When conducting interviews with applicants, we often come across the fact that their idea of the work of a medical representative is partly incorrect: there is both an excessive idealization of the profession, and, on the contrary, an unjustifiably negative perception of it.
We would like to dispel the most common myths about this profession and explain how things really are.
Myth 1. “A medical representative has a free work schedule”
The work schedule of most medical representatives is standard: an 8-hour working day and a five-day working week with two days off. It should also be borne in mind that this profession is characterized by numerous processing - a medical representative can conduct marketing events on weekends, fill out reports after work, meet opinion leaders and escort them to the airport at any time of the day or night. The huge number of business trips should also be taken into account. In addition, each medical representative has a schedule of visits (the number of visits can vary from 8 for a key account manager to 13-15 for a simple medical representative). Many companies track the geolocation of their employees, so there are very few chances to “skip” work, and about free graphics work is not to be said.
Myth 2. “Fast career growth is possible in pharmaceutical companies”
Almost all applicants without work experience applying for the position of a medical representative are sure that after a year of work they will be able to take the position of a key account manager, and possibly even a regional/territorial manager with subordinate employees. This is not entirely true. In our practice, there was only one case of rapid, almost dizzying growth - from medical representative to regional manager, and it happened not in one, but in three years. On average, it will take an employee with no work experience about five years to get promoted.
However, many companies have so-called intermediate positions - senior / leading medical representative, in which employees are delegated part of the manager's functionality (participation in the selection, coaching, territory analysis).
About more significant career growth one can speak only when the medical representative has established himself as a professional and has proven himself effective employee and also acquired the necessary managerial skills and competencies.
Myth 3. “The work of a medical representative is simple, not like the work of a doctor or a pharmacist/pharmacist”
Every profession requires full dedication, and the work of a medical representative is no exception. Like any job in sales, it comes with enormous costs - both emotional and physical. Despite the apparent simplicity, the medical representative faces complex, often difficult tasks. He is responsible for sales volumes - not only his own, but also for the sales of the whole team in the region.
Myth 4. “A medical representative can use a company car outside of working hours”
The use of a company car by employees of pharmaceutical companies is strictly regulated, the car can only be used in work time. To avoid staff travel personal affairs, companies track the location of the car, which leaves little chance of making a trip to the country house on weekends and even to the supermarket after work.
Myth 5. “You can become a medical representative only if you have a higher medical or pharmaceutical education”
In fact, higher specialized education is no longer mandatory requirement to applicants in many pharmaceutical companies, including those included in the "big pharma". Trends in the labor market are such that, first of all, employers pay attention to the availability of relevant competencies and experience in sales. Thus, today it is quite possible to build a career in pharmaceutical company and without formal education.
Myth 6. “They will teach me everything”
A myth opposite to the previous one, but no less common. Many applicants applying for the position of a medical representative really believe that they should not have any special knowledge and skills, believing that they will be taught everything as part of corporate training. This is not entirely true. Companies do provide training for employees, but you should not take them as a training program "from scratch" - in fact, they are aimed at honing existing skills and obtaining additional (not basic!) Knowledge.
Myth 7. “I want to work as a medical representative because I like communicating with people”
This is one of the typical answers of applicants to the question “Why would you like to work as a medical representative?”.
It should be understood that the work of a representative is not just to communicate with people. The main goal is to convince the doctor to use the company's products in his practice and, as a result, increase sales. Mere communication - in the broadest sense of the word - will not achieve this goal. Communication with the doctor should take place at a high professional level, using various techniques sales. A high degree of involvement in the process is required from the medical representative.
In a word, if a candidate in the work of a medical representative is attracted solely by the opportunity to “communicate with people”, this may indicate that he is poorly aware of the specifics of this profession.
Myth 8. “A medical representative has a very high salary”
Of course, large pharmaceutical companies for the most part provide employees with competitive wages and a good social package.
However, there are also companies on the market that are ready to offer medical representatives much more modest remuneration and less attractive working conditions. So, in some of them, the medical representative is not provided with a corporate car: the employee either has to use a personal car or use public transport. Unfortunately, there are also employers that use gray pay schemes, companies that do not provide bonuses and where medical representatives sometimes have to invest their own cash in marketing activities.
