Your Pharmaceutical Sales Interview - How to Get Connected, Get Organized and Get That Interview!

 

As a former pharmaceutical sales recruiter, my coaching clients find it odd when I state that networking with pharmaceutical reps is the key to landing their first pharmaceutical sales interview, rather than simply calling a recruiter. But let's face it, if a manager can hire a sales pro recommended by his/her rep at a much cheaper fee than through a recruiter, then which do you think the manager will choose?

And, although networking seems to be feared by many first time pharma sales candidates, it has become increasingly easier to do over the last few years.

Why?

Sheer numbers, my friend! With over 100,000 pharmaceutical reps in the United States alone, chances are high that someone in your network of friends or acquaintances is a pharmaceutical rep, or at least knows one.

In my pharmaceutical sales interview coaching business, I've found that only the strong survive a career search in pharmaceutical sales. To put it bluntly, gaining your 1st job in pharmaceutical sales is not for the faint of heart. You must be willing to "put yourself out there" and not be timid about utilizing your network of friends/family or approaching pharmaceutical reps that you do not know Jobs in Pharmaceutical Sales .

Here's How to Kick-Start Your Networking Activities and Land That Pharmaceutical Sales Interview:

First Step: Send out networking letters to everyone in your circle of family and friends. Inform them of your fervent desire to win a job in pharmaceutical sales, and ask for further networking contacts.

Second Step: Develop a tracking system of your network - who you've spoken with, the results of the conversation and if/when follow up is required. This is important to begin right away, as you will soon have so many contacts it will be difficult to keep track of your next step.

Third Step: Make a list of your physician/physician assistant contacts. Your children's pediatrician, your personal doctor, a family friend who is also a physician - all of these are perfect networking connections. Contact these individuals via phone, or write an informal note and leave it for them at their place of business How to find a Pharmaceutical Sales Rep Job .

Fourth Step: Utilize your current relationships with office personnel in local medical clinics to provide networking contacts. Ask for a copy of the local pharm rep association list, or at the very least for the names of 3-4 reps that the office personnel really like and trust.

Fifth Step: Visit your local pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for the business cards of reps that frequent the pharmacy.

Sixth Step: What about camping out in a busy medical clinic all day, dressed in your finest? Don't be shy about approaching pharmaceutical reps as they make their way out of the clinic. Only take one minute of their time, and provide a 45 second "infomercial" of your education and career history that qualifies you for a pharmaceutical sales career. Finally, ask if you may contact them at a future time that is convenient for them.

Seventh Step: Show up at a local Pharm Rep Association meeting and ask to be introduced at the beginning of the meeting. Rattle off your "infomercial" and ask for business cards, so that you may follow-up with reps at a later time. Chat with the reps afterward to determine immediate openings and make dates for later conversations. Please visit here https://www.healthgrad.com/medical/get-pharmaceutical-sales-certification/ for more details. #HowtofindaPharmaceuticalSalesRepJob

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