1. What was your most rewarding experience during college?
Tutoring local high school students in physics and chemistry.
Basically, this question is aimed at finding out whether you are good with some kind of authority above you or whether you are someone who requires a mentor. Your response may also cause the interviewer to view you as an optimistic or complaining type, so tread carefully.
The best answer is to speak of the cordial aspects of the relationship you enjoyed with your supervisor. If you must mention any issues, be brief, and downplay any problems. For example, explain how any differences you had were purely theoretical and in the end, what was best for the company won. Of course if this is not so, explain the difficulties and how you overcame them. End with an encouraging example of getting along.
3. What is the most challenging aspect of pharmaceutical representative?
My top 3 are access, formulary coverage and pt trials.
4. What do you think the company would help you the best?
This question is really an attempt on the part of the company to discern if you are a team player yet capable of working on your own.
In your response, give examples of how you have worked in both of these capacities, even if not job related. Suggest that the company chalk out a plan with a quota that must be met by the end of a month, and then provide you with the resources to fulfill the goal. Proclaim that you will do your utmost to meet any reasonable goal.
5. Tell me about a time you persuaded someone professionally?
While at Shifa, I had to convince doctors of the importance of DHA. One of the products I sold was ***** and it required clinical presentation to show its efficacy. I requested a clinical trial and he began enrolling pts at the start of their pregnancy.
6. How to perceive a typical day for pharmaceutical sales representative?
With this question, the interviewer is investigating your dedication and whether you are up to the physical aspect of working as a pharmaceutical salesperson, as well as the unusual times.
In responding, mention your awareness of the times available for sales calls; that is, when medical practitioners and other medical officers are relatively free. Day time hours are generally off limits; usually calls must take place at about seven in the morning or nine in the evening.
This way, you will not only express your knowledge of the business, but also inform the interviewer that you are ready for the hard work and difficult hours that are part of becoming a successful pharmaceutical sales representative.
7. How to differentiate yourself from your peers?
I am polished, poised, and professional. I am well established in my medical community. I have clinical credentialing that is highly regarded. I am familiar with the healthcare landscape of this market place and can multi task like nobodies business.
8. Tell me what is the most challenging aspect of being a pharmaceutical sales person?
A novice to the world of pharmaceutical sales may think that the most difficult part of the sale is meeting the medical practitioner, but that is actually not so.
The challenge is actually convincing a doctor to switch from a drug that s/he and their patients are quite comfortable with and convert to a new alternative. The sales rep must persuade them that such a change would be an improvement, and that is the true challenge. If you have experience, share some of your success stories.
9. Why do you think you would excel at pharmaceutical sales?
I think I would excel at pharmaceutical sales because I am adaptive to the culture of each office, creative in order to achieve goals, attentive to my customers needs and I have a large network to draw from.
10. How long having you been seeking employment in the pharmaceutical sales industry?
Your answer here will be important. You have the opportunity to make yourself look good with the right answer. If you have been looking for a position for a long time, six months or more, then you need to present yourself as a tenacious person who never gives up because you are absolutely certain that you are the right person for the job. Whether you have been granted interviews will matter, because the district manager will wonder why you didn't gain the position if you interviewed. On the other hand, if you didn't gain an interview that means you failed the first sales test. Perhaps you turned a position down because of location. That's a good reason to decline. If you've just started looking for a pharmaceutical sales position and you've already gained interviews, it's because you are impressive, on paper and in person.
11. Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult customer?
So many to choose from, I had a Dr. Tell me that he would never use my product but the beauty of this was I was given an opportunity to embrace a porcupine and start selling. I probed to uncover the real issue and serviced the heck out of his office becoming a resource every chance I had...
12. When did you decide to pursue a pharmaceutical sales career position?
You might reply that after your extensive research into this career field including actually going on a field preceptorship, that you believe this a perfect career for you. Then you must explain why it is perfect for you. It is perfect because you thrive on the type of challenges faced by pharmaceutical sales representatives! You want to make a difference at a job you are certain you will love. Pharmaceutical sales is a perfect match for your personality and work experience. Then supply proof for your statement.
13. How would you deal with a hostile customer?
I would listen to his complaint, offer an apology, and ask how I can improve the situation for him. Probe, ask questions, uncover the real problem.
