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Pharmaceutical Sales Mock Interview

Question 11 of 40 for our Pharmaceutical Sales Mock Interview

Pharmaceutical Sales was updated by on November 28th, 2023. Learn more here.

Question 11 of 40

Describe a difficult work situation you have faced during your career. What you learned from it that you can bring forward here as a pharmaceutical sales representative?

"I would have to say that one of the biggest challenges I have faced during my career was early in my career in sales and learning how to balance a huge sales call schedule with success. I really struggled for a year, working over 80 hours per week, spending most weekends following up with administrative tasks. Once I got close to a breaking point, I reached out to my manager to see if I could do some additional shadowing with more experienced reps. In just a few weeks, I learned so much about being efficient with my call schedule and ensuring that my road time was using time wisely. Within about six months, I was back to a normal work schedule and achieving the same high sales results. If I'm fortunate enough to join your team, I'm confident that these organizational skills will help me right from the start as a pharmaceutical sales rep."

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How to Answer: Describe a difficult work situation you have faced during your career. What you learned from it that you can bring forward here as a pharmaceutical sales representative?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Pharmaceutical Sales job interview.

  • 11. Describe a difficult work situation you have faced during your career. What you learned from it that you can bring forward here as a pharmaceutical sales representative?

      Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

      Pharmaceutical sales reps face challenges daily on the job. These challenges can include small-scale hiccups like physicians canceling appointments at the last minute and an extra long work day to large-scale challenges like over-aggressive sales goals and maintaining a positive work-life balance in a strenuous job. Your interviewer will expect that their top candidate will come to their company with the mental toughness to overcome any challenges, so they give you a chance to discuss your greatest work challenge you had to overcome.

      Written by Samantha Brown on November 28th, 2023

      How to Answer

      As you think about this prior to your pharmaceutical sales interview, remember that the important part of answering will be telling the interviewer what you learned from the situation. Some great things to discuss are your ability to be resourceful in the face of a challenge and your willingness to seek guidance from your superiors. In the end, make sure to highlight what you learned from the situation that you will bring with you to this job.

      Written by Ryan Brunner on October 16th, 2023

      Answer Example

      "I would have to say that one of the biggest challenges I have faced during my career was early in my career in sales and learning how to balance a huge sales call schedule with success. I really struggled for a year, working over 80 hours per week, spending most weekends following up with administrative tasks. Once I got close to a breaking point, I reached out to my manager to see if I could do some additional shadowing with more experienced reps. In just a few weeks, I learned so much about being efficient with my call schedule and ensuring that my road time was using time wisely. Within about six months, I was back to a normal work schedule and achieving the same high sales results. If I'm fortunate enough to join your team, I'm confident that these organizational skills will help me right from the start as a pharmaceutical sales rep."

      Written by Ryan Brunner on October 16th, 2023

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "Everyone has a bad day and sometimes a co-worker can become confrontational. I had a co-worker who became very upset about a scheduling conflict at school. I talked with her after school so that we both had an understanding of each other's point of view and so that we could reach a compromise that was fair to both of us and the students. Talking something out is always the best approach."

      Amanda's Feedback

      You've done well using an applicable example. Consider sharing more about what you learned about the value of compromise, listening to another's point of view, or adapting to changing needs as these are all skills needed when it comes to selling pharmaceutical products.

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