By Guest Author
I am currently working as a pharmaceutical sales representative, and have been working for my current company for the last 4 years. I found this job through a friend who also worked at the same company. I had tried to get a job through Craigslist, Career Builder and other various job boards. I had been trying to obtain a job for about 6 months through the job boards when I decided to focus my attention on networking and making connections in the industry.
I started out using technology on my job search by visiting all of the online job boards. After I was unsuccessful using this method, I decided to focus more on the social networking websites. I used LinkedIn to get connected with all of my college friends and some people in the pharmaceutical sales industry. Using this website allowed me to get connected with a former friend, and he was able to secure an interview for me at his company. I eventually got the job and have been there ever since then.
If I were applying for a pharmaceutical sales position for another company, I would try to distinguish myself from the other candidates by showing my knowledge and dedication to the industry. If you are actively involved in networking and other events revolving around your career, it shows that you truly have a passion for the job. A lot of people get into this industry because they believe that they can make a lot of money. Showing that you are dedicated to the job and not in it for the money is a great way to have yourself stand out from the rest of the pack.
The various social networking sites allow for me to be able to stay in touch with other professionals in my field. Having everyone connected makes it easier to be able to plan networking events and other industry events that would not be possible to plan without the technology. This technology allows me to be able to learn more about the industry and gain contacts. Having professional contact with other members of the same professional will make it much easier to find a job if I decide to leave my current company.
My first job interview for sales rep was a complete disaster. I was extremely nervous and not very well prepared. My nerves were getting the best of me, so most of my answers were very short and not well thought out. This made the interviewer believe that I had no interest in the job, so I never heard from the company again. I have learned that if you want to excel at interviews, you have to vigorously prepare for the interview. Preparing for the interview allows you to have an answer for an potential question, and being prepared will ultimately calm any nerves. When you can show a company that you are completely prepared for the interview, it shows that you are dedicated to the job and someone that they will want to have working for their company.
The single most important lesson I learned through my job search is to never underestimate the power of networking. I never went to many networking or social events while I was at college. I thought that my grades would allow me to be able to obtain a job with any company. Companies are much more inclined to hire someone that has been recommended to them by a fellow employee, or someone that they have already met.
Networking is the best way to get to know other people in your industry and get them to recommend you for an open position at their company. If you can get someone within the company to give you a recommendation, you will almost always get an interview with the company. Once you get the interview, you can display your knowledge and make a good impression on the hiring manager. Networking is the best and easiest way to obtain a job with any company that you desire to work for.
The only career service from my university that I used was the online job board that they had. I did not use any of the networking events or career counseling that was available, but I entirely regret that decision today. Every university wants you to obtain a job after you graduate, so they are going to do everything that they can to help you get a job. Not taking this help was foolish and one of the reasons why it took me so long to find a job after I had graduated. It is a lot easier to make a good impression on a company in person than it is to impress them with your resume.
If I could redo one event from my professional career it would be picking a different major while in college. I decided to major in accounting while I was at college because it was something I was good at and I knew that it paid good money. I did not have a passion for accounting, so I did not want to actively pursue a job. I finally figured out that I wanted to go into the pharmaceutical sales industry, but had already wasted a few months. While everything worked out for the best, it was not a good idea to choose a profession that I did not enjoy because I was never going to be happy.
This is a true career story as told to SalesJobs.org and is one of many interviews with pharmaceutical sales representatives, which among others include a sales vice president and account executives.
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