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.
BioSpace is a awesome site for biotech, clinical research, and laboratory news and career opportunities. You can search career opportunities, get the latest industry news, check out the forums, see company profiles, and more. It’s really just huge. Anyway, I am thrilled that they’ve published one of my articles about career opportunities for pharmaceutical professionals who want off the bench. It’s also been featured on DeviceSpace (for medical device and diagnostic news and jobs) and ClinicaSpace (medical research). If you’re interested in a career in laboratory sales, clinical sales, clinical device sales, biotech sales, clinical diagnostics sales, pharmaceutical revenue, or any other health care sales, you should absolutely check these sites out.
(Here’s the article)
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 discover themselves to be unsatisfied with the job that they discover 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 discover yourself in this position, here’s a list of possible jobs for you, complete with brief descriptions where needed. Those positions in sales, service, and marketing exist in all areas of pharmaceutical sales: laboratory, clinical diagnostics, molecular, cellular, clinical device, biotechnology, histology, medical laboratory, hospital equipment, and medical. If I miss any potential careers, feel free to add ‘em 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 Positions – 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 jobs can be fun and lucrative. They usually have set hours and require no voyage.
Outside Revenue Jobs – These are usually field-based career opportunities. They require someone with a lot of self-discipline and of course, that “sales personality.” These positions can be extremely lucrative and have a lot of flexibility. Depending on the size of the territory, the travel can be daunting. You should consider going on a ride along if this is interesting to you - see this video getting into pharmaceutical revenue for more info…. While I’m at it, I have three posts that explain different types of pharmaceutical revenue– Part I, Part II, and Part III, as well as posts on laboratory sales vs. medical device sales, and how medical revenue compares.
Business Development/Technology Transfer – These career opportunities 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 got to clearly understand your personality and specifically the job you’re looking at. These jobs are all different. Assume nothing – ask a lot of musings.
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 here 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 job. The hours will be set and include very little journey.
Technical Support – In-house – like the field-based position, but without the voyage. Communication skills for this job are really important.
Marketing
Marketing: Strategic – (It’s important to note the difference between strategic and tactical.) The strategic product management person is responsible for figuring out where the company should invest for future products and what the specifications for these 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 do not clarify tactical vs. strategic are probably both. Many scientists pursue the MBA to move into marketing. Product management positions can have a lot of travel. Be sure to ask about the requirements of every job. 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 career opportunities like these, submit your resume to PHC Consulting.
Article courtesy of Peggy McKee - Owner / Senior Recruiter at the nationally
recognized pharmaceutical and laboratory sales recruiting team of PHC Consulting.
© Copyright 2008 PHC Consulting | All rights reserved
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