Thinking about a career change...

I've been doing automotive service for a long time. Getting VERY burned out on the whole industry. Sure, performance is fun and awesome and I am a real true car guy, but the customers suck, the new management sucks, and my pay certainly sucks. But that's another thread entirely...

I'm looking into pharmaceutical sales. Anyone have any experience or friends with experience in this field? I've been told they look for candidates with 2-4 year degrees exclusively, but my 15 years of sales experience and customer service and continued education in both real estate and insurance industries as well as multiple licenses in both industries may well make up for it. What do I do to get into this industry? I've already started applying for entry level job openeings, but I'd like some more solid information. Since this is the best place for all kinds of knowledge, I figured I'd ask here.

As much as I know about pharm sales.... Apply. They will train you. Sure they want someone medical field related, but that shouldn't be a barrier.

I know the feeling. I usually last about 10 years in a particular job. It usually results in me starting some kind of new company / business. The problem is as of late I am getting board with what I do but I don't have any ideas for something new.

First, find somebody you know in the field. You will need it to get past the HR drones without at least a 2 year degree. Your continuing education, licenses, etc., will probably not help you, and the lack of a degree will probably stop you before you even start. Maybe I'm wrong, hope I am, but I doubt it. My dads company (you've heard of it, or at least its products, if you paid any attention to a certain celebrity death) wouldn't hire someone without a degree--or at least, I can guarantee they wouldn't get an interview without someone pushing their name through.

The field is expanding. Good field to be in. But it is high stress. You are dealing with the FDA demanding recalls on products you've just sold, you are dealing with voluntary recalls on products you've just sold, and you have to keep the customer on the hook somehow, when they can easily go to another company. These recalls can literally mean life and death, so that adds another level of stress.

mtn wrote: First, find somebody you know in the field. You will need it to get past the HR drones without at least a 2 year degree. Your continuing education, licenses, etc., will probably not help you, and the lack of a degree will probably stop you before you even start. Maybe I'm wrong, hope I am, but I doubt it. My dads company (you've heard of it, or at least its products, if you paid any attention to a certain celebrity death) wouldn't hire someone without a degree--or at least, I can guarantee they wouldn't get an interview without someone pushing their name through. The field is expanding. Good field to be in. But it is high stress. You are dealing with the FDA demanding recalls on products you've just sold, you are dealing with voluntary recalls on products you've just sold, and you have to keep the customer on the hook somehow, when they can easily go to another company. These recalls can literally mean life and death, so that adds another level of stress.

Good advice, I can go lean on my wife's dentist (AKA her boss) as well as some others I know in the field. I was just wondering if anyone had personal experience in the field and could give me some pointers or things to watch for as well as stories, both good and bad, of what to expect.

conquest said: I've been told they look for candidates with 2-4 year degrees exclusively,

most of the rep's I have seen (and thats alot) are female in their early 20's with tight skirts..........

wrote:

conquest said: I've been told they look for candidates with 2-4 year degrees exclusively,

most of the rep's I have seen (and thats alot) are female in their early 20's with tight skirts..........

I was about to say, most of the pharma sales reps I have ever known were ex-cheerleaders. Upon graduation from college it seems that if you were a cheerleader you either go into marketing, or pharma sales.

wrote:

conquest said: I've been told they look for candidates with 2-4 year degrees exclusively,

most of the rep's I have seen (and thats alot) are female in their early 20's with tight skirts..........

I've noticed that too. Frustrating... LOL Damn good money to be made.

slefain wrote:

wrote:

conquest said: I've been told they look for candidates with 2-4 year degrees exclusively,

most of the rep's I have seen (and thats alot) are female in their early 20's with tight skirts..........

I was about to say, most of the pharma sales reps I have ever known were ex-cheerleaders. Upon graduation from college it seems that if you were a cheerleader you either go into marketing, or pharma sales.

Yes, this ^^^^

I've heard lately they have been going after people with nursing degrees. The apst few weeks I've made several trips to doctors and hospitals. Lots of drug reps there on each trip.

The most profitable pharmaceutical sales seem to be in dark alleys....

If you make your own, your profits can really soar.

spitfirebill wrote: The apst few weeks I've made several trips to doctors and hospitals. Lots of drug reps there on each trip.

[potential flounder but that's not my intent] saw a chiropractic documentary the other night called "Doctored". best line in the whole thing: we don't have a health-care system, we have a sick-care system. [/potential flounder]

Gearheadotaku wrote: The most profitable pharmaceutical sales seem to be in dark alleys.... If you make your own, your profits can really soar.

Well I work for a pharma company. One that happens to be hiring ALOT of sales reps at the moment. In fact I believe they are doing a hiring blitz in TX right now or it just ended.

