You were attracted to the
pharmaceutical industry because of the perks of being a representative: you get
to travel across the country helping people treat, manage and cure illnesses
and conditions. The job relies on your salesmanship and knowledge of the
industry. Get a leg up on colleagues and others vying for the same jobs and
promotions in the industry by becoming a more knowledgeable, experienced
salesperson in the field.
Earn Your
Masters
Earn a graduate degree and
become more qualified for a better salary and a promotion. There are a number
of fields in which a pharmaceutical sales representative could thrive, such as
business and marketing, but there are a few more outside of the box, too. Opt
for a specialization such as healthcare ethics and join the debate on ethics in
the medical field.
Hospitals, clinics and other medical
organizations look for members of the medical community across the board, even
pharmaceutical sales representatives, to participate in ethics debates. The
pharmaceutical company for which you work will also rely on you for the
educated input that few others in the field can provide.
Take Courses
in Leadership
Whatever master’s degree you
decide to pursue, sign up for courses in leadership before, during or after
your graduate studies. A salesperson who gets promotions, who’s trusted with
greater responsibilities, is someone whom colleagues and supervisors can rely
on. Leadership
courses will also help develop your skills in:
- Leading a team in charge of pushing a new product or located in a single region
- Convincing doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to purchase your products
- Taking the initiative and setting goals beyond what the company sets for you
If you take courses in
leadership, you’ll also learn that leadership is a part of teamwork. The most
effective leaders guide others to perform to their best instead of simply
ordering them around. The pharmaceutical sales representative who proves that
he or she is driven and can lead and be skilled at teamwork is the one most
likely to get promoted.
Create your
network
Network
online, or at events and conventions. Join
relevant professional associations. Use your frequent travels as chances
to have business lunches with other people in the industry. The more people in
the field who know your name, the more likely it is that your name will come up
when someone’s looking to hire. Find better-paying, more advanced careers at
other companies, or if you like where you are, use your networking connections
as outside references who recommend you get promotions. When your name becomes
a buzz word among industry insiders, your employer has no choice but to
recognize your talents if they hope to keep you at the company.
Manage a New Product Launch
If you don’t take the
initiative to let your supervisors know you want more responsibility, they
might assume you’re content where you are. Whenever possible, volunteer to
manage a new product launch. You might have to work your way up to overseeing
the launch by first volunteering to be on the team responsible for pushing a
new product, demonstrating your leadership skills on that team and producing
impressive sales figures.
Eventually your supervisors
will reward your determination with one of the holy grails of the
pharmaceutical sales representative career: being in charge of a new product
launch. Remember that much of your success depends on the success of the
product, but if you demonstrate passion and determination throughout the
product launch, you’ll be rewarded even if the product doesn’t sell as well as
hoped.
Like most sales jobs, there’s
room for advancement in the pharmaceutical sales representative career — but
that advancement depends almost entirely on your efforts. It’s a competitive
field, so do what you can to give yourself the edge over the other people who
want that promotion or job offer you have your heart set on. Making yourself a
more educated, active member of the industry may be just what you need to get a
promotion.
The Ultimate Guide for Pharma Marketing Champions
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