How Do You Become a Drug Sales Rep?

All drug reps I know have college degrees. Most common are degrees in business or marketing or a degree in a science (chemistry or biology).

If she decides to it without any college degree, if she can even find a job (it's a tough job market out there) she will likely be very limited when it comes to promotions...
This is true for any profession that usually requires a degree, you may get a foot in the door, but it will stall out eventually, with very little option for growth. I speak from experience... I am now back in college!
Good luck.

I have many friends who were "pharmagirls" post-college and most have left the field in the 10 years since b/c it's a lot of travel and you literally live out of a vehicle adn a suitcase.

Couple of "realities":
1. You must be a college graduate and preference will be given to those with science degrees, but two of my friends were communications majors.
2. You have a huge travel and "expense" account b/c you are always "on the road" and you have to "expense" your travel fees, including lunches/dinners with medical teams. Typically, this involves ordering lunch for the staff and having it delivered.
3. None of my friends had "clothing" budgets, but all had highly restrictive dress codes (including the need to wear hose if wearing a skirt).

**They may advertise as "degree perferred", but that's HR code for... if you don't have a Bachelor's don't bother.

FDA regulations have changed dramatically in the last 2 years. I'm in the medical device industry (in scientific publications for marketing) The big entertainment budgets are gone because no one in the health care private sector industries are allowed to give more than a modest gift or meal to a client any more. No more junkets, no more fancy restaurants, no golf trips, etc. About the most that's allowed now is for a rep to bring in pizza or sandwiches and smoothies for a lunch and learn session -- and they better really know the product and how to teach about it's benefits and uses, as well as have a solid background in physiology, phamaceutical science, and the doctor's specialty area since the office staff can ask about anything.

That's if you can even get in the door. Doctors are often so busy that a rep can wait forever in hopes of catching the doctor between patients. The hours are long, and the travel is considerable -- mostly by car, as reps will have a well defined local area they're responsible for. The rules for using that car off hours can also be strictly governed.

Sales is about building trust with your client because of the quality of your product and the integrity of your company. It's not about big boobs or a pretty face. If your daughter really wants to go into the industry, she needs to get a bachelor's degree at a minimum, preferably in a heallth- or chemistry-related field, and put in 2 -3 years doing outside retail sales for the sales experience. I will tell you this, though. The most successful and fastest rising reps and marketing folks in our industry are MSs, PhDs, PharmDs, and MDs.

Sounds like you are talking about the Pharma industry of 10 years ago. According to my friends that rep it has changed completely. Their expense accounts have been drastically cut and they are not longer permitted to do things like spa days or buy elaborate gifts. Actually the biggest healthcare provider in my city passed a rule that they are not even able to call on their doctors anymore-this puts pretty much the whole city off limits and I can imagine this is the direction it is heading in.

Also-I cannot imagine them hiring someone without a college degree. The competition is fierce for these jobs and pretty becomes a dime a dozen-tons of pretty girls apply I am sure.

Used to be true, not anymore. I would truly encourage your daughter to go to college and earn a degree in something she enjoys and is good at. There are no "incredible expense accounts" and allowances out there anymore. Ethics boards and laws have clamped down on extravagant gifts being given to entice sales (good thing!)

I work as a Career consultant for an Outplacement company. There is a glut of unemployed PR and marketing majors out there. I've also seen a LOT of laid-off drug reps in the last couple of years. I also have a friend who is a male doctor. He has told me that drug reps used to know their product, now they are just "hot" young women... What do you think happens to them when they get older, or gain weight, or...