Thus, before accepting a job offer, it is necessary to carefully study employment contract and discuss such details with future employers.
Myth 9. “Doctors prescribe drugs for money or gifts”
Often when asked how a candidate could influence the increase in sales of the company's drugs, we hear about material motivation doctors.
In some cases, this may become one of the tools for the work of a medical representative. However, many companies strictly monitor the observance of ethical business standards, the policy of such companies prohibits medical representatives not only to stimulate the increase in sales through gifts to doctors, but also to pay for opinion leaders to travel to international conferences or give lectures.
Work on the promotion of drugs is built, first of all, on the professional interest of the doctor in the treatment of his patients, and the task of the medical representative is to clearly and convincingly inform the specialist that the company's drugs are really successfully coping with this task.
Myth 10. “I will betray my calling if I work as a medical representative”
Often, applicants give up the idea of working as a medical representative, fearing the condemnation of colleagues in the shop, believing that a person who graduated from a medical school cannot be a “salesman”.
In fact, there are different situations when a person cannot work in medicine. The most common of them - parents insisted on entering a medical school, but by the end of their studies young man a clear understanding was formed that he could not and did not want to remain in the profession. Often, disappointment in the profession and in the healthcare system as a whole arises after the first years of work, as a result of which the specialist also thinks about moving to an adjacent field of activity.
In these and similar situations, choosing to work as a medical representative can be a rational choice. In this area, you can apply the acquired knowledge and acquire new ones.
Thinking about working as a medical representative and want to learn more about this profession? We invite you to a free webinar “I want to become a medical representative! What is needed for this? » May 31 at 14:00 (Moscow time)
Various kinds of publications in the press are caused by the work of "medical representative". Reviews about her are mixed. The usual area of work of this specialist, his social circle is the medical community.
However, it leaves traces visible to the uninitiated. Citizens who come to see a doctor often see the presence in his office of medical brochures, stationery with the logo of a medical company. Some observant clients, when receiving a prescription, notice that the package of the medicine they buy at the pharmacy flaunts the same corporate logo, as on the doctor's pen, and on the prescription form itself.
Profession generally recognized
Medical representatives work in pharmaceutical companies in all countries. Such work is recognized by the civilized world. In addition, it is in demand with us.
Certified medical professionals who have come into this profession note an improvement in the quality of their lives. After all, their wages in a new place are different from those they received when they got a job by distribution after a medical college or school. The purpose of this article is to familiarize the reader with the nuances and features of this profession.
The emergence of the profession
Pharmaceutical manufacturers effectively sell their products through departments where medical representatives (MRs) work. Those establish contacts of the pharmaceutical company with medical institutions and treating physicians. In this way, the SE promotes the advertising and promotion of its employer's products. He is an intermediary between his employer and the customers of his medicines (hospitals, pharmacies, sanatoriums and health resorts).
medical representative resume
What are the basic requirements for applying for this job in a pharmaceutical company?
As practice shows, in most companies, candidates are considered until the age of 35 years. As an exception, older workers, but with experience as a medical representative and positive characteristics, can also be accepted.
The applicant must have a medical degree. For example, a complete higher medical education (certified by a diploma of either a doctor or a pharmacist). However, in some cases, employers are also satisfied with secondary education (a diploma from a medical school or college).
Traditionally, there are some applicants who seek to get a position as a medical representative while studying in an internship. In this case full guarantee it can not be. The question depends on the management of the pharmaceutical company, whether it agrees to let the intern go to classes or not. As practice shows, in most such cases, the candidate is refused. Therefore, such an adherent should decide: whether to suspend his further medical education because of a profitable profession, or, without applying for a job as a MP, continue it.
The candidate for the position should be ready to communicate with representatives of medical institutions in the area of the city assigned to him. Therefore, having his own car, indicated in the resume, will be an obvious plus for him.
