Ace the Interview, Land the Job

If you truly want to land the pharmaceutical sales career of your dreams then you have to ace the interview. You can't just show up mind you, you have to entice the interviewer and make them really and truly want to hire you. After all you're likely vying for a limited position and there are lots of qualified candidates out there, perhaps they may even have similar educational backgrounds or work histories. But, an interview is your time to shine. It is your time to let your qualifications flow through. You can't view the process with trepidation. Instead you have to take it head on. Consider it your one opportunity to truly let the hiring committee know why you are perfect for the pharmaceutical position. Your time to let them first hand, your persuasive selling skills. Sell yourself and prove that you are indeed suitable for the job. In this article, we'll discuss how to get the most out of your interview. 1. First of all, you have to prepare for the interview. You certainly don't want to show up without a plan. Instead learn all you can about the firm beforehand. Conduct some online and offline research about the company. Find out about the type of pharmaceutical products they sell, their assigned territories, last years sales revenues, etc. In a nutshell, find out everything that you possibly can about the company before you go on the interview. 2. Second, make sure that you know why you're qualified for the position. Know your resume and cover letter in and out. Know why you're qualified to land this pharmaceutical sales position. Be willing to discuss your past work history and prove what a great salesperson that you really and truly are. Don't be shy about how you exceeded sales quotas and how knowledgeable you are about pharmaceutical sales. 3. Third, practice interviewing. Take some time to rehearse your answers to possible questions. Practice being poised and relaxed and answering questions intelligently. Pharmaceutical companies usually think in terms of profits generated and bottom line. Use similar language when highlighting your skills.Be prepared to discuss how you solved challenging situations or overcame obstacles. To prepare yourself, ask yourself these questions: o Why did you choose pharmaceutical sales as a career? o Why have you held different positions in the last three years? o For how long have you been trying to seek a pharmaceutical sales job? o What do you understand by "selling"? o Give three reasons why you think you can be a good pharmaceutical sales representative. 4. Fourth, be creative in your preparations. Being a great salesperson is more than establishing positive relationships with clients. It is also a business of numbers and proving that you are that much better than the next person. Prepare to prove yourself with concrete proof or your sales ability. For instance, feel free to use graphs and charts to demonstrate why you'd make a great member of their sales team. Create a Power Point presentations so that you can make a truly lasting and positive impression. 5. Fifth, dress appropriately for your interview. Choose a professional business suit. Fix your hair, get a manicure and make sure that you look great. Always display a positive demeanor. 6. Sixth, plan on making a good impression. This means bringing a professional copy of your resume and cover letter and showing up on time. In fact, you should plan to reach the company at least 15 minutes early so that you can review your notes beforehand. 7. Seventh, conclude the interview on a positive note. Make sure that you sum up your positive points and tell them how much you enjoyed meeting everyone. Make sure that you follow up by sending a thank you note the next day. This not only shows great manners but also leaves a positive impression in everyone's mind. Just remember that in order to get hired, you've got to prove yourself and the very best way to do this is to sell your skills. The interview process is the perfect time to do this! Just remember that you can do it if you prepare yourself, practice interviewing, creatively prepare, dress appropriately, make a good impression, and remain positive.