A career in pharmaceutical sales

Website design By BotEap.comA career in pharmaceutical sales can be very lucrative, as this field offers tremendous salary potential, along with an opportunity for growth. This field is popularly known as “recession proofing.” It is one of the largest, and certainly the fastest growing, businesses in the world. There are more than 83,000 pharmaceutical sales representatives in the United States today.

Website design By BotEap.comPharmaceutical Sales Representative Job Profile

Website design By BotEap.comAs a pharmaceutical sales representative, you will need to sell scientifically advanced products in a professional setting to doctors, hospital staff, pharmacists, or patient advocacy groups. This sales job can be divided into a few sectors:

Website design By BotEap.comPrescription Drugs: Most pharmaceutical sales representatives work in this field. Its target audience is specialist doctors or family doctors, depending on the drug being promoted. Large pharmaceutical companies often require sales representatives to promote their products. Each sales representative can endorse at least three main drugs, along with some minor products, for the promoted products. In addition, sales reps must make special efforts to promote newer drugs, because patent protections for new drugs run out quickly. Companies that focus on niche specialty drugs direct their sales force toward specific medical specialists as their target customer, rather than general practice physicians.

Website design By BotEap.comGeneric drugs: Companies that market generic drugs market products similar to brand-name drugs that are successful in the market. They do not target doctors, but rather concentrate on pharmacies.

Website design By BotEap.comOver-the-Counter Products: Many companies sell cough and cold remedies and pain relievers, also known as over-the-counter medications, as over-the-counter products. Sales reps selling these products should call family physicians to promote them.

Website design By BotEap.comAs a pharmaceutical sales representative, you can also look for sales jobs as service sales representatives or systems marketers, although scientific knowledge will be less important in these fields. What matters are your sales skills.

Website design By BotEap.comRequirements

Website design By BotEap.comYou do not need a medical background to be a pharmaceutical sales representative. You are eligible for your job if you have a 4-year college degree with any background. If you don’t have a title, a good sales history can work in your favor. The most important thing is hard work and determination. However, having a science degree is an advantage in this field, because a scientific background will go a long way in educating yourself on the product line and reading and understanding scientific studies on medical products, along with an examination of their applications. As a pharmaceutical sales representative, you must also acquire a professional education. You can also take an advanced course in pharmacology, once you enter this industry.

Website design By BotEap.comIn addition to education, you must have intellect, stamina, and good communication skills, as you will need to convince doctors and businessmen to buy your company’s products. You will also need to conduct studies related to statistics, data, and other issues occurring in the health community. This field requires teamwork and good presentation skills as well.

Website design By BotEap.comBenefits of this profession

Website design By BotEap.comThis profession has the advantage of flexible work hours, good financial rewards, and the independence to run things on your own as your own boss. If you get a job with a good company, you can enjoy bright career prospects and sales training in new and exciting places. Plus, you’ll get the many benefits good companies provide, like a car, along with the freedom to schedule your day your way, as long as it produces good results.

Website design By BotEap.comBeing a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative can be a very profitable career option if you are ready to pursue it with enthusiasm, determination and interest.