Since the nature of the work of the MP is associated with the reception and processing of various information (medical, commercial, client), it is advisable for the applicant to indicate in his resume his skills in such work. Ideally, they should outline the ability to build tactics for selling lines of medicines and even an entire pharmaceutical business.
With a properly drawn up objective resume, regional managers (future immediate superiors) invite candidates for an interview.
How to pass an interview?
Before going to a meeting, it is advisable for the candidate to update their knowledge. Regional managers seek to recruit employees who have a basic level of medical training, oriented in applied issues of physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, cytology, pediatrics, pharmacology.
Adept's knowledge must be real and relevant professional communication with doctors. The position of "medical representative" assumes that its representative is able to talk with employees of a medical institution in their usual language. business language. Therefore, the candidate, when meeting with the regional manager, will definitely be tested for factual knowledge and competent presentation of applied medical issues.
Regional managers are interested in selecting for themselves personnel with a certain psychotype: active, sociable, manageable, proactive, independent. Accordingly, during the interview they are interested in people who can not only answer the question, but also explain their position.
It is desirable for the candidate to clearly represent the features of his future work, its main directions and his future responsibilities. It is important to be able to make decisions, to be a positive and helpful part of a team of colleagues, to have the ability to conduct a presentation, to have acquired sales skills.
The applicant is also valued, the existing professional intelligence, which consists in not panicking or becoming stunned by a possible mistake, but quickly finding adequate ways to eliminate it. From difficult situations, the MP must come out with new experience, becoming better and better professionally.
Regional managers employ medical representatives, usually from people who seek knowledge. Therefore, the presence of additional certificates of completion of courses will be a definite plus for the candidate.
If a candidate for the position of a medical representative in a conversation with a regional manager identifies these qualities, then, most likely, he will be accepted for the position.
Departments where MP works
Having settled down on a coveted job, he will directly face what is called production specifics. First, we will briefly describe some organizational issues.
Medical representatives work for a pharmaceutical company marketing departments. Depending on the scale of sales, these departments can be more or less specialized in the sales segment:
- over-the-counter (OTC);
- prescription;
- hospital;
- budget.
IN large companies more specialized departments in the areas of medicine can be organized. For example, the department of cardiology or the department of ophthalmology. An employee hired by a medical representative will have to (except practical work) to master new medical and commercial knowledge in successive group and individual lessons with him.
Medical representative: who is he?
Having mastered the practical basics of work (it will take 4-5 months), the former candidate will finally be able to exhaustively answer the conceptual question of who a medical representative is.
This is a Sales Specialist. medicines, as well as products medical purpose. Its main task is to contribute to the growth of the pharmaceutical company's profit from the sale of medicines, stimulating their prescription by doctors, as well as their purchase by pharmacies and medical institutions.
Description of the profession
The range of tasks of a medical representative is clearly defined and well known to the subjects of the pharmaceutical market. Each pharmaceutical company formulates job descriptions for these specialists, taking into account its specifics. However, the classic MP job description contains little-changing basic tasks, which we present to your attention:
- create a business plan for the company's sales (in the sector of its competence) taking into account the forecasted sales of distributors;
- fulfill calendar plan visits to target polyclinics, hospitals, pharmacies, as well as to target doctors;
- present the company's products in compliance with the principles of business ethics;
- actively participate in the company's organization of meetings with healthcare professionals, conferences to further enhance the promotion of medicines;
- achieve planned sales together with distributors;
- inform your regional manager about the market situation, the actions of competitors, and consumer requests;
- study the assortment and properties of the company's products, as well as get acquainted with the sales of competitors;
- develop personal contacts with regional doctors, pharmacists, other health workers.
Thus, the work of a medical representative is a commercial activity, but with the use of basic medical knowledge. This specialist performs his functions using the method personal selling, which includes:
- personal contact, individual approach to customers (persons that stimulate demand);
- two-way exchange of information with buyers. Availability feedback Necessarily;
- Skills to convince and influence buyers.
Salary
The description of the profession will be incomplete without mentioning one more thing. The logic of the presentation of the material has finally led us to one of the most essential conditions labor. After all, basically (to be honest) people associate themselves with this profession, taking into account the position on salary. After all, children dream of becoming politicians, lawyers, soldiers, doctors, but not medical representatives.
