| The Financial Rewards Including a Company CarA | | | | Therefore, there is nobody to constantly look over |
| career in pharmaceutical sales offers some of the | | | | your shoulder most of the time for this line of work. |
| best benefits and perks anyone can ask for in a job. | | | | The Travel OpportunitiesPharmaceutical companies |
| Typical starting salaries are in the low $30,000s and | | | | usually conduct sales meetings for their sales forces |
| established representatives can have base salaries in | | | | at nice locations, sometimes even at exotic foreign |
| the $90,000s. Bonuses on top of that for high sales | | | | spots which give representatives opportunities to |
| performers can easily push incomes into the six figure | | | | travel at the companies' expense. Accommodations, |
| range. But in addition to the money, there are | | | | meals and entertainment during these meetings are |
| numerous other attractive perks in pharmaceutical | | | | usually top notch. I've stayed at five star resorts, been |
| sales.One of the nicest perks that pharmaceutical | | | | on a Mediterranean cruise, took a sightseeing plane |
| sales representatives enjoy is the use of recent model | | | | ride through the Grand Canyon, skied in the Rockies, |
| company cars. These are usually midsize sedans that | | | | attended live theatre in New York City, toured the |
| are leased under a company fleet program. Some | | | | ancient city of Pompeii and experienced many other |
| pharmaceutical companies even offer minivans to their | | | | interesting activities that were all paid for while working |
| sales forces and I've seen reps drive sport utility | | | | for pharmaceutical companies.There are also |
| vehicles as company cars too.Company car leases | | | | opportunities for pharmaceutical representatives to |
| are usually short term with durations of a few years | | | | attend large medical conferences which are often held |
| only so the sales representatives end up driving | | | | at nice locations as well. Some representatives have |
| relatively new vehicles all the time. Once a company | | | | been able to bring along spouses, partners and |
| car's lease expires, the rep gets a new vehicle! All the | | | | relatives to combine business trips with personal |
| maintenance costs such as tune ups, oil changes, gas | | | | vacations. Again, all or a large part of the travel costs |
| and insurance are paid for by the company so | | | | were already paid for by the company. I utilized |
| basically the sales reps get to drive their cars for free | | | | company paid flights and extended some stays |
| (although for taxation purposes, the company's payroll | | | | before or after company meetings for personal |
| department may report a taxable benefit for sales | | | | vacations. I was able to go scuba diving in the Egyptian |
| force staff).Some companies have been known to | | | | Red Sea this way. I know reps who extended trips in |
| offer the vehicles that are near the end of lease | | | | Europe and the Caribbean in combination with |
| terms for sale at significant market discounts. | | | | company meetings.The Satisfaction of an Important |
| Representatives have been able to purchase relatively | | | | Role in Health CareOf course along with these perks, |
| good condition used cars for other family members | | | | there are other factors involved in pharmaceutical |
| and friends at very attractive prices through such | | | | sales which can be very satisfying. Pharmaceutical |
| programs. Some have even resold these vehicles on | | | | reps are in a position to help educate doctors, nurses, |
| the used car market for a tiny profit.In addition to a | | | | pharmacists and medical students about their drug |
| company car, a pharmaceutical representative also | | | | products along with the associated medical conditions |
| has access to an expense account which enables him | | | | they treat. There is some great satisfaction when a |
| or her to entertain customers such as physicians on a | | | | medical professional tells you that your product has |
| business level whether it is for meals at nice | | | | made a positive difference in a patient's health, |
| restaurants or other for business social activities such | | | | especially when the professional never used your |
| as golf outings or attending sporting events. Of course, | | | | product before your introduction of it to him or her.It |
| the rep is expected to participate with their customers | | | | would have been your selling efforts that caused the |
| at these business social activities. | | | | doctor to change prescribing habits which ultimately |
| The Freedom and IndependenceFor those individuals | | | | helped treat the patients better. This makes a |
| who do not like the idea being stuck inside with an | | | | pharmaceutical representative feel like an important |
| office job, a pharmaceutical sales position offers the | | | | part of the overall medical health care team. It's a good |
| opportunity to spend most working hours out in the | | | | feeling indeed when one knows that he or she is part |
| field visiting customers like physicians, nurses and | | | | of a company responsible for bringing a much needed |
| pharmacists. Pharmaceutical reps have the freedom | | | | medical product to society.Clint Cora is the author of |
| to set and organize their own working schedules. No | | | | the book "How To Get A Dream Job In |
| single day is identical as different customers at | | | | Pharmaceutical Sales - Direct Inside Advice and |
| different locations are visited each working day. | | | | Guidance from a Sales Manager". He had a very |
| Pharmaceutical sales involve a lot of independence, as | | | | successful fourteen year career as a pharmaceutical |
| the pharmaceutical reps' bosses or district sales | | | | sales representative, sales trainer, product marketing |
| managers are usually not around 95% of the time. | | | | manager and a national sales manager. |