How to start a career in pharmaceutical sales

Pharmaceutical sales jobs are the most rewarding and sought after career in sales. One of the most common reasons that people pursue such careers is that they offer flexibility, the ability to manage your own schedule and territory, the ability to travel all over the world in the most exotic places with all the expenses paid by the company, and above all, salaries and bonuses that range between $80,000 and $150,000 yearly. However, landing a job as a pharmaceutical sales representative requires quite a dedication and, most of all, love for the profession.

When you get interviewed for a pharmaceutical sales job, most likely, the first question you will be asked is “Why are you interested in pursuing a career in pharmaceutical sales”. This is a basic question for any type of job interview. Employers always begin an interview with “why are you interested in” and this is a straightforward question that requires a clear-cut answer.

First of all, as you would have answered for any other job position related to sales, the proper answer is that you love being a salesperson. If you already have an experience as a salesperson you should definitely mention it with examples, how you did the sale, how you convinced the customer into buying the product. In effect, you sell yourself to the employer during the interview. Without saying too much about yourself, you show you are an energetic, motivated and enthusiastic salesperson by telling the story of a previous sale that you have accomplished.

Then, you can explain why you think a career in pharmaceutical sales is right for you. This answer is two-fold. It involves both the characteristics of the pharmaceutical industry that would probably induce any salesperson to pursue a career and your personal traits that make you suitable for such a profession. Pharmaceutical industry is dynamic and demonstrates constant growth that offers to pharmaceutical sales professionals enormous opportunities for professional and personal growth. If you have spend some time in the field with a pharmaceutical sales representative to see first-hand what these people do, you should put it forward in the interview.

If you have decided to pursue a career in pharmaceutical sales after having done a thorough research in the field, you should explain it to the potential employer. Looking for this particular job for six months or more, will mean that you really feel like doing this job and you are a persistent individual that has specific career goals. Employers love to see candidates who are certain about their career objectives and feel like they are the right person for a particular job.

Overall, what you should have in mind when pursuing a career in the pharmaceutical sector is that pharmaceutical sales jobs reward knowledge, and tenacity. As a pharmaceutical sales representative you would spend most of your day on the road, visiting pharmacists, physicians, and hospital personnel to promote your company’s products and your sales volume. For every new product, you would spend a lot of time to learn its features and this would be like taking a pharmacology course. You would have to be familiar with the industry statistics, competition developments, and global data on a weekly basis. Admittedly, a career in pharmaceutical sales is a high-rewarding job, but it also requires a great deal of dedication, and readiness to make sacrifices for your career.