Become a Pharmacy Sales Rep
The field of pharmaceutical sales is one of the more desirable industries in the sales field in which to work. According to PayScale, the average salary of pharmaceutical sales representatives was between $75,047 and $105,577 as of November 2010. Pharmaceutical sales representatives are often given a company car and a very generous benefits package as part of their employment with a pharmaceutical company. Becoming a pharmacy sales rep requires a college education and the determination to succeed.
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Instructions
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Complete your bachelor's degree. A bachelor's degree is considered to be the standard degree for entry-level positions in pharmaceutical sales and marketing. What academic field you choose to pursue is up to you. It is not necessary to pursue a degree in business or marketing to work in pharmaceutical sales. Pursuing a degree in a field of science can be helpful to your work in pharmaceutical sales because it will provide you with foundational knowledge and a vocabulary that will be familiar to physicians and pharmacists that you will meet with daily as part of your job.
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Network before you graduate college if possible. Make contacts with people already working in the pharmaceutical sales industry. Seek them out and let them know of your intention to eventually work in the field of pharmaceutical sales. Ask them for pointers and tell hiring managers to keep you in in mind when you graduate. By establishing necessary contacts in the industry early in your education, you may provide yourself with a competitive advantage over other applicants.
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Pursue elective courses in fields of study that will enhance your employment prospects. The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences notes that courses in biological science should be combined with courses in pharmaceutical science, marketing and business management. Courses in communication can also prove helpful.
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Apply for jobs far in advance of graduation. Even if you do not land any positions during that time, you can attempt to set up a few interviews. This will help you gain an understanding of what you need to know for future interviews with prospective employers.
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Utilize your college's career services office. Many colleges attempt to help their graduates obtain employment. The placement rate of a college can enhance its reputation; the school will have a vested interest in your employment. Career placement experts at your school may also have their own contacts in the industry that they may have established through networking. They may be able to put you in contact with key personnel in the pharmaceutical sales industry.
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