1. It’s common for experienced pharma DMs and ones with the company a while to do once a month ride alongs or peace out early. They know how this shit works. My boss is like that. He’s late 50s. Young and/or new managers are usually kool aid drinking, neurotics who are up their reps asses. They wanna make a name. Hence usually, not always. Best bet is avoid DMs with little mgmt experience or haven’t been with the company a while
2. Full of shit. Most calls are fake by definition. That’s why orgs hate when reps ask what the definition of a call is. Your fellow reps know, your boss knows, your boss’s boss knows most of your calls are fudged. Frequency of real calls (talking to hcp) varies by territory access. Don’t ask, don’t tell. Stay looking good on paper. Ever wonder why your DM never asks you to take them to a specific customer?
3. I put my calls in when I get home. Fake and real. My company uses Veeva CRM so don’t need to log them in right away. I’m at a large pharma company. No one has given me a problem
4. Most lunches are a waste of time and money for veteran drugs. Also depends what you sell. Docs only care for new data or indications and new drugs (understandably). The fat ass office staff just wants to chow down on food. Lunches are more about marketing
5. Depends on the day. Usually 9:30/10 to 3:30. Where I am and general access
6. Never worked contract, only manufacturer. Can’t share too much there but what I’ve heard is reps report to the DM for the manufacturer who contracted AND the actual contract org? 2 DMs sounds terrible. There may be more job security with manufacturer? And reps dropping off literature at no-sees? Waste of time.
I’m a 29 year old woman, by the way. Colleagues I was close with in the same age bracket know the job is bullshit. We realized rather quickly. Been doing this 4 years. Just don’t be like some of the older reps who get their panties in a bunch and take the job too seriously.
