Zone Specialists

Did anyone apply for the three new zone specialist positions? Why or why not? What does everyone think about the zone specialist program we already have?

 

Will have to know a bit more on what this position entails. Any insight?

 

One would wonder why we need an additional "zone" position. Don't know whether it's just another growth oriented PITA person or an honest to goodness product support specialist for your region.

 

The mere fact that we are asking what does the position involve tells us that it is a ploy. We have been having good reps leave and being picked off by our competitors because many of those that left were saying that there was no opportunity for advancement. So what they have done is to create a position that they will fill with the rep they feel Is most likely to be lost to a competitor. Much like previous creations it will offer very little money but one will have a title. I'll pass.

 

Sounds like this could be another layer of management. Another step to be taken when trying to get an approval.

 

Why would I apply for a job where I get no extra pay but am expected to do my current work and an additional job? Even for a fraction of the time - what's the benefit? If Merck or the management were serious about development they would promote people and pay them accordingly.

 

You guys are clearly not working for Merck or you would have read the job description and known that the position offers an increase in pay. The position is for those seeking to escalate to Channel Management or to an RM. CM is over run by small, yet worthy accounts that need contracts comparable to those of corporate accounts. My understanding is that the specialist position will be helping to offer some of what other competitors are offering these monster key accounts that are not considered corporate accounts. But what do I know? I just read a job description attached to an email. Don't apply. It will give me more of a chance.

 

we already did this. Remember the Wellness division? It crashed and burned. We already know that the path to RM is to come from the human side and have no experience in animal health.
Without a doubt the decision as to who will be eligible to try out for the RM minor league team will be decided by the current unqualified RMs. Good luck in your application process.

 

Seriously, folk It's not just the RMs that bring the human side to MAH now. Look at all the newer reps. Look at some in Channel Management. Look at a number of divisions. You will find Merck transplants. Or, don't even consider the people - look at the processes and hoops. Look at the Sync sites. Look at anything at all developed by HR.

I've worked for three animal health companies and have been here since Merck took the ship. It is 180 degrees different than it used to be. The human side of Merck is running the show in every respect. And they don't much care if they know our industry or not. They know they have to deliver the quarterly performance to drive Merck stock prices. Pure and simple.

 

Money, Money, Money. Get out there and produce or else, honey !!

 

Kind of quiet. Thought there would be more noise about this position.

 

Not much to say until they rear their ugly heads. Once they become a new part of the nightmare...the comments will multiply.

 

Exactly!

 

Well all the Cafepharma experts were once again off base.

ZS positions have ended up being a development position, they do get a compensation bump, they do work on projects that turn out to be beneficial to the sales force and Holy Sheep turns out it is a development opportunity and 2-3 ZS have promoted to new opportunities within Merck.

Good thing a few of the top performers actually read the job posting and gathered info from the ZDs, RMs and other ZS vs cafe pharma experts and took advantage of a development opportunity to advance their careers.

Or is it all a scam? Yeah probably a scam.