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.