Career Guide: How to Get Into Pharmaceutical Sales
Do you want a career in sales? One of the most coveted sales jobs is in pharmaceutical sales. It’s among the top-paying jobs, with a median salary of over $96,000 a year.
It’s a highly competitive job, especially since it pays very well. You also get to have can greater impact on the world, because you’re selling products that can improve the quality of life for many people.
If this sounds like a dream job to you, you’ll want to know how to get into pharmaceutical sales.
Read on to learn what a pharmaceutical sales rep does and how to become one.
What Does a Pharmaceutical Salesperson Do?
There’s a myth that pharmaceutical sales reps play golf with doctors all day. The other myth is that reps work a few hours a day and make more than $200,000 a year.
The top pharmaceutical sales reps do much more than that. They don’t play golf or take doctors out to dinner anymore.
A typical pharmaceutical sales rep is responsible for selling a range of medical products within a certain region. The rep visits doctors and hospitals within the territory.
They talk to doctors about the challenges they face in treating patients. The pharmaceutical reps listen carefully. Ideally, their products are able to solve those challenges.
The most difficult part of the job is getting past gatekeepers. In a hospital setting, they have to meet with several stakeholders to get the sale.
How to Get Into Pharmaceutical Sales
What are the education requirements to get a pharmaceutical sales job? It depends on the employer. There are a few jobs that only require a high school diploma.
However, the vast majority of jobs require a bachelor’s degree in business or life sciences. If you have a higher degree, such as an MBA or RN, you’ll be in a stronger position to get interviewed.
As you go through school, build your network. This is the most important thing that you can do is connect with other sales reps and hiring managers. Reach out to recruiters and let them know you’re actively looking for a pharmaceutical job.
This may give your resume an edge over the hundred-plus other resumes the company will get for an open position. Other things that hiring managers look for are previous sales experience, pharmaceutical company awards, and references.
You’ll go through several rounds of interviews. It’s a chance to evaluate if the company is a good fit for you. Ask about a typical day of a sales rep, the expectations, and training.
If you do get an offer, make sure you understand the payment structure of the position. Most drug companies pay a combination of base salary, benefits, and sales bonuses.
Start a Lucrative Career in Pharmaceutical Sales
If you want a new career that is rewarding and pays well, get started in pharmaceutical sales.
How to get into pharmaceutical sales starts with your education and network. Build that up and you’ll get your foot in the door. Check out the home page of the blog for more career tips today!
