If you enjoy working with people and have an interest in the medical field, you could have a promising future in pharmaceutical sales. As the name would suggest, a pharmaceutical sales representative sells pharmaceutical products. These professionals, sometimes known as drug reps, talk to health care providers about various drugs, sell pharmaceutical products, host speaker programs, answer questions about drugs, and discuss success stories.
Required Skills
It takes a lot more than just training and education to become a successful pharmaceutical sales representative. In order to succeed in this field, great business skills are a must. Salespeople must have an in-depth knowledge of the products they are trying to sell and an understanding of health care and science.
Pharmaceutical sales representatives must have excellent communication skills to be persistent and patient without coming across as pushy or aggressive.
Education and Experience
You will need to have a bachelor’s degree to become a pharmaceutical sales representative. Keep in mind that employers prefer to hire people who have a degree in a science-related field. If possible, you should also take business courses, because employers want candidates who have an MBA. Prior sales experience is another thing that may increase your chances of finding a job, but it is not required. Sales representatives who can apply business principles and scientific knowledge in a sales setting are destined for success.
The vast majority of pharmaceutical companies will give their employees on-the-job training. Employees may also receive tuition reimbursement to complete coursework in life sciences or pharmacology. Pharmaceutical sales representatives are expected to take education courses throughout their entire careers.
Certification in the pharmaceutical sales field is voluntary, but representatives are strongly advised to pursue it. The National Association of Pharmaceutical Representatives awards this certification after candidates have passed a test.
Salary and Benefits
Pharmaceutical sales representatives make an average of $120,606 per year. However, it is important to note that there are several factors that affect these salaries, such as the company in question and the amount of relevant experience. In addition to a competitive salary, pharmaceutical sales representatives may also enjoy other benefits such as paid vacation and health insurance.