14. I see you have held several different positions over the last five years? Can you explain why?
The obvious objective in this question is to determine whether you are a "job-hopper." Training and educating pharmaceutical sales representatives is very time-consuming and expensive. A bad choice would yield an ineffective pharmaceutical sales representative and one that would potentially leave the job "undone" because that person has again decided to do something else. The district manager will attempt to ascertain whether you are a dependable person and whether you do indeed really want a career that offers upward mobility. He must be convinced that you will stay and work smart. If you have changed positions in order to increase the challenge of your job and allow upward mobility, then that is an excellent reason for changing jobs. Career transitions or job transitions made to increase compensation for your work is another good reason.
15. How do you deal with rejection in your current position?
I embrace rejection as it enables me to probe and do further discovery to uncover the real issue.
16. What is your current occupation?
Give an honest answer, but highlight any area of responsibility that you may have which would be seen as a benefit for someone in pharmaceutical sales. This would be a good time to show the "Career Comparison" information that you have placed in your Personal Presentation Binder. You will have already compared your job responsibilities to that of a pharmaceutical sales representative. Were you responsible for marketing a product or idea to others? Have you analyzed a "buyer" to determine that buyer's potential? Do you have daily contact with physicians or other medical personnel in your day-to-day activities? These are excellent job responsibility areas to compare with pharmaceutical sales job responsibilities. Be careful not to make a negative statement. Always expect to be asked to prove any statement that you make!
17. In all of your work experience what accomplishment are you the most proud of and why?
I am most proud of my proven ability to rebuild business. I did this while I was working with WIS as well as at the start of my employment with Shifa. I essentially rebuilt 2 different territories from the ground up while developing and managing key relationships with physicians, staff and other key decision makers.
18. How did you decide pharmaceutical sales would be the right career for you?
This is the most basic of questions, but you are almost certain to be asked this question. While people interviewing for other types of positions are asked why they decided on their career choice, it is very important that you answer this question correctly for a pharmaceutical sales interview.
First tell them that you love selling and site examples where you have done this even if you haven't been employed as a salesperson. Mention instances where you persuaded someone to "buy in" to your ideas, etc. That is selling! Mention that you have always been highly motivated, energetic, and enthusiastic. Successful sales people have all of these qualities as well as being creative and resourceful. Be prepared to cite examples where you displayed these behavioral characteristics.
Next, expound upon why pharmaceutical sales would be right for you. This is a good time to pull out the information that you have collected during your research. You can explain how stable the industry is, how exciting it would be to be part of such a dynamic field, and one where the opportunity to help thousands of people is a reality. State that this would give you tremendous job satisfaction. Also let them know that you realize the opportunities for personal and professional growth are tremendous with pharmaceutical sales companies. You will thrive on the daily challenges of performing a pharmaceutical sales representatives job. (This would be a great time to mention the "field preceptorship" and how much you enjoyed your day in the representative's territory!) The research you have done on their company and the industry, and the extra effort you have put forth to spend a day in the field to see for yourself what a pharmaceutical sales representative does will give you tremendous credibility. You will be viewed as a serious candidate!
19. How long do you believe you would like to sell pharmaceuticals?
I am looking for my final resting place. I would eventually like to develop further along but looking to be here for a long long time.
20. A doctor doesn't want to use your drug because it's too expensive. How do you proceed?
Find out if the drug is covered under insurance plans, promote its superior side effect profile compared to other medications.
21. Are you currently interviewing with other pharmaceutical companies?
I am actively looking but not haphazardly. I am laser focused on finding the right fit for both my future company and me.
22. What do you believe are the most important factors for success in a pharmaceutical rep?
Being adaptive, creative, attentive and having an established network in the medical community.
23. Why do you believe that you would find a career in pharmaceutical sales rewarding?
Being part of a company that thrives on improving lives is very rewarding to me.
24. It's your first week on the job; what will you do to organize yourself?
I am a very organized person. I will make sure that my car is in order, that I have all of the key learning information and products in my bag. Most importantly I would ensure that I have learned my product and am mentally ready to deliver the correct message to my customer.
25. How to perceive a pharmaceutical representatives typical workday?
A pharmaceutical reps typical work day consists of early visits, detailing doctors that allow access, scheduling appointments with offices that have limited hours to access, logging calls, all while developing and managing relationships with physicians, medical staff, and key decision makers.
