Look, its still a great job for only one reason: the pay is above average in the sales profession.
Try other sales jobs. You will work 2X as hard and make a few bucks less. BUT, in time, you will make more in other sales jobs AND you will be more respected by your customers and your company and you will have more leverage to use your relationships with other companies.
The problem with pharma. is that there are too many arrogant people in it. And, they don't care about what you have done in the industry. If you get downsized, for example, they think you are not a good salesperson, which is total BS.
My suggestion is the NEVER get into this industry. If you are stuck in the industy, your best best is to move into management. Don't stay as a rep. It is not good. You will get downsized and you will lose a lot of respect from others because you look like you lacked the ambition to move up. I know it sounds silly, but that is pharma. for you.
In other industries, if you are a producer, you are looked up to. You can pick your own hours. You become more of an expert as well.
In pharma., if you stay in field sales, you will be looked upon as a hack after about 5 years unless you moved into managment.
With all that said, there really are no bad pharma. companies, because the pay is very good for such a structured and generally easy job.
