Your Pharmaceutical Sales Interview - How to Get Connected, get organized and get that interview!

As a former pharmaceutical sales recruiter, my coaching clients find it strange when I say that networking with pharmaceutical representatives is key to landing their first pharmaceutical sales interview, rather than just call a recruiter. But let's face it, if a manager can hire a professional sales advised by his / her rep at a cost much cheaper than through a recruiter, who then think that the manager choose?

And, although the network seems to be feared by many first time pharmaceutical sales candidates, has become increasingly easy to do in recent years.

Why?

Sheer numbers, my friend! With more than 100,000 pharmaceutical sales representatives in the U.S. alone, chances are that someone in your network of friends and acquaintances is a pharmaceutical representative, or at least one knows.

In my coaching business pharmaceutical sales interview, I found that only the strong survive a research career in pharmaceutical sales. To put it bluntly, earning his first job in pharmaceutical sales is not for the faint of heart. You must be willing to "get out there" and do not be shy about using your network of friends / relatives or approaching pharmaceutical representatives who do not know.

Here's how to start networking activities and land that Pharmaceutical Sales Interview:
First step of sending letters to everyone in your networking circle of friends and relatives. Communicating your fervent desire to win a job in pharmaceutical sales, and ask for additional contacts in the network.
Step Two: Develop a system for monitoring the network - you talked to the results of the conversation and if / when follow-up is required. This is important to start immediately, as you will soon have many contacts that will be difficult to keep track of your next step.
Step Three: Make a list of your doctor / physician assistant contacts. Their child's pediatrician, the doctor, a family friend who is also a doctor - all of these network connections are perfect. Contact these individuals via telephone, or write an informal note and leave them at their workplace.
Step Four: Use your current relationship with the office staff in local health clinics to provide network contacts. Request a copy of the list pharm local representative of the association, or at least the names of 3-4 repetitions that the office staff really like and trust.
Step Five: Visit the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for the business cards of reps attending the pharmacy.
Sixth Step: What about camping in a medical clinic busy all day, dress your best? Do not be shy to approach pharmaceutical reps as they make their way out of the clinic. Just take a minute of their time, and deliver a 45 second "spots" of your education and career history qualifies you for a career in pharmaceutical sales. Finally, ask if it is possible to contact them in a second time that is convenient for them.
Step seven: Show up at a local meeting Pharm Rep Association and ask to be introduced at the beginning of the meeting. Rattle your "spot" and ask for business cards, so you can follow up with later repetitions. Chat with representatives of determining immediate openings and schedule appointments for the next conversations.What are the keys to this Networking System constant follow-up: Follow-up by telephone and e-mail with your contacts on a monthly basis to discover new openings and keep the ratio of "hot" an organized system of monitoring and Next Steps: Track your progress every step of the way, use spreadsheets and update accordingly.Build Relations:. Develop a personal relationship with each of your contacts. Remember and trace the "little things" (as in the caliber of your contacts / dislikes, birthdays, names of family members, etc.) and use this knowledge to build a positive relationship with your contacts.The network of more than 3 points can literally make or break your career search progress. Consider that the practice for the pharmaceutical sales job you will soon - organizational skills, follow-up, and repoire building skills are a huge component of career success of pharma sales.

But what if you're not landing a Pharmaceutical Sales Interview?

It 's time to reflect ... step back and take a look at the big picture. If you have a wide network of contacts pharma rep is good (30-40), who have passed along your resume through your contacts, and yet you are not gaining interviews ... Your resume can be the cause. Your resume should be a powerful marketing piece that showcases your skills / abilities / experience in a way that compels hiring managers to interview you! Consider a pharmaceutical sales resume writer to restart the talks. Be sure to choose a resume writer with the pharmaceutical industry sales experience, to ensure the effective use of buzzwords in the industry and the keywords ... essential to getting interviews!

And finally, do not give up! Remember ... Pharmaceutical sales is not an easy career, it is really very challenging, which is reflected in the turnover rate. Today the challenge of networking your way into a pharma sales interview will seem small, once you get a pharmaceutical sales job. Keep up this challenge in perspective, and refuse to give up. I had customers waiting in a parking lot of the medical clinic, ready to take on pharmaceutical reps they get into their cars! Are you willing to be that determined and tenacious? It is likely that ... competition will!...