In this competitive job market, it is more important than ever to remember to send a thank you note following a job interview. It is now acceptable to email your thank you note. In fact, most managers prefer this method, as it provides them with immediate feedback regarding your interest level in the position. Thank you notes are viewed by hiring managers as follow-up. Sending an well-written thank you note expressing your interest in the position will not only confirm your interest level, it will also show the hiring manager you will most likely follow-up well with customers.

Downsizing has now become a common word for our generation. We hear about it everyday in the news. It seems no industry is immune right now, even healthcare.

If you have been downsized recently here are a few tips to help your situation: 
Network! Network! Network! Try these ideas:

Social networking sites (Facebook, My Space, Linked In, Tagged etc.) are great ways to find old co-workers and reconnect.

Find a medical or pharmaceutical sales association in your area.

Email your resume to recruiters- we recommend Resume Action.

Spend time developing your resume and “brag book” materials. Ask yourself if your resume sells you in a couple of seconds. If you not look like a “winner” on paper, you will not get interviews. Make sure your resume is a sales tool and not a job description.

Read current trade magazines and books. Many interviewers today ask what books you are reading. It is great to know the latest sales process strategies.

If you apply for a job, keep a record of how you heard about the opportunity and when you applied. This record will be helpful when you are working with multiple recruitment firms.

Avoid discouragement. The famous serenity prayer works well. It goes like this “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.” ~ Reinhold Niebuhr.

Entry-level pharmaceutical or medical sales positions most often require a Bachelor’s Degree preferably in the sciences and at least 1-2 years of successful selling experience. Without this experience, it is extremely difficult to get an interview. Most medical companies want at least 1-2 years of outside sales experience, preferably selling tangible products in a business-to-business environment. Examples of this would be experience selling in telecommunications, business products or consumer product sales.Your resume should focus on your sales achievements and sales rankings. If you are a top achiever, your resume most likely will get noticed.

For medical sales positions, at least 1-2 years of sales experience is also required. Often times, medical sales positions require a specific background or education in a certain product line. These types of positions are more difficult to secure since the employer needs a more extensive background than an entry-level candidate can provide.

Often seen as a “dream job” or “piece of cake” position, most pharmaceutical sales representatives will gladly debate this with anyone. Pharmaceutical sales jobs involve intense product studying and testing. Pharmaceutical sales representatives are expected to understand basic human anatomy, physiology and clinical pathology. They must also know the indications, usage, and side effects of the drugs they represent as well as know the competitor’s products in order to sell against them. A typical day for a pharmaceutical sales representative involves “calling on” or “detailing” 8-10 physicians a day and often 3-5 pharmacists a day. Many representatives do this while covering territory ranging from 60-200 mile radius. Most representatives are responsible for covering 100-200 physicians in their area. Access to these physicians can be very difficult and often provide a challenge to even the most Senior Pharmaceutical Sales Representative. Creativity is important to help the sales representative gain access to difficult to see physicians. The typical sales call is often less than 90 seconds unless the sales representative’s sales skills are perfected to grab the physician’s attention. All this being said, the role of the pharmaceutical representative is not easy. Top performers in pharmaceuticals must have great relationship skills and must know how to present their message. Not easy!

Top Ten Interview Bloopers

10. Wear a blue tooth in your ear during the entire interview to make you look important.
9. Start crying if the base salary is too low.
8. If you forget your resume, just make things up.
7. When asked about your current job, explain how the company you currently work for stinks.
6. During a ride day with another rep, change the radio station in his/her car without asking or start singing the theme to Monk. “It’s a jungle out there!”
5. When asked why you are not currently employed, inform the interviewer that you have been on a year long sabbatical traveling the world.
4. Bring a resume typed in Courier New font so that it looks like it was done on a typewriter.
3. Wear flip-flops
2. When the manager asks why you are looking for a new position, tell him you “need something to motivate you to get out of bed in the morning.”
AND THE NUMBER ONE INTERVIEW BLOOPER IS…
1. Pull out an energy bar and start eating it during the interview.