For a pharmaceutical company, an effective medical representative is beneficial. His salary, according to open statistics, is quite high. This is the way it is in the world: people in this profession have an income above the average.
Thus, the income of SE is on average:
- in Russia - 21-28 thousand rubles. per month;
- in St. Petersburg - 33-39 thousand rubles;
- the capital's medical representative (Moscow) is predictably the most paid, he receives from 35 to 43 thousand rubles. per month.
Market
MPs operate in the pharmaceutical market (FR). Being a professional, navigating it and finding ways to increase the company's profits is the alpha and omega of his work. Regional managers evaluate his work, based on the performance of these functions. Therefore, in an effort to more clearly describe the principles of the work of a medical representative, we are forced to acquaint the reader with the concept of the pharmaceutical market.
For simplicity, we will present an extremely brief definition of this concept: FDs are the whole set of subjects interested in the manufacture, sale and consumption of medicines. It's about about companies - manufacturers of medicines, distributors, doctors, pharmacists, pharmacies and, of course, about patients.
The medical representative acts on the PR, which has the property of duality, according to the generally accepted ideology of companies.
The duality of the pharmaceutical market is manifested in the presence of direct sales and indirect sales. Medical representatives cannot sell drugs to patients themselves. But they competently address their physicians, while bringing them the idea of promising treatments. If the doctor perceives the proposed method of treatment, then he begins to write out appropriate prescriptions for patients.
Peculiarities of the pharmaceutical market
A distinctive feature of the pharmaceutical market is its internal connections. Pharmaceutical companies run RPMs, medical representatives interact with distributors, and, of course, pharmaceutical companies also communicate with distributors. The full scheme of the pharmaceutical market also involves the communication of doctors and pharmacies that influence patients.
Another feature of this market is that the main role in the promotion of medicines belongs to the SE. In some of its segments, the role of the media is tangible, however, in the vast majority of situations, the effectiveness of sales depends on the competence, attitude, personal communications and organization of the medical representative.
Thus, ironically, one can see that the medical representative is told that in the "dual world" he, acting in accordance with commercial schemes, is authorized to increase the profits of the pharmaceutical corporation.
How to solve the problems of the pharmaceutical market?
However, turning to a more serious tone, one should ask the question: why do the press and the media often receive critical materials regarding the specifics of the work of the MP?
In fact, in the world legal practice there are no facts of a direct ban by the state on the activities of medical representatives. By default, it is believed that their field of activity, located at the intersection of social, medical and commercial interests, should be subject to state control and regulation.
This kind of regulation in Russia is inefficient through a direct ban on contacts between a doctor and a medical representative. (We are talking about the practically inactive article 69 federal law On the Fundamentals of Protecting the Health of Citizens in the Russian Federation.
It is reasonable in this situation to proceed from the positions of a Russian doctor, who often works in the provinces, who wants to maintain his professional level adequate to the present, who is practically deprived (due to limited income) of the opportunity to attend professional courses, congresses, promptly acquire medical literature.
Patients demand effective treatment from him. How should he learn modern methods healing? How to get the necessary knowledge about diseases that have arisen recently? In this case, the state makes a helpless gesture…
From these positions, the educational activities of pharmaceutical companies (conferences, speeches of candidates and doctors medical sciences) is a boon to the medical community.
On the other hand, unscrupulous, harmful to society “lobbying by a medical representative of the interests of a pharmaceutical company” and “the emergence of a personal interest of a doctor” should be stopped. The perpetrators should bear administrative, and in cases with severe consequences, criminal liability. The work of a medical representative should be legally transparent.
Article 75 of the Federal Law "On the Fundamentals of Protecting the Health of Citizens in Russian Federation» clearly defines a conflict of interest that a medical representative cannot initiate.
Conclusion
There are both pluses and minuses in the cooperation of pharmaceutical factories with doctors through medical representatives. There is a real risk of aggressive and poorly motivated promotion of inferior drugs to the detriment of manufacturers of the best.
