Finding a pharmaceutical sales rep job with no experience in the medical field won’t be challenging since it’s a high-demand industry. In addition, medical sales focus on face-to-face in contrast to technology trying to take over every aspect of the business, which means this type of opportunity will be around for a long time.
If you are looking for a new career and want to get into the pharmaceutical industry, it can be challenging to find a way in. However, many people who work in this field have at least some experience or knowledge of the industry before they start working as a sales rep.
If you are interested in becoming a pharmaceutical sales rep but don’t have any experience, there is still hope! This article will go over how to become a pharmaceutical sales rep with no experience and what qualifications you need.
What Is A Pharmaceutical Sales Representative?
A pharmaceutical sales representative is someone who works for a company that produces and sells medications. They are responsible for representing their company’s products to physicians, psychiatric professionals, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, pharmacies, or any other type of facility that administers medication.
The job requires tact and diplomacy in order to convince healthcare providers that they need more drugs from this particular company. The average salary for a pharmaceutical sales representative is $91,977 per year, without taking bonuses into consideration, which can typically make up another $15,000 to $20,000 in compensation. However, how much you are paid is usually linked to your tenure in the field and knowledge of the field. This means that you can make great money, but you’ll need to put in the effort and time to make it a reality.
What Type Of Skills Are Needed To Excel As A Pharmaceutical Sales Rep?
There are a lot of skills that you need in order to become an excellent pharmaceutical sales representative. The most important is having the ability to think on your feet and be very persuasive. You will also have to know how to read people well, which makes it difficult for some individuals who might be too shy or introverted. It’s hard for introverts because they do not like being around many people, as opposed to extroverts who crave social interaction with others every day.
You’ve probably heard this before when looking into jobs: the critical differentiator between success and failure is attitude. Not only should your attitude reflect positivity, but you’ll also want to display intelligence so that healthcare providers believe what you’re saying about your products.
Lastly, you’ll need to understand the medical terminology associated with the products you sell. This is one of the most challenging aspects for people who are new to the field because it often requires a lot of work and research.
What Does The Day-To-Day Job of A Pharmaceutical Sales Rep Look Like?
It’s important to understand that every sales representative is different and will have a different experience. However, there are some things in common for those who work in this field:
- Meetings with healthcare providers
- Giving presentations at conferences and hospitals about new products or medications
- Representing the company by talking to others about what they do
- Making cold calls; which means phone calls trying to get doctors interested in their product
- Working with a team to achieve goals
- Being able to sell, which doesn’t come easily for everyone.
As you can see, this job is very challenging, and it’s not something that just anyone can do. However, if you are an extrovert who has ambition and wants to work in the pharmaceutical industry without any experience needed- then this is the perfect field for you!
How To Start Your Career In Pharmaceutical Sales
If you’re ready to take on the challenge of becoming a pharmaceutical sales representative, you’ll need to take some steps to prepare yourself for your new job. Being proactive can help you secure the position of your dreams in pharmaceutical sales. Here are a few ways you can secure your future role in this industry.
Gain Experience In Pharmaceuticals
While it might seem like an impossible task, you can get your first job in the industry by taking the time to gain experience in the medical field. Instead of applying for a pharmaceutical sales rep position right away, try getting internships or volunteering with hospitals and other medical facilities to help them sell their drugs.
This will give you some experience before taking on the full-time role, as well as build your resume so that when it comes time to apply for jobs in this field, hiring managers will feel confident interviewing you for any open roles.
If you want to take things one step further, consider going back into school now and getting your degree from a university where there is a master’s program specifically designed just for people who work in healthcare marketing.
However, this is not absolutely necessary in order to get a job in the industry. In fact, most sales jobs will not require any specific certifications.
Enroll In An Online Training Program
You have the option to enroll in an online training program for pharmaceutical sales representatives if you are interested in learning more about this career path. While it might seem like a lot of work, these courses will give you all the information that you need to know before starting your first job or moving up into higher positions within your company.
