That's what I don't get. Pharma doesn't pay any better or any worse than most sales jobs so if the prevailing argument is pharma is not a "real" industry, and it’s filled with jerk DM's, then again I ask, why do people stay? It can't be the money since, as you suggest, if they work hard and assert themselves, and sales is not very complicated, they could make equal or better money with less BS and less jerky managers in a "real" business. If I hated who I worked for and what I did on a day to day basis so much so that I would come on CP and trash other people and trash the industry I would just get out of the business. I believe that people are either too lazy or too scared to leave thus they endure what they feel is a crappy job working for crappy managers. Again if we go with the ‘Sales is Sales’ theory and this industry sucks than why wouldn’t these curmudgeons go out and get a “real” sales job making “real” money in a “real” industry? Save the QOL BS, which is the default position for pharma reps, which translates to, ‘I’m lazy, and not very confident in my selling abilities’.
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That's what I don't get. Pharma doesn't pay any better or any worse than most sales jobs so if the prevailing argument is pharma is not a "real" industry, and it’s filled with jerk DM's, then again I ask, why do people stay? It can't be the money since, as you suggest, if they work hard and assert themselves, and sales is not very complicated, they could make equal or better money with less BS and less jerky managers in a "real" business. If I hated who I worked for and what I did on a day to day basis so much so that I would come on CP and trash other people and trash the industry I would just get out of the business. I believe that people are either too lazy or too scared to leave thus they endure what they feel is a crappy job working for crappy managers. Again if we go with the ‘Sales is Sales’ theory and this industry sucks than why wouldn’t these curmudgeons go out and get a “real” sales job making “real” money in a “real” industry? Save the QOL BS, which is the default position for pharma reps, which translates to, ‘I’m lazy, and not very confident in my selling abilities’.
I think its just a comfort level with pharmaceuticals. And it is a very soft sell, probably the softest sell in any high paying sales job.
You are 100 percent correct too, when you say that there are other "real" sales jobs where are you treated better by management.
seriously I have seen some of these younger reps in offices. I do outside sales not pharma. They are truly freaking pathetic. I saw one girl the other day with sunglasses on her head like she just left the beach. I saw one guy with a tatoo on his hand. I am trying to imagine these pathetic shit heads talking to doctors. WHO TAKES THEM SERIOUSLY? Even worse who hired them? I swear I saw a drug rep the other day in flip flops. JOKE JOKE JOKE. Another outfit I love: young girls with the boots that go up to the knee I mean seriously? They look like Mary Poppins.....at least try to look the part
The people hiring them never had a sales job, as they have been in pharmaceuticals there entire lives.
This was my first job out of college with Pfizer about ten years ago, and I quit WITHOUT a job after 18 months, because I was disgusted by the lack of accountability in the pod system and the lack of accountability on the company's part for my work (Yes, we launched a new product during my short stay, and I was number one in the district and top 5 in the region, even though I had NO experience at the time, right out of college)...
now what does that tell you about this industry?
There is no way I should have been the top rep. Do you know what I finally realized?
That most of these pharmaceutical reps don't work hard!
I outperformed all those lazy asses by just out working them.
So glad to be out.
I am not trying to bash pharma as a job, and I think its great that most of you make good money for your "sales" efforts...
but the main reason pharma IS NOT sales is that the industry is regualted too much.
Add the pods, and its not selling.
Add the managed care, and territories are not equal.
Add the corporate BS, and the job is not that great.
but the main reason pharma IS NOT sales is that the industry is regualted too much.
Add the pods, and its not selling.
Add the managed care, and territories are not equal.
Add the corporate BS, and the job is not that great.
Drug Dumper
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- Drug Dumper Aug 10, 2011 at 06:48: AM
Drug Dumper
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I agree the way women dress these days is pathetic. Cropped pants to a sales call? T shirts that barely cover the stomach and tight TIGHT jackets to accentuate their chests. Tacky Tacky Tacky
This woman has got a huge little dog syndrome.
How long have you been laid off?(I bet not nearly as long as the last time you were laid.)
I have a visual of what you look like and bet I'm not far off.
You really need to get a life and get over yourself.
How long have you been laid off?(I bet not nearly as long as the last time you were laid.)
I have a visual of what you look like and bet I'm not far off.
You really need to get a life and get over yourself.
- ~T~ Aug 10, 2011 at 11:19: AM
Mr. Rolodex Stallion sir...I still don't get how a specialty rep is different than a primary care rep? You said, "Specialty is not defined by who you call on rather by what drug you sell." I want to know...if both reps sell pharmaceuticals or drugs, what's the difference...seriously? What are you saying??
I'm really confused. Are you saying that cancer *agents* are more special or more important than drugs for the heart, brain, gut, pancreas, other organs etc? Therefore, oncologists are more special than family medical docs? Are oncology medical specialists more intelligent and harder working than their primary care physician counterparts? Do oncology specialists give better care than primary care generalists and therefore are more special?
