Pharmaceutical Sales Rep: Is Flex-Time an Option?

A career in pharmaceutical sales is professional and lucrative. Is it available part time? Yes, there are many pharmaceutical companies that have engineered sales teams to work part time hours. The qualifications you will need are the same as full time sales reps. The job description and responsibilities are the same as those of the full time sales reps. Many companies have ancillary sales reps to compliment their full time sales force. Some companies employ their sales force to work flex time schedules only. They may utilize their full time sales reps to launch new drugs or promote and sell their established product line.

I started my career in pharmaceutical sales as a flex time rep launching a brand new product. Several hundred of us were hired specifically to introduce Advil, you may have heard of it. What a great job! The sales skill and product training was on par with that of the full time sales force. Compromised training is never an issue, although it may be a bit abbreviated. I attended meetings nationally and ran my local territory about three days per week. The job was my entrance into this business.

As a flex time Rep, you will perform the same job function as a full time rep. Pharmaceutical Sales Reps are responsible for calling on a certain number of prescription writers each day. The drug company you go to work for will train you meticulously on how they want their drugs sold. Your customers will be oblivious to the fact that you are flex time and not full time. As a flex time rep you will enjoy the top notch training and prestige that goes along with this position. You will be provided with the same tools to perform the job function as fulltime reps; such as laptop computer, product samples and expense accounts to run your territory.

But as a flex rep, your compensation will be engineered differently from a full time rep:in most cases, you will be paid a set hourly wage, typically between $12-$35/hr, although some companies pay per doctor call. Your wages will be based on the company, the product and your amount of experience. Generous bonus plans are created to incentify your sales. These plans can add several thousand dollars to your income and are normally paid quarterly. You probably will not get a company car but mileage reimbursement and/or a gas allowance is normally provided. In addition, medical and dental insurance is not provided -- although the company may have a plan for you to participate in, you will have to pay for it.

Companies such as Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Johnson and Johnson, and Pfizer have flextime sales forces. You can access these opportunities through their websites. Contract pharmaceutical companies such as Ventiv, Innovex and PDI contract with major pharmaceutical companies and often have contracts with these companies employing part-time sales forces. These contracts can be on going or engineered to last for a specific amount of time, often for one or two years.

You will need to seek out these opportunities and prepare for the interview the same way you would for full time employment with these companies. The interview process will be the same. Generally a phone screen, followed by a face to face interview, possibly a ride- along in the field with a rep from the company. You will need to pass a background check which will include a credit check, MVP check and verification of your degree.

These jobs offer the professionalism and high earning potential proportionate to that of full time reps. The flexibility afforded by these positions may be a great life balance answer for you.

Good luck on your interview!

Check out PharmRepSelect: Your Complete Guide to Getting a Job in Pharmaceutical Sales and www.pharmadiversityjobboard.com

by Lisa Alexander, of Pharmadiversity.com. Lisa started as a sales rep and manager, and went on to recruit more than 4,000 salespeople for Big Pharma, most recently at Pfizer. LA Consulting works with pharmaceutical companies to place the right candidates with the right positions. Her book is full of practical insider's tips. Definitely worth a look!