Hopefully someone on here can help me out.... I would love to be a rep; however, I don't have any outside sales experience, which is causing a problem. Has anyone else had this problem when applying? What would be a good job that might make me more appealing to recruiters? I am double majoring in Biochemistry/Biological Sciences (graduate in May!) and have a good GPA. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

4/24/2006 1:14:28 PM

my sis in law tried to get into that, same/similar degree and also didn't have experience...she kept running into the same ole line, "this business is more about who you know to get you in the door than experience"

4/24/2006 1:30:28 PM

nepotism like whoa!

4/24/2006 1:31:10 PM

forget it, you're not hot enough.

4/24/2006 2:58:03 PM

i work in medical sales but on a different level
my company manufactures disposable medical devices and we sell through a network of major distributors.

pharma jobs are hard to get into even with outside sales exp. you have to either know someone or already be in the business. if i were you, i would try to get into pharma sales with a company that sells a complete line of surgical, medical and pharma. Like Henry Schien for example. They are one of our biggest customers and the have a complete line of drugs, i think.

lots of companies that push pharma and surgical will hire from the greater health care communtiy, ie. biochem and nurses, etc. to add to thier in-house knowledge. if you are about to graduate and have no co-op or intern exp. you are going to suffer and start from the bottom. Check out Cardinal Health also. They have a local facility in cary.

[Edited on April 24, 2006 at 3:38 PM. Reason : m]

4/24/2006 3:38:25 PM

Some companies offer summer internships. I would suggest contacting people who are doing what you would like to do and inquiring about internships they offer. From what I know, it's really competitive, so being persistent and willing to relocate are impt. If you're interested in more school you may want to consider pursuing a pharm D.

4/24/2006 4:44:53 PM

Don't do it.

4/24/2006 5:40:48 PM

it sounds really cool, but its not, its very unstable job

4/25/2006 8:44:54 AM

Thanks for the advice.... Does anyone have any suggestions for any other sales jobs in the medical industry? I really want to be in the medical field. I also do not want a job where I have to sit behind a desk for more than a few hours per day. Thanks again for any help!

4/29/2006 10:41:32 PM

My dad used to work for a medical supply company. Worked his way up from sales to operations manager and eventually VP, but after they merged with another company he got sick of the long hours he was putting in and moved on to a new career.

Can't name specific companies off the top of my head, but look into medical device manufacturers/distributors. I don't find them to be as sleazy as pharmaceutical companies, but that's just my opinion.

4/29/2006 11:01:14 PM

ask anita

4/29/2006 11:13:10 PM

I would move a few kilos of coc before i applied. Its really easy and wont take too long to get into and would be great experience in pharmaceutical sales onto your resume.

Go down to S Lenoir and E Martin at 9pm on a tuesday or thursday night and ask for Cheatass. He will get you going as a "sales rep" for lil' kiki (which is one of those ironic names because if you ever saw him, which you probobly wont, lil kiki is 350 pounds).

4/30/2006 2:26:38 AM

You have to be good looking. That's about it.

If you call around RTP you can find an opening.





But you do have to be good looking.

4/30/2006 3:44:12 AM

^that's why i said she's not good-looking enough.

4/30/2006 9:47:28 AM

I work for a speciality pharmaceutical company, and I was in the same position you were last year. I was a biology major with a nutrition concentration. I had 0 sales experience, and never internered in any type of business setting (did research one summer, and shadowed a dietician the other) so I thought I would be a lost cause. However, the company I work for has a program that helps you break into the speciality pharmaceutical field. I don't work for a Merck, GSK, AstroZenica or a huge company like that, but you would recogonize the drug I sell. PM me if you want some more information.

4/30/2006 11:12:59 AM

Quote :

"forget it, you're not hot enough."

5/1/2006 12:38:50 PM