Or are you saying that oncology reps know their product's actions, side effects, tolerability, efficacy,etc etc better than their primary care rep counterparts? Or maybe you're saying that specialty reps need more clinical knowledge, more patient focus, a better understanding of managed care issues, or maybe a better understanding of their target market than primary care reps? And primary care reps don't need to be bothered knowing any of this? Or is the main reason you feel specialty reps are more special is because the medicines they sell come at a higher price per treatment than plain ole primary care medicines? Oh wait, do specialty reps have a higher business acumen than primary care reps? And primary care reps do not need to know messaging, the reason behind the message or the business decision behind the message to sell to primary care docs?
Lastly, what is the difference between a mass market pharma company and a great biotech? Whew--lots of questions!Please enlighten me. Thanks in advance!
ETA--last time I checked..psychologists don't prescribe..
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You write well for "PC rep". The Stallion is currently out making the big money and training his highly skilled team. He will report back as soon as he returns from the bank and the direct call to the Board of Directors. He will slide a response in once he settles down from making a huge impact on the American medical system. Please wait.
Nah it's just getting boring talking to the "sample monkey" set. You guys have it all figured out, so keep collecting those signatures and have those high level conversations on statins or PPI's, or whatever soon to be OTC class of drugs you sell. I'm seriously shocked that more of you folks don't break into the highly paid therapeutic areas with all this knowledge you have...I wonder why that is?
- ~T~ Aug 10, 2011 at 03:20: PM
Hmmm..not sure. Maybe it has something to do with age discrimination in hiring?? Do you know any 40 year old managers at the 'great biotech' companies who have hired candidates older than themselves recently??
Well, if you were a certain color, you wouldn't have that problem, and that is the truth in today's market. affirmative action hires everywhere today. its not about hiring the best candidate anymore, and I can say that because I have been top 10 percent 8 out of 10 years, have an advanced degree, and have great relationships, yet got passed over for a dud recently.
Gotta love America.
Sure do...but those "older" candidates have years of experience in the therapeutic area, they are not "older" primary care reps...
funny reading these posts! For years I thought being a drug rep was the end all and be all. I thought wow company car.....its professional...... you're selling to doctors I see all these model looking people and think why cant I get into that after years of applying i've realized by the sound of this that the job really truly sounds horrible. I mean if so many people say it really is this bad it has to be!!
A lot of people said the world was flat too...
the world is flat.
anyway, I agree with you. it comes with maturity, when you realize that this job is totally a joke. I started in my mid 20s, and did well with it. but now 10 years later, I would never go back (recently downsized, my third in 8 years). I am going to either go back into teaching or go for an outside sales job with a smaller company with NO PODS or independents sales rep.
I will never go back into pharma because it is now the laughing stock of all sales jobs. It is not a professional job at all. It is a fashion show, a chasing the doctor for a signature to prove you are working, enduring field rides with check the box managers, a role playing POA meeting that does nothing but check another box.
You will never GROW as a professional or person with pharma. Never. And that goes with an advancement too.
Another thing: the pharmaceutical industry is a dirty industry. I won't go into detail, but if you do your research, you will find much corruption. Do you really think cholestrol pills are necessary? hardly.
Anyway, I am so glad to be out of it. And those of you that are over 40 and still in the game, you have serious issues if you don't see what I am talking about. Sure, you can say its for the money, to support your family, etc, but I still can't respect you for that.
There comes a time in life when you just have to grow up.
Here is my favorite quote regarding pharmaceutical sales as a job/career:
"there comes a time when you have to put away childish things"
The pharmaceutical industry is the most silly industry out there (outside of porn and maybe finance/banking)...
take it for what its worth, but those that stay in pharma are truly "strange". Just look at the upper managers in this industry...
and the DMs are the most unprofessional people too, no talent fools with no character (maybe 1 out of 10 have character, the other 9 are losers).
"there comes a time when you have to put away childish things"
The pharmaceutical industry is the most silly industry out there (outside of porn and maybe finance/banking)...
take it for what its worth, but those that stay in pharma are truly "strange". Just look at the upper managers in this industry...
and the DMs are the most unprofessional people too, no talent fools with no character (maybe 1 out of 10 have character, the other 9 are losers).
Doesn't matter if it's a therapeutic agent or not, it's still promoted in the oncology market and that is what was being discussed.
I know for a fact that my hiring was stymied by the regional VP. He told the manager to hire a minority. The DM held ground and was going to hire the best candidate. That was suppose to be me. After receiving a verbal offer, I got a call advising the process was currently on hold?
Two weeks later I get the "unfortunately" email. The regional was not having any of it. The DM hired a minority candidate a month later. The candidate had a social science degree and limited experience. So be it.