Anyone in Phamaceutical Sales

Warhammer · 12-03-2007, 10:16 PM

Per the title, I'm looking at a few phamaceutical sales jobs and wanted to know what I should expect. I was hoping that someone here would be in that field.

Warhammer · 12-03-2007, 10:20 PM

Another thing, anyone have any feelings on the Dayton/Springboro, OH area?

k0ruptr · 12-04-2007, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

I did some pharmaceutical sales in college, but really nothing more than a few dime bags, occasionally an 1/8th.

golden

CU Tiger · 12-04-2007, 07:11 AM

If you are not a female and smoking hot, Id say you dont have much chance.
A close friend is in the business and she meets the criteria, and so do all her work friends.

From what I have seen it is a pay huge chunk you out the door as soon as your numbers drop business.

I have family in Deerfield/Ravenna Ohio and quite honestly it may be the worst place on the face of the planet. I mean literally it is the underarm of America.

albionmoonlight · 12-04-2007, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

If you are not a female and smoking hot, Id say you dont have much chance.
A close friend is in the business and she meets the criteria, and so do all her work friends.

From what I have seen it is a pay huge chunk you out the door as soon as your numbers drop business.

I have family in Deerfield/Ravenna Ohio and quite honestly it may be the worst place on the face of the planet. I mean literally it is the underarm of America.

So you are basically saying that he should take the job

Logan · 12-04-2007, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

If you are not a female and smoking hot, Id say you dont have much chance.
A close friend is in the business and she meets the criteria, and so do all her work friends.

From what I have seen it is a pay huge chunk you out the door as soon as your numbers drop business.

My father was in the industry for about 35 years, and all of the above is definitely true. It was amazing (in more ways than one) to see the transformation within the company. Also, I have three friends doing it now...all female, all hot.

Warhammer · 12-04-2007, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

I have family in Deerfield/Ravenna Ohio and quite honestly it may be the worst place on the face of the planet. I mean literally it is the underarm of America.

That's the other side of the state. That part of the state is a hellhole. My wife is from near there.

Warhammer · 12-04-2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logan

My father was in the industry for about 35 years, and all of the above is definitely true. It was amazing (in more ways than one) to see the transformation within the company. Also, I have three friends doing it now...all female, all hot.

I wonder if it is going to be like the freight companies. 10-15 years ago all the freight salesman were hot women. Now, they're all men. I think much of it was due to the fact that most didn't know what the heck they were doing.

Quite honestly if there is a hot chick that knows her stuff in any sales organization she can go far. I don't know what it is, but all the hot women in sales I have known, none ever put an emphasis on knowing what they needed to know. Sure, they could get all the face time in front of the customer they wanted, but seldom got anything more than that.

Rizon · 12-04-2007, 09:27 AM

Stop by any local high school and you could make a killing.

JPhillips · 12-04-2007, 09:31 AM

Be prepared to be sued. I don't know Ohio specifics, but when I did some legal defense work for Big Pharma many of the lawsuits named the sales folk. The drug companies almost always indemnify, but keep good records, be careful what you put in writing and be prepared to see your name in multi-million dollar lawsuits.

As for the area, I could certainly think of better places to be. Dayton is rebounding a bit, but still hasn't recovered from the los of industrial jobs. Springboro has a mediocre dinner theatre and that may be the highlight of the town.

Butter · 12-04-2007, 09:34 AM

If you have any specific questions on the Dayton area, I live here. I am about 10 miles from Springboro. The suburban areas of Dayton are quite nice, but Dayton itself is a decaying hole. Springboro is an area that I would consider in the process of transformation from a small, quiet suburb to beginning to feel the crush of development nearby.

Warhammer · 12-04-2007, 09:52 AM

Keep in mind, I'm from Memphis, so anyplace that isn't one of the capitals of violent crime in the country would be an improvement.

Swaggs · 12-04-2007, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

If you are not a female and smoking hot, Id say you dont have much chance.
A close friend is in the business and she meets the criteria, and so do all her work friends.

From what I have seen it is a pay huge chunk you out the door as soon as your numbers drop business.

This is pretty much my perspective on things, as well.

flere-imsaho · 12-04-2007, 12:40 PM

My most recent and current clients are both pharmas. At both, it's pretty easy to spot the reps. Most are female, though some are male, they're always dressed nice, and they're all hot (including the men). In fact, I remember reading an article (maybe in the NYT) a while ago about how pharmas recruit pretty heavily from the University Cheerleading ranks for these positions.

