Pharmaceutical Sales Rep | Pharmaceutical Sales Careers

April 2007, in a Multinational Pharmaceutical company head office in Malaysia, I was tapping my feet while sitting across its National Sales Manager. I was anxious. No, I was not nervous. Just anxious. How much am I going to get out of this deal?

About 60 of us was given a formula on how to calculate the compensation. 60 of the company's staffs ranging from pharma sales rep to the admin support staffs. 60 out of the total of 300 odds employees.

This must have been the saddest day of our life...

In a way, YES, it was! But come to think of the difficulties we had to go through prior to that; the allowance cut, 'to the dot' scrutiny of claims, lesser allocation for sponsorship, tight meal and lodging budget, some of us took it as blessing in disguise.

Why?

To me in particular, I'm looking forward for this 'detachment'. I had taken enough **bulls** and craps from my immediate supervisor i.e. National Sales Manager for GP pharmaceutical selling and guess what? I can break free now.

How are you feeling? If you're facing the same situation right now that is...

Don't freak out. If they're asking,"Please show your hands to those who decided to leave us" just raise your hands. Don't panic. If you're anxious like I did, that's because the body is releasing endorphins, and that's good.

Endorphins only released when we're in good mood...

Be anxious to break free from the shackle of 'mindless order taking' and 'creativity death sentence'. Maybe this is the opportunity to do what you've always wanted to do.

My suggestion...

Use the severance pay as a headstart. You can't go wrong by doing what's right. But of course, there is price to pay.

So how much DID I actually get?

5 years of service, management level, factor of 2.5; it all ends up with a nice 5 figures filling my pocket. I see myself with my thunderous laugh going to the bank. All the way baby! This is the sweat labor of my pharmaceutical sales rep job all this while.

How did I use it?

I've always wanted to do something on my own. Something that challenges my brain and brawn. Something that combines the use of intellect and hard work. Preferably not involving pharmaceutical industry.

Like I said, PREFERABLY.

And I can't cheat myself. Honestly, I end up venting all my frustration, dissatisfaction, and suppressed emotion on a blog I called a r pharmaceutical sales rep in your area? But don't expect them to 'willingly' accept your invites though because they afraid that they'll pick the bills. Heck! Some of them do think like this.

What else?

Get another job. If that helps you get over the 'salary cringe' by all means go ahead. And bare in mind that pharmaceutical sales representative salary is one of the highest compared to other selling category. So don't depress yourself with low offer now and then.

Bottom line?

Do something to move on. And do something to prove that all these while, you make your own destiny; and not some absurd Key Performance Index, 360 Boomerang feedback or sheets of printed appraisal papers.

You decide what to do. You decide where you're going. You decide what happen next.

Even without your pharmaceutical sales rep status, I believe you'll do well. I know. I'm the living proof of it. I wish you for the better.