new career and find myself valuable due to years of experience before, during and after pharma. So, I dont feel threatened like I would in pharma to sustain my family. I

What are you doing with your pharma experience. It's really great experience to leverage, if you know how. I was trained in early 90s on the total sell via personalities and tailoring the conversation and close to that personality. As i need to gain buy-in with other cross-functional teams, I use my sales techniques conversationally to gain commitment and advance goals. I also learned how to multi-task, present and manage a crowd in pharma. I use that daily. Also, I stay current on technology implementation to streamline workflows.

Instead of complaining about what a waste of time Pharma has been. Share what you have done with your experience and how you've transformed it to pay your bills. If you havent learned how to do that, I hope this thread helps you. Every experience has something to gain from it.

It is going absolutely terribly from a financial standpoint...Have been living on savings for the better part of 8 years now and am a few winks away from 60. Pharma turned out to be an absolute disastrous career choice. I thought everyone made 100K for working part time? The industry is a sham and the job is a charade.

I spend my days pickin' thrift stores and flea markets trying to make a few shekels online with Ebay, Craigslist etc. It' ain't pretty but at least I'm not lying everyday and filling out some dumb, pointless spread sheet to keep some nitwit in a monkey suit at bay.

I fell about as far as you can fall. (I was management level corporate and national accounts manager.)

On a positive note, I am fully awake now. Spiritually, I am way more zen and looking back on it all, I can't believe I peddled those poisons and jabs to make a living.

Evil evil friggin' industry. Fleecing the public...So glad I am out...Bank account looks sucky but I have grown
tremendously from the experience. Mothers, don't let your children become drug reps.

 

[anonymous]

It is going absolutely terribly from a financial standpoint...Have been living on savings for the better part of 8 years now and am a few winks away from 60. Pharma turned out to be an absolute disastrous career choice. I thought everyone made 100K for working part time? The industry is a sham and the job is a charade.

I spend my days pickin' thrift stores and flea markets trying to make a few shekels online with Ebay, Craigslist etc. It' ain't pretty but at least I'm not lying everyday and filling out some dumb, pointless spread sheet to keep some nitwit in a monkey suit at bay.

I fell about as far as you can fall. (I was management level corporate and national accounts manager.)

On a positive note, I am fully awake now. Spiritually, I am way more zen and looking back on it all, I can't believe I peddled those poisons and jabs to make a living.

Evil evil friggin' industry. Fleecing the public...So glad I am out...Bank account looks sucky but I have grown
tremendously from the experience. Mothers, don't let your children become drug reps.

 

[anonymous]

It is going absolutely terribly from a financial standpoint...Have been living on savings for the better part of 8 years now and am a few winks away from 60. Pharma turned out to be an absolute disastrous career choice. I thought everyone made 100K for working part time? The industry is a sham and the job is a charade.

I spend my days pickin' thrift stores and flea markets trying to make a few shekels online with Ebay, Craigslist etc. It' ain't pretty but at least I'm not lying everyday and filling out some dumb, pointless spread sheet to keep some nitwit in a monkey suit at bay.

I fell about as far as you can fall. (I was management level corporate and national accounts manager.)

On a positive note, I am fully awake now. Spiritually, I am way more zen and looking back on it all, I can't believe I peddled those poisons and jabs to make a living.

Evil evil friggin' industry. Fleecing the public...So glad I am out...Bank account looks sucky but I have grown
tremendously from the experience. Mothers, don't let your children become drug reps.

Excellent points here...good on you for getting on with the rest of your life.

Do you at least have some retirement funds to access or have the last 8 years cleaned you out?

 

[anonymous]

It is going absolutely terribly from a financial standpoint...Have been living on savings for the better part of 8 years now and am a few winks away from 60. Pharma turned out to be an absolute disastrous career choice. I thought everyone made 100K for working part time? The industry is a sham and the job is a charade.


I spend my days pickin' thrift stores and flea markets trying to make a few shekels online with Ebay, Craigslist etc. It' ain't pretty but at least I'm not lying everyday and filling out some dumb, pointless spread sheet to keep some nitwit in a monkey suit at bay.


I fell about as far as you can fall. (I was management level corporate and national accounts manager.)


On a positive note, I am fully awake now. Spiritually, I am way more Zen and looking back on it all, I can't believe I peddled those poisons and jabs to make a living.


Evil evil friggin' industry. Fleecing the public...So glad I am out...Bank account looks sucky but I have grown

tremendously from the experience. Mothers, don't let your children become drug reps.

 

[anonymous]

Excellent points here...good on you for getting on with the rest of your life.

Do you at least have some retirement funds to access or have the last 8 years cleaned you out?

yes, I do and thanks for asking...good to know there are a few kind souls left on Cafe Pharma...

I think I am going to make it, but it is going to be very tight, and I pray I stay at least somewhat healthy...

I saved very well thank goodness while I was a rep...But my lifestyle is drastically different now...But you make the adjustments you need to make after the shock (and disappointment of being treated that way) wears off...

 

[anonymous]

yes, I do and thanks for asking...good to know there are a few kind souls left on Cafe Pharma...

I think I am going to make it, but it is going to be very tight, and I pray I stay at least somewhat healthy...

I saved very well thank goodness while I was a rep...But my lifestyle is drastically different now...But you make the adjustments you need to make after the shock (and disappointment of being treated that way) wears off...

Glad to hear you have something tucked away. And it is such an artificial environment that I’ve only seen one “successful” transition from pharma to “general population”...he had a social work degree and was near retirement age. Others have gone bankrupt, divorce due to lifestyle deflation not going over “real well” and one gal fell so far she turned to turning tricks after a few years post-pharma folly & debauchery. I kid you not. Again...glad you’re doing ok...it could always be a lot worse.

