The training for all reps is pretty good and includes professional sales training, then job specific training. You'll spend about three weeks total in Maine in two separate trips. The LDC position, about 2-3 years ago, was the premier (compensation-wise) entry-level position for outside sales at IDEXX. That has changed gradually and now the DPC position has more upside, relatively speaking.
You will join a region and will likely be the only LDC or maybe 1 of 2 LDC's on that "team." Camaraderie is good and you will like your teammates generally speaking. Even your RM will be fairly young and fun to work for. Then, when you finally take over the bulk of the laboratory responsibilities, your quality of life will nose-dive. On the surface, the simple objective of gaining new lab business will be enjoyable. But the processes, customer satisfaction and red tape that you will be responsible for will eat at your soul. You will find that every decision, no matter how small, must be approved by the "Lab Team."
"The Lab Team" is a genie-behind-curtain, magical, fantasy entity that makes decisions very slowly and without any regard to your input. The "Lab Team" is so far removed from the customer that it is impossible to keep the customer's situation in mind. Even your RM is powerless and merely a motivator rather than a manager. You will spend 50-60% of your time handling billing problems, customer complaints and non-revenue generating activities. It is the gold standard of inefficiency.
However, if you desperately need sales experience and are willing to donate 2-3 years of your life involved in this type of work, you will gain a decent resume builder. For a second opinion, go to your veterinarian, or the closest one to your house, and ask for the contact info to their Butler Schein rep, Webster rep or MWI rep. Ask one of those seasoned veterans about their TRUE opinion on how IDEXX treats their reps. Also ask them how long IDEXX reps stick around.
Good luck!
