Is There More Than One Way To Break Into Pharmaceutical Revenue?

I was asked recently about the National Association of Medical Representatives (NAPRx)—specifically, whether or not the training certificate program they offer is an adequate substitute for a 4-year degree if the end goal is breaking into clinical revenue as a sales rep. 

There’s a couple of ways to answer this question, so here goes: 

First of all, my opinion is that no certificate program is an adequate substitute for a 4-year degree.  There is just no substitute for a solid science background if you’re going into medical sales.  Remember—the customers in this area DO have science degrees…if you don’t, it will be apparent that you don’t.  My top candidates all have 4-year science degrees and some kind of sales/business experience.

Second, of all the areas available in medical sales (clinical sales, clinical diagnostics sales, biotechnology revenue, DNA products sales, cellular products revenue, molecular products sales, hospital equipment sales, imaging revenue, surgical supplies sales, medical device sales, clinical laboratory revenue, histology sales, pharma software sales), medical sales is the most volatile and the least respected—partly because laboratory sales reps (as a whole, though there are exceptions) bring the least value.  The effectiveness of the pharma revenue force is declining, and layoffs are everywhere. 

See my website, www.phcconsulting.com, for job listings.  Reading position descriptions and requirements will give you a much better idea of where you need to focus your prep time before getting into medical revenue.

Article courtesy of  Peggy McKee - Owner / Senior Recruiter at the nationally
recognized pharmaceutical and laboratory sales recruiting team of PHC Consulting.
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