How to Become a Pharmaceutical Representative
Pharmaceutical representatives deal with the sale of pharmaceutical drugs. They work for drug companies to sell their medicines to physicians. The field can be competitive due in part to its popularity as side work among allied health graduates who need a form of temporary medical work before embarking on their licensure exams. By using the following steps, however, you can become a pharmaceutical representative in a growing, competitive job field.
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Instructions
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Earn a bachelor's degree in science. The degree can focus on the field of pharmacology, chemistry, biology, allied health sciences or another area of science. A science degree should include the prerequisite subjects needed prior to enrolling in a pharmaceutical sales certification program. These include calculus, human anatomy, physiology and chemistry.
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Enroll in a school that offers a pharmaceutical sales certification program. This course will give you the knowledge necessary to get into the pharmaceutical sales industry, such as pharmaceutical terms and drug sampling rules. Ask if the program is recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to increase your chances of getting hired. See Resources below to find a school near you.
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Take a business class on how to sell. You need to learn selling techniques because this job requires you to convince physicians to buy your pharmaceutical drugs. Taking a class on how to sell will increase your chances of closing a deal. Most community colleges offer short-term classes on selling techniques. You also can read a book about how to sell. Numerous books are available to choose from. See the links below for examples.
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Find a potential employer. Contact and submit your resumes to major drug companies, such as Pfizer, Aventis and Novartis. An easy way to get in the industry is to ask your personal physician about the drug representatives that visit him every week. Most of the time, physicians will give the contact information for the representative who works for a pharmaceutical company you may be interested in.
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