How to Get a Drug Rep Job
Often you will find pharmaceutical representatives in the lobby of doctor offices waiting for an opportunity to have a face-to-face meeting with a physician. These professionals are usually very polished and presentable. In fact if you are able to land a position as a pharmaceutical representative, know that many perks come with the job. However, there is work involved in landing the position.
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Instructions
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Preparation
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Obtain a four-year degree from an accredited college or university. Though not required, pharmaceutical employers prefer candidates possessing a sales and marketing degree.
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Locate a local resume writing service company or surf the Internet specifically for pharmaceutical sales resume templates.
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Put together a portfolio (a.k.a. "brag book") that highlights your past successes. It should include a current copy of your resume, any accolades that you had received in your previous employment, as well as sales numbers and rankings (if your background is sales).
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Attend a pharmaceutical sales career fair. Find out about such an event by checking online or in your local newspaper.
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Become a member of a job search engine geared specifically for this industry. One example would be medreps.com. Most jobs offered at this website are in pharmaceutical and medical device sales.
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Contact a pharmaceutical representative. Inquire with the office manager of your physician's office. The staff will generally maintain contact information for representatives that visit them.
Introduce yourself to a pharmaceutical representative who you may find in the waiting room of a doctor's office. Inform him that you are interested in getting into the pharmaceutical business and ask whether it would be all right to send him your resume.
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Take inventory of your wardrobe and, if necessary, purchase a business suit.
If you are a man, you will want a crisp, white, cotton dress shirt, conservative tie and a two- or three-button wool navy blue or gray suit. Also, you will want to have a pair of lace-up dress shoes that are polished, should you obtain an actual interview.
Women should consider solid dark or gray colors (skirt or suit are fine). Also, women should have a pair of closed-toe dress shoes with heels that are no more than three inches.
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Research the company that is interviewing you, as well as the company's top products.
Interview Phase
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Map out the location for the interview far in advance. Additionally, you will want to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early.
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Wear minimum to no cologne or perfume, as you want to reduce the risks of distractions.
It is recommended that women wear light makeup and modest jewelry. Also, take either a purse or briefcase, but not both.
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Be sure to greet the interviewer with a polite smile and a firm handshake. Determine to make eye contact.
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Be prepared to discuss your past successes with examples.
If you are a recent college graduate, there will be an extensive discussion on your academic history. In fact, your potential employer may want to see your transcripts prior to the interview. So be prepared to give an explanation of your overall performance.
If there has been some time since you graduated college, you will be required to give a thorough review of past successes with previous employers. For example, if your background is sales, they may ask you about your sales rankings, quarterly performances, attainment of quotas or goals, etc.
In cases where you don't have a sales background or aren't a recent college graduate, you will want to describe how you have demonstrated great customer service, and/or how you have successfully persuaded someone to change their behavior.
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Listen, listen, listen. When the interviewer talks do not just wait to speak but show some genuine interest in what they are saying.
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Incorporate a sales technique known as the "trial-close." The trial-close is a way of checking the temperature of the interview and gives you some insight into how your interview is going. You may want to occasionally ask the interviewer: "Does that answer your question?" or "Is there anything that I need to clarify for you?"
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Be prepared to ask questions, but not too many. Be prepared to ask specific questions about the job function that you may not understand.
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Attempt to trial-close the interviewer for the next phase of the interview process, when you sense that the interview is coming to an end. You will more than likely have to go through several interviews before finally getting an offer, so you will want to say something like: "Is there any reason why you would not recommend me for the next phase of the interview process?" Asking this question enables you to know immediately whether the interviewer has reservations about you. You can, in turn, address any concern.
You may also want to ask: "When can I expect to hear back from you?"
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Mail a "thank-you" card and periodically follow up to check the status of the interview process. Be careful not to become a nuisance.
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Tips & Warnings
Be aware that most larger pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Merck receive up to 30,000 resumes a month. One mistake on your resume could diminish your chances of an interview.