On the other hand, in the healthcare system there is still no alternative to conferences and classes organized for doctors by pharmaceutical companies. Thanks to them, doctors have the opportunity to hear about certain diseases, to get acquainted with new trends in the treatment of these diseases.
However, drug consumers have hope that the state will update the control of the pharmaceutical market, entrusting public organizations a mechanism for detecting facts of discrimination of medicines in demand by society, as well as facts of promotion of unclaimed ones.
To become a good pharmaceutical specialist trading company You must have a college degree. You need to attend college for at least four years to become a qualified pharmaceutical representative. Often, it doesn't matter what degree you get, but you can become more attractive to an employer with a degree. Some companies may even prefer an MBA, since pharmaceutical salespeople have begun to combine scientific knowledge with business ideas.
Obtain a National Pharmaceutical Representative Certificate from the National Association of Pharmaceutical Representatives. NAFP has developed a certified National Pharmaceutical Representative training that includes everything you need to separate yourself from all candidates. While self-study books are now available in stores, they do not compare to the systematic, dedicated and skilled approach provided by NAPF. When the candidate has fully reviewed the course of study, he is scheduled for an examination. After passing the exam, the candidate will be awarded a NFP certificate.
Gain sales experience in other industries first. To be wanted as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, you must demonstrate your acquired sales skills through a compelling presentation, attracting more customers, building and maintaining strong consumer relations. From experience as a manager, preferably in a B2B company, making deals, or even working as a courier, for example, you multiply your work diversity perspective. That is, by gaining work experience in academic mandates, you thereby acquire competitive advantage, applying for a vacancy of a representative of a pharmaceutical trading company.
Check the job board for open positions. Most easy way to find a job as a pharmaceutical sales representative is to search on job sites. You can find open vacancies both in general announcements and in specialized pharmaceutical and health care industries. Most of these sites are nationwide, meaning it doesn't matter where you live, but if you're moving soon, you can find work in your new location.
Contact pharmaceutical companies for information. You don't have to wait for an open position on the site to start the device. You can simply send your resume to pharmaceutical companies with the information you are interested in, which relates to your future position. They have on this moment there may not be an open vacancy, but on the other hand, you will not need to compete with hundreds of other applicants looking for the same job.
Research pharmaceutical companies before an interview. Since this is a huge competitive field, in order to impress your potential employer, you must show him that you have an accurate knowledge of not only the pharmaceutical sales industry in general, but also specifically in the methods and approaches of this company. Explore what makes this company different from hundreds of other successful pharmaceutical companies. Find out what their biggest customers and top-selling products are.
In the modern Russian pharmaceutical market, qualitative changes are taking place today, it is observed active growth. Through the introduction of new technologies for the production and promotion of drugs domestic producers increases its own competitiveness.
If we characterize the process that takes place in the market, then we can say that small companies larger ones, the stronger ones are consolidated and integrated, and there is also an increased interest from foreign organizations.
To replace simple pharmacy kiosks come large chains pharmacies, united by one structure, pricing and centralized management. Very often pharmacy chains have strong wholesalers behind their backs.
Which professionals are most in demand?
Along with the ongoing changes, the demand for highly qualified professionals who work in the field of marketing and promotion of various drugs is increasing: experts, leaders in these areas, marketing and advertising specialists, and so on. Increasingly, there is a need for specialists to conduct clinical trials, as well as registration of medicines. The need for production workers has become greater: first of all, these are pharmacists who control quality and technology. In addition, it is becoming more and more high level professionalism requirements. The requirements for promotion specialists mainly depend on the group of drugs, as well as on their sales and promotion scheme.
Thus, if a product manager brings a drug from the pharmacy range to the market, then he must be well aware of the specifics of marketing and advertising, which will be aimed at target audience, that is, to end consumers. If we talk about the promotion of drugs from the hospital group, which are very expensive and rarely used, then the main attention will be paid to the peculiarities of working with opinion leaders.
Compared to other market sectors, this industry is extremely dynamic, high technology which require a professional to constantly improve the qualification level of their competence.
