Q&A for How to Become a Pharmaceutical Sales Rep

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Question

How can I effectively sell myself to the interviewer?

Cynthia Orduna
Career and Business Coach
Cynthia Orduna is a Career and Business Coach based in Los Angeles, CA. She also has career experience in recruitment, human resources, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Over the past 6 years, Cynthia has coached over 300 people at all career levels and helped 50+ companies worldwide in cities like LA, SF, NY, Berlin, Tokyo, Sydney, London, and others to hire and retain top talent. Cynthia’s mission is to empower people to own their unique story and believe there are no boundaries on what they can achieve or who they can become. Her work has been featured in publications like Business Insider, Lattice, The Zoe Report, and The Balance Careers. Cynthia graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a BA in Studio Arts, with an emphasis in multimedia.

Cynthia Orduna

Career and Business Coach

Expert Answer

Think about your unique strengths and the set of skills that you can bring to their table. Identify values from your past experiences and think about how this set of skills could benefit this new position in a way that other applicants do not have. A good example is if you have a background in other industries or different roles, share how this versatility and experience will allow you to approach challenges creatively and differently. Remember to emphasize what separates you apart and describe how your unique set of skills, insights, and adaptability can enhance the team and bring fresh ideas to this role. Craft a narrative that shows you as an asset who, despite a nontraditional background, can solve problems, bring a broader perspective, or adapt quickly. This helps the interviewer see that, even if your skill set isn’t a perfect match, you offer something distinctive that adds value to the team and makes you an ideal choice.

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Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this field of work?

Community Answer

The advantages are, you can set your own schedule and not be restricted to certain hours unless there are specific meetings that you need to attend. The pay is good if you work hard. It is also a very respected position. The major disadvantage is that you work strictly on commission and set your own pay scale.

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Question

I have a science degree and sales background and would like resources on pharmaceutical sales jobs. What can I do?

Community Answer

Find someone who works in the field in your area to be your mentor.

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Question

What's the difference between CNPR and NAPRx?

Joelle Marie Hansen

Community Answer

CNPR is the name of the certification you need to enter into the pharmaceutical sales arena. NAPR is the National Association of Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives where you can get certified.

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Question

How can I get started as a pharmaceutical sales rep?

Community Answer

Apply directly with company, there have different levels of experience. You won’t know, so just apply. You can also try Linkedin to connect with people and ask questions. Just keep trying and a door will open for you. (Advice from someone with 19 years experience in this industry.)

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What is the average length of time to complete the online training program to become a pharmaceutical sales rep?

Community Answer

According to NAPSRx, you can study the book from 60 to 80 hours. The online test with 160 questions you will have 120 minutes to complete.

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