Anyway, my understanding is that the bulk of the job involves visiting doctors and a) dropping off free samples, b) dropping off free food (or having it delivered) and c) trying to convince the doctors to prescribe your drugs to patients.

I don't think you have to be terribly smart to do the job (though most of the reps I've met are pretty bright), but you definitely have to be personable, pretty much to the nth degree. Consider that the doctors you're seeing already know more than you about the condition you're proposing to have your drug treat, they're almost certainly overworked, they know exactly what you're there to do, and a good number view you (and pharmas in general) as necessary evils.

The best I can say is that the job can be very financially rewarding if you're good at it and can stick it out. Good luck!

Galaxy · 12-06-2007, 07:26 PM

Kind of sad considering the what the purpose of the sales are.

Honolulu Blue · 12-11-2007, 09:10 AM

This topic reminded me of my old hometown. There were some "pharamceutical representatives" on selected corners and also in the schools. No women at that time - they were all men, though some of them had some interesting looking women hanging around them. They did dress well and had some nice rides, so they must have been doing well.

Eaglesfan27 · 12-11-2007, 02:54 PM

I remember when I was a resident just 10 years ago, it seemed like about a third to a half of the pharm reps were male. Now, all I ever see are hot females. It certainly seems like the field has tilted heavily towards the female gender but perhaps that is because I work at an office that is predominantly male docs.

Edit to add: All of the men that I have seen in the field are good looking men. Also, I agree that personality is a plus. There is one rep who had a horrible personality and most of the docs refused to see him and before he knew it, he was gone. I think a decent understanding of statistics is important as well. Most of the time reps are quoting studies and bringing studies by for us to see. If they don't seem to understand the stats or make outrageous claims that the statistics don't support, I don't talk to them again.

Honestly, I don't like seeing any drug reps, even though they are hot, because I'm afraid they will influence my prescribing in subtle ways. However, I do see them because they leave samples which are a big help to our mostly indigent population, particularly when the child's medicaid status has lapsed for some reason.

miked · 12-11-2007, 03:01 PM

I'm on the flip side, I run a lab and deal with these people all the time. Unless you are a hot female, be prepared for a chore. It's just that a lot of people don't like salespeople, unless they either get free meals, or get to stare at tetas. I was at the American Heart Association conference recently and when I walked through the concourse where all the sales reps were, I only stopped to listen if a hot chick was talking. Why? I don't like pushy salespeople, and if I'm going to have to sit through their little diatribes about why their drug lowered cholesterol by 35% while the competitors only lowered it by 31%, I better get something to look at.

All the dudes in the sales area were pretty much alone, or had very few people talking to them.

Draft Dodger · 12-11-2007, 06:05 PM

I don't work in that industry, but we get a lot of vendor reps here (computer company). It's not quite as shallow as the pharms, but you still do see some attractive females.

One thing that I find interesting is how often these reps will change companies - some of them, every few times you see them they'll have switched jobs and will be representing someone else.

12-04-2007, 09:31 AM	#10
JPhillips Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Newburgh, NY	Be prepared to be sued. I don't know Ohio specifics, but when I did some legal defense work for Big Pharma many of the lawsuits named the sales folk. The drug companies almost always indemnify, but keep good records, be careful what you put in writing and be prepared to see your name in multi-million dollar lawsuits. As for the area, I could certainly think of better places to be. Dayton is rebounding a bit, but still hasn't recovered from the los of industrial jobs. Springboro has a mediocre dinner theatre and that may be the highlight of the town. __________________ To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.. - Mr. Rogers

12-04-2007, 09:34 AM	#11
Butter Coordinator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dayton, OH	If you have any specific questions on the Dayton area, I live here. I am about 10 miles from Springboro. The suburban areas of Dayton are quite nice, but Dayton itself is a decaying hole. Springboro is an area that I would consider in the process of transformation from a small, quiet suburb to beginning to feel the crush of development nearby. __________________ My listening habits