I take a little bit of offense at your label of pharmagirl, but unfortunately there are still a few of these folks around that give the industry a bad name. Most of these folks don't last very long in their positions and most companies don't look to hire the "Barbie and Ken" profile anymore. I would definitely try to steer her in another direction because she has a totally unrealistic idea and expectation of the industry. I have been a pharmaceutical rep for 18 years, after a successful career in consumer product sales. The industry has changed tremendously in the last few years, including a reduction in the number of reps to almost half. This is due to fewer block buster drugs, generic drugs that make up more than 70% of drug sales and very restrictive or non -access programs to hospitals and physicians groups. So getting into pharma is very difficult these days because there are a lot of very qualified, well trained reps out there that are looking for jobs due to downsizing and mergers. With the uncertainities of healthcare reform, pharma companies are being very conservative with hiring and are partnering with detail companies instead of adding employees.
Pharma guidelines that went into place three years ago, severely limit our interaction with medical providers and we are not even allowed to give out pens or notepads. Entertainment budgets went away even before that. All major companies require at least a four year degree, many of the people I work with also have medical degrees (RN, CDE, Registered Pharmacist). The training for most companies is intense . To be good at your job, you need to have the ability to discuss your products and their disease states at the same level of a physician. Pharmaceutical sales can be a rewarding profession-it pays well, it is flexible and it is a little different everyday. If you have other questions, send me a private message.

I have a friend who is 35, ridiculously beautiful, graduated with a bachelors degree in English and physical education who has been a pharm rep for the past 5-6 years. I'm sure the fact that she's hot really helped get her the job.

I'm not looking down on anyone who is a pharmaceutical sales rep, but being eye candy for the doctors and nurses definitely gives you a leg up even if you have no experience with business, marketing, sales, or medicine.

I had a response typed but deleted it. It was mostly what I thought, which I'm sure you and your daughter wouldn't want to hear. As a registered nurse I have way to many issues with the industry.

Google Gwen Olsen and Kathleen Slattery Moschkau. Also have her watch the movie Side Effects.

Oh in my 30 years of nursing experience I've never heard of a doctor expecting to be entertained.

I think the industry has changed A LOT. I have a couple friends who are still successful, but so much has changed in the medical/healthcare world, and generics are just part of it. I worked in sales in a different industry for a while, and was very recently helping my boss screen resumes for new sales candidates and half were from the real estate industry looking for work, and the other half were from the mortgage biz or pharma biz...downsizing and industry is going through changes...
Good Luck to your daughter in finding something that excites her and that she can be successful doing!

it depends on the company... a lot.... things have changed. there are plenty of unscrupulous docs, but i havent heard much as extreme as you describe. it can be a good job, i dont think i would call it glamorous. and not a great long term plan overall. not the worst though. like i said, depends on the company. training can be reeeeeeeally hard, depends who....

She's dreaming..... but if she is serious she may be able to make it happen IF she goes to college or at least get some training. I know about 4 drug reps and ALL are college educated. ALL work with leading drug companies and NONE have the situation you describe. Yes, they are doing very well, don't get me wrong but it is not all glamorous.. it involves WORK and a lot of it.

As far as the lavish lifestyle and endless expense accounts........things have changed... Companies are NOT allowing the freebies like they used to.

Keep in mind... you don't get something for nothing.

All that said, sales reps from good companies do have some great perks. My hubby has been in sales 25 yrs, I was in it as well before baby. Yes, we had expnse accounts and way back then.... yes, we had season tickets to Dallas Stars, Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Cowboys and everything was expenses.

The economy has changed and companies are becoming more frugal because this is an area where they can cut costs. We run our own company now, same business and as smart business owners, we watch expenses carefully even though we can afford them. You have to be ready for the months that sales will be low.

Your daughter needs to have a lot of self control, especially financially. We've seen a few sales reps end up in bankruptcy because they don't properly file expense reports, don't apply the reimbursements to the credit card and end up in a big mess. MOST companies require you to use your personal credit card and then you are reimbursed.

A lot of being in sales(of any kind) and working commission is a game because some months you hit it big and others you may have nothing. For example: this month is our biggest this year... we've had $500,000 in sales this month alone and our cut of that is comes in a little over 10% BUT, we are not so naive to think that it will happen each month and we save money for those months when we only sell $100,000.

It takes someone who knows how to plan and have self discipline.

I would NOT discourage your daughter but try to help her see the real picture.