What direct work experience do you have that would lend itself to pharmaceutical sales?
Direct sales experience is not essential for entering the pharmaceutical industry as a sales rep. If your interviewer notices that you don't have firsthand sales experience, they'll look to hear you talk about which skills you've developed and experiences you've had that you feel will give you a leg up should you emerge as their top candidate.
"I think what makes me a unique candidate to join your team as a pharmaceutical sales rep is my background in science. As you can see, I've worked in the lab setting developing drugs for over ten years and I have the ability to talk about the science and R&D behind all products I would be selling. I'm confident that my knowledge and background would make for fruitful conversations with the physicians I would be calling on."
There is no need to fret if you're coming to your pharmaceutical sales interview without direct sales experience. Some great duties and tasks you may have held in the past that your interviewer would see as great experience include networking with individuals in the profession, conducting research, or performing any type of customer service. Of course, if you have experience selling a product or service, now is the time to sell the interviewer on how you performed.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
As an educator, I had to balance the priorities of students and the demands of parents, administrators, and the school board. As a teacher, I stand in front of a group of people every day to present new information in a way that is interesting and understandable. A teacher is a salesperson in many ways.
Amanda's Feedback
You're right! The skills teachers use to instill information lend themselves well to the sales field. Consider going one step further to talk about how a teacher has the student's best interest at heart when sharing information or opportunities to improve. Pivot about how a pharmaceutical salesman also shares information and treatment advancements in order to improve patient care and outcomes.
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