 

[anonymous]

Hi,
I was devastated when let go as soon as i hit my 40's on some trumped up/bogus compliance charge.

I'm 50 now and so very glad to be out. I established myself on the healthcare administrative side and earned another Masters -MHA/MBA. I've advanced 3 times in this new career and find myself valuable due to years of experience before, during and after pharma. So, I dont feel threatened like I would in pharma to sustain my family. I

What are you doing with your pharma experience. It's really great experience to leverage, if you know how. I was trained in early 90s on the total sell via personalities and tailoring the conversation and close to that personality. As i need to gain buy-in with other cross-functional teams, I use my sales techniques conversationally to gain commitment and advance goals. I also learned how to multi-task, present and manage a crowd in pharma. I use that daily. Also, I stay current on technology implementation to streamline workflows.

Instead of complaining about what a waste of time Pharma has been. Share what you have done with your experience and how you've transformed it to pay your bills. If you havent learned how to do that, I hope this thread helps you. Every experience has something to gain from it.

Retired at 44 with 2 paid houses on each coast.

The key was not marrying a money grabbing woman and having not bratty children.

I won.

 

[anonymous]

Hi,
I was devastated when let go as soon as i hit my 40's on some trumped up/bogus compliance charge.

I'm 50 now and so very glad to be out. I established myself on the healthcare administrative side and earned another Masters -MHA/MBA. I've advanced 3 times in this new career and find myself valuable due to years of experience before, during and after pharma. So, I dont feel threatened like I would in pharma to sustain my family. I

What are you doing with your pharma experience. It's really great experience to leverage, if you know how. I was trained in early 90s on the total sell via personalities and tailoring the conversation and close to that personality. As i need to gain buy-in with other cross-functional teams, I use my sales techniques conversationally to gain commitment and advance goals. I also learned how to multi-task, present and manage a crowd in pharma. I use that daily. Also, I stay current on technology implementation to streamline workflows.

Instead of complaining about what a waste of time Pharma has been. Share what you have done with your experience and how you've transformed it to pay your bills. If you havent learned how to do that, I hope this thread helps you. Every experience has something to gain from it.

key to pharma is to NEVER get into this industry.

a. you are surrounded by narcissists.
b. its a very unstable industry.
c. the upside is not good for performers.
d. no creativity is allowed.

good luck. don't do it. trust me on this.

 

[anonymous]

Like the OP, I was also canned for bogus reasons. I struggled for a few years but am back to making 6 figures in home improvement sales. I plan to retire when my son finishes college in a few years.

I started in pharma way back in the mid 80's. I witnessed the industry change from one I felt proud to work in to the cesspool it is today. A friend recently contacted me about a job opening his company had in my geography. I told him thanks, but no thanks.

 

[anonymous]

Like the OP, I was also canned for bogus reasons. I struggled for a few years but am back to making 6 figures in home improvement sales. I plan to retire when my son finishes college in a few years.

I started in pharma way back in the mid 80's. I witnessed the industry change from one I felt proud to work in to the cesspool it is today. A friend recently contacted me about a job opening his company had in my geography. I told him thanks, but no thanks.

Good for you.

The toxic environment, with silly field ride check lists and other endless administrative nonsense have turning this into a JOB.

Its definitely NOT sales, unless you have your own territory, and work with a small company with a high degree of accountability and non micromanagement.

A true sales career was never meant to be micromanaged. If you are in that situation, get out. Show yourself some respect, and get out, because at the end of the day, the majority of people in pharmaceutical sales are NOT good at sales, and are just an extension of the marketing and HR department.

 

[anonymous]

Glad to hear you have something tucked away. And it is such an artificial environment that I’ve only seen one “successful” transition from pharma to “general population”...he had a social work degree and was near retirement age. Others have gone bankrupt, divorce due to lifestyle deflation not going over “real well” and one gal fell so far she turned to turning tricks after a few years post-pharma folly & debauchery. I kid you not. Again...glad you’re doing ok...it could always be a lot worse.[/QUOTE

thanks again...you totally get it...

And I wouldn't judge the gal that turned hooker for one second...

Lord knows, being a drup rep was more immoral than any prostitute could be...

 

[anonymous]

Glad to hear you have something tucked away. And it is such an artificial environment that I’ve only seen one “successful” transition from pharma to “general population”...he had a social work degree and was near retirement age. Others have gone bankrupt, divorce due to lifestyle deflation not going over “real well” and one gal fell so far she turned to turning tricks after a few years post-pharma folly & debauchery. I kid you not. Again...glad you’re doing ok...it could always be a lot worse.

Would not judge the gal who turned hooker for one second...Lord knows, being a drug rep
was far more immoral than any prostitute could be...

 

[anonymous]

She’s going to Vegas to visit her sponsor! Lmao!

 

[anonymous]

Would not judge the gal who turned hooker for one second...Lord knows, being a drug rep
was far more immoral than any prostitute could be...

True story! Cash on the barrelhead for services provided! No false pretense or a crummy core sales message.

 

[anonymous]

Glad to hear you have something tucked away. And it is such an artificial environment that I’ve only seen one “successful” transition from pharma to “general population”...he had a social work degree and was near retirement age. Others have gone bankrupt, divorce due to lifestyle deflation not going over “real well” and one gal fell so far she turned to turning tricks after a few years post-pharma folly & debauchery. I kid you not. Again...glad you’re doing ok...it could always be a lot worse.

I had to reinvent myself . I got something tucked away too but it isn’t money. It is a surprise if one can appreciate the new me. Out of Pharma