Good money to be made for sure, but they are pretty particular about the requirements sadly. Not sure if there's any way around them to get a foot in the door. Not sure I could be as much help as I'm fairly far removed from the sales department but I will say if you can get in here you've got it made for life, great company to work for. PM me if I can answer any specifics although as previously noted I may not know much.

I am in industrial sales and there is a good market for this need. Most of the guys at my company are 51+ years old and are talking retirement. We call on steel mills, refinery's, chemical plants - or you could go the whole hydraulic's route. Let me know if you need to know more.

Datsun310Guy wrote: I am in industrial sales and there is a good market for this need. Most of the guys at my company are 51+ years old and are talking retirement.

My lady's father is a System Engineer. He works with you guys all the time. He says the same thing. The new guys are struggling with learning fast enough.

wrote:

conquest said: I've been told they look for candidates with 2-4 year degrees exclusively,

most of the rep's I have seen (and thats alot) are female in their early 20's with tight skirts..........

Yeah, pharma reps are almist ecclusively hot young women. It's a brutal field - they are shown the door as they get a little age on them. Flight attendants have it better these days.

JThw8 wrote: Well I work for a pharma company. One that happens to be hiring ALOT of sales reps at the moment. In fact I believe they are doing a hiring blitz in TX right now or it just ended. Good money to be made for sure, but they are pretty particular about the requirements sadly. Not sure if there's any way around them to get a foot in the door. Not sure I could be as much help as I'm fairly far removed from the sales department but I will say if you can get in here you've got it made for life, great company to work for. PM me if I can answer any specifics although as previously noted I may not know much.

You have PM.

Conquest351 wrote:

JThw8 wrote: Well I work for a pharma company. One that happens to be hiring ALOT of sales reps at the moment. In fact I believe they are doing a hiring blitz in TX right now or it just ended. Good money to be made for sure, but they are pretty particular about the requirements sadly. Not sure if there's any way around them to get a foot in the door. Not sure I could be as much help as I'm fairly far removed from the sales department but I will say if you can get in here you've got it made for life, great company to work for. PM me if I can answer any specifics although as previously noted I may not know much.

You have PM.

Back at ya

Barney Stinson said: It all started 2.5 million years ago. Man was a hunter, so the hottest profession of the day…gather: Homo-erectus indeed! As man mastered technology, the hottest profession of the day evolved: I’m pretty sure it’s a hernia, can you check again? And then man took to the skies, and so hot women put on high heels and become stewardesses: I am in the upright and locked position. And then man said, “Life is hard, I should start taking lots of prescription drugs.” And so hot girls rolled into doctor’s offices looking sexy enough to render the very erection pills they peddled ironically redundant. So now, pharma girls are today’s hottest profession

Datsun310Guy wrote: I am in industrial sales and there is a good market for this need. Most of the guys at my company are 51+ years old and are talking retirement. We call on steel mills, refinery's, chemical plants - or you could go the whole hydraulic's route. Let me know if you need to know more.

You have PM sir.

bgkast wrote:

Barney Stinson said: It all started 2.5 million years ago. Man was a hunter, so the hottest profession of the day…gather: Homo-erectus indeed! As man mastered technology, the hottest profession of the day evolved: I’m pretty sure it’s a hernia, can you check again? And then man took to the skies, and so hot women put on high heels and become stewardesses: I am in the upright and locked position. And then man said, “Life is hard, I should start taking lots of prescription drugs.” And so hot girls rolled into doctor’s offices looking sexy enough to render the very erection pills they peddled ironically redundant. So now, pharma girls are today’s hottest profession

that's awesome. I was thinking of that show when I read this thread.

wrote:

conquest said: I've been told they look for candidates with 2-4 year degrees exclusively,

most of the rep's I have seen (and thats alot) are female in their early 20's with tight skirts..........

Yep. They gotta see me before anyone else. Maybe 1 in 20 is a guy.

N Sperlo wrote:

wrote:

conquest said: I've been told they look for candidates with 2-4 year degrees exclusively,

most of the rep's I have seen (and thats alot) are female in their early 20's with tight skirts..........

Yep. They gotta see me before anyone else. Maybe 1 in 20 is a guy.

Did you give them all the Crocodile Dundee garbage grab check?

Crikey, that's a willy!

The_Jed wrote:

N Sperlo wrote:

wrote:

conquest said: I've been told they look for candidates with 2-4 year degrees exclusively,

most of the rep's I have seen (and thats alot) are female in their early 20's with tight skirts..........

Yep. They gotta see me before anyone else. Maybe 1 in 20 is a guy.

Did you give them all the Crocodile Dundee garbage grab check? Crikey, that's willy!

Knowing him, prolly...