ive been thinking about getting into this field once i graduate college. i have a little under 1 year left and have about 4 years of sales experience. every company ive seen is asking for 2 years sales experience and a bachelors degree. starting income is $60k+commission. just wanting to get some info/insight from people that are in the business already

 

I have dealt with many pharma reps in the past, and have dated a couple. I doubt it will be a good field to get into once obamacare kicks in. Besides that they have had their expense accounts trimmed and smashed since 2006. alot of the big benefits for this type of sales position have been eliminated.

 

All I can say is, inside your briefcase of exaggerations and half truths make sure you carry some kneepads otherwise your knees will get sore really fast.

 

its ok. i sold cars to get me thru college. is there anyone else with some actual experience in this field?

 

I have several friends who used to be pharma reps. They either left by choice, or were let go when their patent ran out. If you want to go into the field, I would recommend diagnostics or devices, but not pharma (just from my second-hand experience). Just a little FYI, you can make more money selling less glamourous products. I know quite a few people who make 6 figures selling toilet paper (not kidding).

 

Yes, my uncle is/was a pharm. rep, but is not a rep for a large prosthetic limb company. Like chef said, you missed the boat. The days of bails of money, golf resorts and steaks dinners are a thing of the past. It is now holiday inn expresses and fancy take out joints. Hell, even my wife's large top 10 lawfirm has sliced the "dinners" to "approved" locations, which include Chipotle, Qdoba, and the like. The days of the corporate cards are dead, and so is the rest of the glamour associated with these fields.
One of the reasons why my uncle does SO well (top 5 in the country for Pfizer) is due to the fact that he used to be a doctor in Russia, but when he came here, he didn't want to go through the testing again. As a result, when he was selling doctors, he talked to them like a doctor, and not like a salesman. He never took ANYONE out. He spent all the "going out" money on his wife/family and still sold a heap of drugs. Now he is selling prosthetics, which pay a TON more, but require a TON more knowledge.

Honestly, if you are an AMAZING salesman, you may succeed, but doctors aren't idiots buying a mattress. Unless you are amazing at sales, you have no chance of selling some new drug to a doctor.

 

I'm a physician, as well as some other members on this board. I will post some more stuff when I have more time later. Like any field, there are pros and cons to pharm rep.

 

thank you very much for your help

 

Sounds like it may be a solid opportunity. 60K + commision to start is nothing to sneeze at in most parts of the country. Honestly, who the hell cares what the expense account reimbursment looks like as long as expenses are covered. Anyone looking to consider expense reimbursement as part of their income now days is either unrealistic or a chiselling low life. IMO (and in the opinion of most companies now), expense reimbursement is just that --- expense reimbursement. Anything above that is and should be taxable.

 

I'm a medical device rep for the prosthetic industry, I love it, and my job isn't going anywhere.

I do not belong to a larger company and we are owned by 24 orthopedic surgeons. Capital is no issue, and I sell a product that is fairly new in the industry. I was given a tiny percentage of the company when hired on, so I huess you could say I have a tiny vested interest in the deal.

But like everyone else has said, once the company hits a certain worth, the for sale sign will be up. I'll have my percentage given to me along with my compensation in my contract. The future buyers of the company will need me for awhile for transition purposes, but I'll probably go and work for the physicians at their clinic once that day comes. Or they may just keep this company.

Either way, I could not ask for a better job at 26, and I've been the sales rep since I was 24. Go for it man, I've gotten to see the world and eat and the fanciest places this country has to offer, all the while sellign a product that is changing life. It doesn't get any better than this.