If you are a sales professional or want to become one, or if you are looking for a new sales job, you will face one of the toughest interview processes of any job seeker.
![Your New Career Sign](wp-content/my-images/CkNCFlgdGBJOQRhFUQICCVdHQghGUVtfFgcNVElhXkMGZ0QDEUEYEkkbVVpXFQQITRtCFF5XVFxLS1AJVg8eAVEYTwkXQBoLXEEbVlgTBANLGUQNVVYbUkgD.jpg "\\"Your")
pharmaceutical, sales, job, hiring, career, recruiting, clinical laboratory, health care
When we go off to college, sometimes we choose a career that just does not satisfy our needs. Many times scientists with the BS, MS, or PhD in the lifesciences or other science areas find themselves to be unsatisfied with the job that they find themselves in a year or 2 after graduation. What seemed fun and exciting is now boring and oppressive. Often the love of science and the desire to continue learning is still there, but not the desire to continue in the present career path. If you find yourself in this job, here’s a list of possible jobs for you, complete with brief descriptions where needed. These jobs in revenue, service, and marketing exist in all areas of medical sales: medical, clinical diagnostics, molecular, cellular, pharma device, biotechnology, histology, clinical laboratory, hospital equipment, and pharmaceutical. If I miss any potential careers, feel free to add them in the comments below. Okay?
POSSIBLE CAREERS FOR THOSE WITH STRONG SCIENCE EDUCATION BUT NO LONGER WISH TO BE ON THE BENCH:
Sales
Inside Sales Career opportunities - These are usually like call centers. The key here is to be okay with the cold call and to have the optimistic attitude for success. These career opportunities can be fun and lucrative. They usually have set hours and require no journey.
Outside Sales Jobs - These are usually field-based career opportunities. They require someone with a lot of self-discipline and of course, that “sales personality.” These career opportunities can be extremely lucrative and have a lot of flexibility. Depending on the size of the opportunity, the travel can be daunting. You should consider going on a ride along if this is interesting to you - see this video for more info…. While I’m at it, I have 3 posts that explain different types of medical sales– Part I, Part II, and Part III, as well as posts on pathology sales vs. medical device sales, and how medical revenue compares.
Business Development/Technology Transfer - These jobs can range from someone who has a very strong technical understanding who investigates future products or acquisitions to someone who is a super salesman. You need to clearly understand your personality and specifically the position you’re looking at. These jobs are all different. Assume nothing - ask a lot of questions.
Technical Service
Applications Specialists - Usually the “applications” part means that you will help make sure that the assay or test is working. Your company may provide a platform and your responsibility is to help the customer get their assays working on your instrumentation. This can be very challenging, and a worthwhile field apps person has to be a great communicator. These can be high-travel jobs.
Field Service Positions - This job is usually responsible for setting up a new system that a customer purchased and troubleshooting when that system is not functioning correctly. These can be high-travel positions. (click this link for more info)
Field Technical Support - Same as above.
Customer Service - Maybe the company needs an extremely technical person to help the customer purchase the correct products. This will usually be a phone-based career opportunity. The hours will be set and include very little journey.
Technical Support - In-house - like the field-based job, but without the travel. Communication skills for this job are really important.
Product management
Marketing: Strategic - (It’s important to note the difference between strategic and tactical.) The strategic marketing person is responsible for figuring out where the company should invest for future products and what the specifications for those products should be. This is an original-thought kind of person who understands the value of customer feedback and communication.
Marketing: Tactical - This person usually supports the field sales force with bulletins, pricing, and product training. Marketing job descriptions that don’t clarify tactical vs. strategic are probably both. Many scientists pursue the MBA to move into marketing. Product management career opportunities can have a lot of travel. Be sure to ask about the requirements of every career opportunity. Never assume anything in the interview process.
Some additional careers you might consider that use your technical background:
Science Librarian
Science Editor
Science Writer
Science Illustration
Quality Assurance
Teaching - You probably know as much about this as I do…BioJobBlog has a post on this, as well as other great info on alternative science careers.
Patent/IP work - Some scientists actually pursue a law degree to marry with the technology. Every company will have one of these on staff or on retainer.
Can you think of any more?
If you’d like to be considered for sales, marketing, or technical support positions like these, click this link to submit your information to PHC Consulting.
Article courtesy of Peggy McKee - Owner / Senior Recruiter at the nationally
recognized pharmaceutical and medical revenue recruiting team of PHC Consulting.
© Copyright 2008 PHC Consulting | All rights reserved
