|
| Lisa, how many candidates have you interviewed? What is the most common question you are asked? I've met thousands of candidates throughout the country. I visit college and university campuses and hold informational talks with question and answer sessions. By far the most common question I am asked is "how can I get into this industry without prior industry experience?"- Well, not every company only hires representatives that have prior pharmaceutical sales experience. Your first step is to research which companies hire candidates that do not come in with previous pharmaceutical sales experience, such as Pfizer, Novartis and several others. Don't waste your time interviewing with companies that have a record of hiring only experienced reps, that's your first step. Once you have researched where to apply, you will have increased your chances dramatically. Okay, Now what? You must however, be able to present your own background and successes the same way in which an experienced sales person sells products. These interview techniques are outlined in PharmRepSelect®. You must document your professional or academic experiences. You need to format and present your answers "Correctly" during your interview. Have you learned the situational behavior questions you will be asked and how to best answer them? For example, are you able to answer a question like, "tell me about your best selling experience." If you are a nurse or pharmacist or have just graduated college are you able to think of a great answer? Your answer will need to incorporate an example of your ability to sell, and how you sold the idea or product. You need to clearly and concisely explain the results for all involved. If you cannot do this-you have just eliminated yourself from the candidate pool. Your answer will be formatted just the way that your interviewer- has sold pharmaceutical products, successfully, I might add, to physicians. They expect you to be able to do this and if you can't you won't be asked back for a second interview. There are plenty of examples in PharmRepSelect®, my book will explain how and the CD will let you listen to some great answers. What else will candidates need to know before they interview? Every successful candidate needs to know the job description, what do Pharmaceutical Sales Reps do? What are their daily responsibilities? Why is this job right for me? Every successful candidate will need to know interview techniques. You have to know and demonstrate steps that come after your interview to secure the job offer. Let's say your interview went real well. You closed, asked for the job offer, and you were told: "I enjoyed meeting you, but you don't have any outside sales experience, what would you do?" It is very likely that the manager will say this to the candidate without experience just to listen and evaluate the response. This will make you or break you. This is actually when the sale begins and the successful candidate has brought with them the substantiated information to use for this answer. Reprint permission courtesy of LA Consulting: PharmRepSelect: www.PharmRepSelect.com |