Drug promoters should be involved in research into distribution opportunities for new drugs, coordinating product research, overseeing initial market positioning, and so on.
There is another profession - a medical representative. Let's talk about it further.
How to become a medical representative?
The most demanded in the labor market today is the profession of "medical representative". Unfortunately, she cannot study at any of the universities. These specialists play very important role to promote products, and are also the basis of marketing in the pharmacology industry. For the reason that it is forbidden to sell products directly to their patients and doctors, and they do not have any rights to use funds mass media, there is a need to use networks of medical representatives in order to work with doctors and medical institutions.
What is a good profession?
It is thanks to medical representatives that the policy of companies that promote drugs is implemented, all information is conveyed to doctors, answers to questions are given, and consultations are carried out on the use of drugs and their features. After the doctor talks with the medical representative, he can prescribe the drug to the patient, who will definitely come to the pharmacy to buy it, and she, in turn, will place an order with the distributor, who will contact the manufacturer. Understanding how effective the work of medical representatives is can only be done by studying the dynamics of demand over time.
Medical representatives are the faces of companies and naturally they must have excellent persuasion skills and be confident in the use of active sales technology. But the last requirement is not taken into account very much today. This can be explained by the fact that the need for people with such a profession is constantly increasing, and a huge number people, and even with there is simply nowhere to appear, so any medical representative is trained directly in the company. A resume before the device must be filled out in advance in order to show the employer your achievements or that they are not yet available.
What are the chances of getting a job?
Today, specialists with diplomas from pharmaceutical universities have exactly the same chance of getting a position as a medical representative as doctors. Of course, it is hard not to notice the fact that it is much easier for an already trained specialist to delve into the emerging problems of colleagues, but it is precisely for this reason that employers pay so much attention to the selection and further training that representatives receive. IN without fail study the medical representative of other companies, make up your personal one, and then you will be able to understand whether you are suitable for such a position.
What can become undeniable advantages?
Of course, a large circle of acquaintances in professional field, which can become your customer base at the very beginning. Every opportunity should be taken to expand one's own connections with colleagues in other pharmacies in the district or city.
Even the absence of your own car and driver's license can be a negative point: some companies do not provide transportation. Keep in mind that the representative includes the following: get up as early as possible and with heavy bags in which there are a bunch of various brochures, booklets and samples, drive about ten places a day. When moving to public transport you are just wasting time. Therefore, one should find an opportunity and pass necessary training. An excellent book is the Medical Representative's Guide (Paukov), so it should be read carefully before joining any organization.
Wage
How much does a medical representative earn? Reviews about such work are twofold, but if we talk about wages, then today the labor market is seeing its gradual and steady growth.
Mandatory requirement for work as medical representatives in foreign company is knowledge foreign language, and it is also desirable to have specialized vocabulary.
How to pass an interview?
Before signing up for an interview, you must good resume Here are a few tips to help you get the job.
First of all, be sure to familiarize yourself with the products of the company where you want to get a job. Find out which of the drugs this company offers in pharmacies. In addition, you can use directories, which also indicate the entire range.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with the history and traditions of the company. It is always very pleasant to communicate with a person who has specific knowledge. Be sure to show that you are set for the future work, understand its meaning and are ready to constantly learn.
With such a wealth of knowledge, be sure to take with you a confident attitude, which will certainly be one of your main trump cards, and feel free to go to an interview with a medical representative.
Company training
Very often, firms hire newly graduated medical professionals who do not yet have sales experience. The work of a medical representative is aimed primarily at the sale of products. For this reason, one of the components of work with personnel is training, especially since in the current economic situation more funds are allocated for this than before. The thing is that an organization that cares about the future of its staff very often prefers to educate them than to bring them in from somewhere else.
You should carefully study the "Manual of Medical Representatives" (Spiders), as it describes in detail all the features of this profession.
The task facing the trainers is to consolidate the skills of successful communication among medical representatives (how to establish quick and favorable contact, gain the ability to listen to the interlocutor, explain the benefits, analyze non-verbal signals, publicly present goods, and so on).
