Pharmaceutical Sales; CoreyNahman.com
Resources for the aspiring pharmaceutical sales representative.


Free information regarding the profession of pharmaceutical sales from the
perspective of an award winning, veteran pharmaceutical sales representative with twenty-five years of industry experience.   

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Frequently Asked Questions regarding the profession of
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

See Also:[ Pharm Rep Tips] [Pharm Rep FAQ from Anne Clayton]


Q:  How long should I expect my job search to last?

A: If you don't have any experience in the field, it's reasonable to expect your search to last 6 to 12 months, start to finish.  It will probably take a minimum of 3 months to land your first interview, and more like 6 months if you don't have any connections.  The interview process - from the time you have your first interview until you are offered a job - takes a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks.

In my case, it took a long time.  I sent out 170 resumes.  I got four or five interviews.  I saved my stack of rejection letters for a long time.  Apparently, I had " outstanding skills and qualifications, however there were candidates that were more suitable" than I was.  Be prepared to get a whole bunch of rejection letters (if they even bother to send you a rejection letter, which they don't always).

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recommendations:  Pharmaceutical  Sales Book; - Of all of the Pharm sales books I have seen so far, the best one is "Insight into a Career in Pharmaceutical Sales", by Anne Clayton.
>Click Here to read my review of Ms Clayton's Book
>Click Here to see Pharm Rep FAQ from Anne Clayton's Website

recommendations: Resume Writer; The man who I think is the best resume writer in the industry - He did my resume (twice) and I recommend him highly.  Scott Burke of TCA has 25 years experience writing pharmaceutical resume's and cover letters.  Click Here for Details

recommendations: Resume Blaster:  Submit your resume to more than specialized 750 recruiters who deal only with pharmaceutical and medical device companies.  Click Here For My Review

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After a while I became a bit disheartened.  My first screening interview was in March.  I was hired in January of the following year.  I went with a then small company called Marion Laboratories out of Kansas City, Missouri (one of the legacy companies of Aventis Pharmaceuticals). 

I had an interview that I thought went pretty well but I didn't hear from them for six weeks or so. 

I decided that I had nothing to lose.  I started telephoning them in Kansas City on a daily basis.  After a couple of weeks, the interview process resumed (my paperwork had been misplaced).  Four months later, They made me an offer.

I was rejected by some of the finest pharmaceutical companies.  When I got into the field, it was especially gratifying to outsell them or see them get swallowed up by their competition.

See Also: Why do the drug companies give so many interviews? Why does it take so long from the first interview until an offer is made?


Recommendation: Find out about the man who I think is the best resume writer in the industry.   He did my resume (twice) and I recommend him highly.  Scott Burke of TCA has 25 years experience writing resume's and cover letters.  Click Here for Details

Recommendation: Of all of the Pharm sales books I have seen so far, the best one is "Insight into a Career in Pharmaceutical Sales" by Anne Clayton.
>Click Here to read my review of Ms Clayton's Book
>Click Here to see Pharm Rep FAQ from Anne Clayton's Website