In some cases, taking classes can help specific individuals obtain their certification, which is required by law when working as a pharmacist. This means that even though they do not necessarily specialize in pharmacy themselves, they may be able to apply those skills while selling drugs instead with plenty of success.
Sharpen Up Your Skills
Besides getting experience in the medical field, you can also focus on sharpening your skillset to ensure that you embrace and portray the traits that recruiters are looking for in this field. These skills include:
- Strong Work Ethic
- Positive, Can-Do attitude
- Passion for medical sales
- Organization
- Skill in reading people
- Flexibility
- Ability to think on your feet and be persuasive.
Make sure to highlight these skills on your resume and show how you fit the profile of a qualified candidate. This may include providing specific examples of how you were able to embrace these traits in previous roles.
Network With Professionals In The Pharmaceutical Industry
Networking with professionals is a great way to learn about the best ways to break into the industry. Attend conferences, seminars, and other events that are related to pharmaceuticals as well as healthcare marketing.
Because networking opportunities such as these happen all over the world, you can even find some pretty affordable ones online. This allows you to participate even if you do not live near any major cities or metropolitan areas where they regularly occur. In addition, you’ll be able to meet people who have been working for years in medical sales jobs which can help you prepare or find roles within the industry.
Use Medical Keywords On Your Resume
If you want to stand out from the pack, use keywords on your resume that are associated with medical fields. These include:
- Medicine
- Medical Devices
- Medical Products
- Pharmaceuticals
- Medical Technology
- Hospitality and Nursing Care
- Healthcare Management
- Public Health Services And Administration.
Employers look for these keywords because they can tell a lot about how qualified you’ll be for specific jobs. Be sure to highlight any certifications you have as well. This lets recruiters know who qualifies when it comes time to consider applicants for pharmaceutical positions.
Grow Your Online Presence
If you want to break into the industry, it’s important that recruiters can find your information online. This means building an active social media following as well as updating your LinkedIn profile with any accomplishments and skills that relate specifically to this field.
In fact, 76% of recruiters will check your online profile before deciding whether they want to interview you. This will help them understand what to expect if they choose to interview you for a job in pharmaceuticals.
While many hiring managers will not take applicants without previous experience seriously at first glance. However, these steps may be enough of an opportunity for them to consider interviewing you. With the right approach and strategy, there is no reason why someone who has never worked in medical sales can’t get their foot in the door.
Preparing For Your Pharmaceutical Sales Rep Interview
Since you may not have much experience in this field, it’s essential to be prepared for the interview. This includes coming up with answers for questions that are likely to come up like:
- What was your most recent job?
- Why did you leave your last one?
- How would you describe yourself as an employee or colleague?
- What is something about yourself that others might not know about you? Why is it relevant or unique to marketing pharmaceuticals?
How To Answer The Question: ” Have You Ever Had Any Experience Working With Pharmaceuticals?”
When you get asked about your experience in pharmaceuticals, you don’t need to lie about your experience. Instead, show how your prior knowledge can help you succeed in your new role. Highlight the preparation you’ve done (such as the online training, networking, and volunteering) to show how serious you are about this job.
Many companies are looking for candidates who can work across multiple industries. They know that their employees need more than one skill set in order to succeed in today’s business world.
Find Your Dream Career Today With Sales Recruiters Chicago
If you’re looking for a pharmaceuticals or healthcare marketing job, don’t be discouraged if you have no experience. The steps we’ve outlined here should help you prepare and land an interview with the right employer. Plenty of companies are willing to take someone without previous experience seriously.
If you’re not feeling confident about finding your pharmaceuticals sales rep job, let Sales Recruiters Chicago help! Sales Recruiters Chicago will not find your pharmaceuticals sales rep job for you. Plus, we also provide invaluable training and support to make sure that it’s a great fit from day one. In addition, we have the experience and expertise to connect you with the right employers in your industry. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today to get started.
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