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Any info for becoming a medical pharmaceutical sales rep?
Asked by Create Zen
I heard they give you a free car and a free laptop. There are also cool perks and traveling involved. Anybody have any info or comments about this profession before I decide to make it may career? What on average do pharmaceutical sales reps make on average?
Asked by Create Zen
I heard they give you a free car and a free laptop. There are also cool perks and traveling involved. Anybody have any info or comments about this profession before I decide to make it may career? What on average do pharmaceutical sales reps make on average?
A:
Best Answer:
The car isn't free. You'll pay 100-120 bucks/month for it; however, your company does pay for gas. One of the great things is that if you want to take a trip and take your car, they'll pay for the gas. I took my family to San Antonio last year (over 800 miles) and it cost me NOTHING for gas. Then again, I AM paying 100-120/month for it, so why not use it? The cars they lease (and let you drive) the gas, the repairs, the upkeep - all business expenses for the pharma company. The laptop is just your basic laptop. Internet access, reports, word processors, etc. - but it's mostly full of your company's information. The profession itself is great. It's like none other by which I have been employed, especially with regard to benefits. Starting salary depends on which company you're with, but you can expect low 40s to 45k the first year. When you add potential bonuses of 12-15+k/year, you're looking at mid-50s to low-60s+ range... not too bad, huh? Like the other person mentioned, the field is changing. Drugs going generic have really hurt my company and this makes it harder to sell my products (bonus hasn't been as high as in past). My advice: locate a rep in your area. Ask him/her if they'd mind if you spent 1/2 day with them "in the field." They'll fill you in on what their take is on the industry; and you'll get a taste of what we do on a daily basis. Plus, when you're interviewing with companies, this shows initiative on your part (don't forget to add to resume). Before you begin interviewing, puchase a book entitled, "Knock 'em Dead" by Yeates or Yates. At first, I would interview with a company and never get asked back for subsequent interviews; I thought this was b/c I had no prior sales experience. As it turns out, I didn't answer the interview questions as appropriately as I could have. I use the word "appropriately" b/c there is a business etiquette one needs to emply... one to which I hadn't been exposed. I read the book, learned HOW to answer the questions they threw at me, and THEN began getting asked back for second and third interviews -- and eventually landed a job with a large pharma company. Long-winded story, I know, but if you can get in, you will wonder why people do anything else. Good luck!
former RN / current pharma vet
Answered by tlc289
The car isn't free. You'll pay 100-120 bucks/month for it; however, your company does pay for gas. One of the great things is that if you want to take a trip and take your car, they'll pay for the gas. I took my family to San Antonio last year (over 800 miles) and it cost me NOTHING for gas. Then again, I AM paying 100-120/month for it, so why not use it? The cars they lease (and let you drive) the gas, the repairs, the upkeep - all business expenses for the pharma company. The laptop is just your basic laptop. Internet access, reports, word processors, etc. - but it's mostly full of your company's information. The profession itself is great. It's like none other by which I have been employed, especially with regard to benefits. Starting salary depends on which company you're with, but you can expect low 40s to 45k the first year. When you add potential bonuses of 12-15+k/year, you're looking at mid-50s to low-60s+ range... not too bad, huh? Like the other person mentioned, the field is changing. Drugs going generic have really hurt my company and this makes it harder to sell my products (bonus hasn't been as high as in past). My advice: locate a rep in your area. Ask him/her if they'd mind if you spent 1/2 day with them "in the field." They'll fill you in on what their take is on the industry; and you'll get a taste of what we do on a daily basis. Plus, when you're interviewing with companies, this shows initiative on your part (don't forget to add to resume). Before you begin interviewing, puchase a book entitled, "Knock 'em Dead" by Yeates or Yates. At first, I would interview with a company and never get asked back for subsequent interviews; I thought this was b/c I had no prior sales experience. As it turns out, I didn't answer the interview questions as appropriately as I could have. I use the word "appropriately" b/c there is a business etiquette one needs to emply... one to which I hadn't been exposed. I read the book, learned HOW to answer the questions they threw at me, and THEN began getting asked back for second and third interviews -- and eventually landed a job with a large pharma company. Long-winded story, I know, but if you can get in, you will wonder why people do anything else. Good luck!
former RN / current pharma vet
Answered by tlc289
A:
I have a friend that has been a rep for 20 years. He says the new reps are washed out at a high rate . If you make it for two years you will get the perks. Otherwise you're back looking for another job.. It is very competitive!
Answered by Kelly G
Answered by Kelly G
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