Pharmaceutical Sales

colleen10 · Jan 10, 2003

Hi JF,

I have never worked in pharm. sales but I have a friend who is a nurse and who did work as one for a couple of years, a few years ago.

She said that the money was really good and that if you are a people person you'll enjoy it because you get to interact with a lot of people. On the bad side, she said that you don't always get to pick your sales territory and hers was about 2 hours away from her home and company head quarters and it was also in a snow belt. She spent a lot of time in her car and on the road. She also said that it is very demanding and hectic work. A lot of "robbing Peter to pay Paul." She would get a call from one hospital requesting supplies immeadiately and she would have to go to another hospital to take them and then worry about getting more supplies to make-up for the stuff she took from the second hospital. She said it was a lot of running around.

All in all, she enjoyed the money and the "people" aspect of it but it became too hard to do the job and take care of her family so she went back to nursing.

lynnintn · Jan 10, 2003

I once pursued this and got a few phone interviews; Berlex likes to hire nurses; most of the other companies don't; go to

Medzilla which has a job board and informative forums @ pharm. sales

kim

cpgrn · Jan 10, 2003

I know a lot of people in pharm. sales. It's a great job if you like sales work. Everyone around here is hiring BS degrees only so if you have an ADN you can't apply. I used to sell advertising before I went into nursing and I really enjoyed it but there was all the traveling and wear and tear on your vehicle. That was part of the reason I decided to go into nursing- that and I always wanted to. The pharm. companies provide you with a vehicle and all expenses so that wouldn't be a problem. You really have to like people and be able to talk to them. That's the whole sales game.

NurseDennie, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2003

Pharm sales? Yeah, pretty much all have to have a BS in something med or chem or something related. But the most important part, IMHO: Being under 40 and being very very pretty.

Those of you who know pharm reps - are your friends really pretty? You know there has to be the exception to the rule. The only exception I've seen is someone that one of the reps brought by to talk to one of the docs who was a pharmacist to explain something technical to the doc that the rep couldn't answer.

Love

Dennie

cpgrn · Jan 10, 2003

This is true. I've never seen any ugly reps - or any older reps now that you mention it. They all schmooze the people in the offices and hospitals and dress to the 9"s.

nursy-nurse · Jan 10, 2003

:rolleyes:

I have interviewed with numerous pharm companies. I thought that I may have a pretty good chance, under 30, blonde, not the best looking, but not the worst..a B.S. and B.S.N. and 8 years of combined work experience in Communications and Nursing. But, did I get a wake-up call! In the majority of the interviews, I was made to feel like I was an uneducated oaf. The interviewers make condescending comments regarding nurses..such as "without the pharmaceutical companies and the medications they produce, all nurses and doctors have are BP cuffs and stethescopes." Yes, this did happen. So, basically I am bitter at the companies for putting down nurses..I worked my....off for the degree. Just a side note..the reason I pursued it in the first place was for the great pay...as many of you have noted $28,000 just doesn't cut it in today's economy. Thanks for the vent!

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2003

I applied for a pharm rep position before I decided to go to nursing school. The interviewer was a complete a$$ and asked me really personal questions. He was basically interested in how cutthroat and competitive I was..... if I could get a sale at any cost, even if I had to step on other people in the process. It is true that you have to be very pretty, they like tall blondes with big ta tas! I realized that there was no way that I could do this job... I would feel like a total sellout.

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2003

I honestly don't hink you need a degree in anything. My glamazon, model esque sister had a brief stint for some neuro chemotheraputic drug company or other. She has certificate in court reporting.

colleen10 · Jan 10, 2003

I have never seen an ugly pharm. rep. It is true, you have to be good looking to get a job. Whether you are a man or a woman.

My SIL has a friend that just got her "dream job" as a pharm. rep. She has experience in communication and sales but not medical knowledge. She is blonde, 25, 5'9" and about 130 lbs. otherwise a knock-out and even she said she got the job because she is hot.

Anyone seen the pharm. rep on "Scrubs"? There you go.

cindyln · Jan 10, 2003

The doctors I work with will only talk to the pharm rep if she is pretty and has food otherwise they don't get the time of day

JudithL_in_NH · Jan 10, 2003

Originally posted by NurseDennie
But the most important part, IMHO: Being under 40 and being very very pretty.

Just observed two drug reps in a doc's office yesterday:

--both 20-something males,

--both positively drop-deap gorgeous (they made the Bachelorette guys look drab)

--both dressed in suits easily twice as expensive as anything my husband has ever owned!

And oh! were they ever schmoozing the female office staff to try to get in to see the docs!