The theoretical part is reduced to the very minimum, since former doctors it very often causes a negative reaction. There are several methods for conducting training: group training, psycho-gymnastics, various role-playing games. In principle, the whole methodology boils down to minimizing the lecture part and giving preference to the consolidation of skills.
What should a medical representative do?
The main reason why given profession became very popular - this is the establishment of an official ban on the advertising of drugs that are dispensed from pharmacies only on doctor's prescriptions.
The most interesting thing is that doctors, teachers, builders, managers and even actors were previously taken to the position of medical representatives. Only the largest and most successful firms in Western countries adhered to strict requirements.
But the development of business in our country does not stand still, therefore today all medical representatives must have either a pharmaceutical or medical education. People with a biological, economic or other education are simply not hired.
The most main duty The job of a medical representative involves establishing contacts with various doctors and their superiors, as well as with heads of departments and pharmacies.
The main goal of their work is to persuade the doctor to prescribe exactly the drug that is being promoted by the representative at the moment.
In addition, medical representatives should also inform doctors and pharmacists about the benefits of the drug being sold, that is, compare it with competitors' drugs, give real reviews experts.
A medical representative necessarily needs to replenish his knowledge and take part in various symposiums, exhibitions, and so on. Employees who sell these over-the-counter drugs are also required to run various promotions and merchandising activities in pharmacies.
What education is required and what is the career path?
Most citizens do not know how worthy this profession is and whether it is necessary to study it specifically at a university.
As a rule, most companies require specialized medical or pharmacological education to work. At medical workers, even without work experience, it is possible to get the position of a medical representative with a good salary.
Any medical representative of a resume should compose one for himself in order to interest the employer. If you are interested in career growth, then be sure to indicate this.
What skills are needed to get the job?
Consider the basic requirements:
Ability to effectively promote the product;
Ability to build partnerships with a variety of people;
Successful negotiation;
Proficiency in effective sales techniques;
Stress management, as well as the ability to plan your day;
Good PC skills;
Knowledge of the medical field.
In general, preference is given to those candidates who have already received education in the main universities of the country. Almost every pharmaceutical company conducts training before starting work, as well as the necessary training in order to develop certain qualities in employees.
What personal qualities should a medical representative have?
Very a good indicator the candidate will have experience in sales, as well as his own personal customer base.
If you have more than five years of experience, you can say about the candidate that he is reliable, responsible, and also interested in the common cause of the company in which he works.
Medical representatives must be good-looking, confident, and have excellent communication skills.
In addition, there must be an optimistic attitude to work, as well as the desire for success and knowledge of all effective sales techniques.
Visits of medical representatives in the organization are accompanied by a competent presentation of drugs. Skills must be worked out at such a level that he can easily interest any client.
This should be a smart and erudite person who, from the first phrases, already wants to trust and communicate with him on various themes, since the promotion of medicines requires a certain ethics, and not a spontaneous proposal.
Before you get a job, you should look at the resume (sample) of a medical representative and create your own. It's not that hard to do.
Disadvantages of the profession
The shortcomings of this profession are described in great detail in the book "The Guide to the Medical Representative", which was written by Paukov. When applying for a job, a medical representative will face the following disadvantages:
Difficulty moving up the career ladder. Representatives working in the region make a career with great difficulty. This is due to the very structure of pharmaceutical companies. IN major cities each organization has several groups of representatives, in the leadership of which there are two managers. Each group has about thirty regular members. If there is a medical or another city - it doesn’t matter) is going to make a career in the field in question, then he will face huge competition.
Not always stable income.
It is required to master a new profession, even if there is a medical education.
You must always be up to date with the latest news.
Very frequent business trips, work outside the office.
Need to communicate with different people, constantly someone to persuade.
Advantages
You can regulate the intensity of work yourself and determine in which direction to do it.
You can combine with the main job and receive additional income.
New professional perspectives.
For people who love to communicate, there is an opportunity to communicate with a wide range of specialists.
Good income. Average wage any medical representative is about 30 thousand rubles. In addition, quarterly and monthly surcharges in the form of premiums and bonuses are made.