12-11-2007, 02:54 PM	#17
Eaglesfan27 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: New Jersey	I remember when I was a resident just 10 years ago, it seemed like about a third to a half of the pharm reps were male. Now, all I ever see are hot females. It certainly seems like the field has tilted heavily towards the female gender but perhaps that is because I work at an office that is predominantly male docs. Edit to add: All of the men that I have seen in the field are good looking men. Also, I agree that personality is a plus. There is one rep who had a horrible personality and most of the docs refused to see him and before he knew it, he was gone. I think a decent understanding of statistics is important as well. Most of the time reps are quoting studies and bringing studies by for us to see. If they don't seem to understand the stats or make outrageous claims that the statistics don't support, I don't talk to them again. Honestly, I don't like seeing any drug reps, even though they are hot, because I'm afraid they will influence my prescribing in subtle ways. However, I do see them because they leave samples which are a big help to our mostly indigent population, particularly when the child's medicaid status has lapsed for some reason. __________________ Retired GM of the eNFL 2007 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles (19-0 record.) GM of the WOOF 2006 Doggie Bowl Champion Atlantic City Gamblers. GM of the IHOF 2019 and 2022 IHOF Bowl Champion Asheville Axemen. Last edited by Eaglesfan27 : 12-11-2007 at 02:58 PM.

12-11-2007, 03:01 PM	#18
miked College Starter Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Dirty	I'm on the flip side, I run a lab and deal with these people all the time. Unless you are a hot female, be prepared for a chore. It's just that a lot of people don't like salespeople, unless they either get free meals, or get to stare at tetas. I was at the American Heart Association conference recently and when I walked through the concourse where all the sales reps were, I only stopped to listen if a hot chick was talking. Why? I don't like pushy salespeople, and if I'm going to have to sit through their little diatribes about why their drug lowered cholesterol by 35% while the competitors only lowered it by 31%, I better get something to look at. All the dudes in the sales area were pretty much alone, or had very few people talking to them. __________________ Commish of the United Baseball League (OOTP 6.5)

12-11-2007, 06:05 PM	#19
Draft Dodger Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Keene, NH	I don't work in that industry, but we get a lot of vendor reps here (computer company). It's not quite as shallow as the pharms, but you still do see some attractive females. One thing that I find interesting is how often these reps will change companies - some of them, every few times you see them they'll have switched jobs and will be representing someone else. __________________ Mile High Hockey

12-03-2007, 10:20 PM	#2
Warhammer Pro Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dayton, OH	Another thing, anyone have any feelings on the Dayton/Springboro, OH area?

12-04-2007, 07:11 AM	#4
CU Tiger Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Backwoods, SC	If you are not a female and smoking hot, Id say you dont have much chance. A close friend is in the business and she meets the criteria, and so do all her work friends. From what I have seen it is a pay huge chunk you out the door as soon as your numbers drop business. I have family in Deerfield/Ravenna Ohio and quite honestly it may be the worst place on the face of the planet. I mean literally it is the underarm of America.

12-04-2007, 09:52 AM	#12
Warhammer Pro Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dayton, OH	Keep in mind, I'm from Memphis, so anyplace that isn't one of the capitals of violent crime in the country would be an improvement.

12-04-2007, 12:40 PM	#14
flere-imsaho Coordinator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicagoland	My most recent and current clients are both pharmas. At both, it's pretty easy to spot the reps. Most are female, though some are male, they're always dressed nice, and they're all hot (including the men). In fact, I remember reading an article (maybe in the NYT) a while ago about how pharmas recruit pretty heavily from the University Cheerleading ranks for these positions. Anyway, my understanding is that the bulk of the job involves visiting doctors and a) dropping off free samples, b) dropping off free food (or having it delivered) and c) trying to convince the doctors to prescribe your drugs to patients. I don't think you have to be terribly smart to do the job (though most of the reps I've met are pretty bright), but you definitely have to be personable, pretty much to the nth degree. Consider that the doctors you're seeing already know more than you about the condition you're proposing to have your drug treat, they're almost certainly overworked, they know exactly what you're there to do, and a good number view you (and pharmas in general) as necessary evils. The best I can say is that the job can be very financially rewarding if you're good at it and can stick it out. Good luck!

12-06-2007, 07:26 PM	#15
Galaxy Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2005	Kind of sad considering the what the purpose of the sales are.

12-11-2007, 09:10 AM	#16
Honolulu Blue Dynasty Boy Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Michigan	This topic reminded me of my old hometown. There were some "pharamceutical representatives" on selected corners and also in the schools. No women at that time - they were all men, though some of them had some interesting looking women hanging around them. They did dress well and had some nice rides, so they must have been doing well.

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