Written By: Ralph Steeber, CPC

Do you remember the day you decided to start searching for a new career? If you are like many others, you probably got on the phone and started calling recruiters that had been recommended or called you in the past. Everything seemed positive, Right? You talked, they asked some specifics about your experience and goals, then said “send me your resume” and “I’ll get back to you.” NOTHING SINCE! Seems you have to call them, they don’t call you. In fact you might even feel like a pest!

The reality is that recruiters get lots of calls and help less then 10% of the people they talk to over a year’s time. There are lots of people available and many jobseekers want “Healthcare Sales”.

Now I’m not going to say they don’t want to help everyone, because they do. They get paid only when they perform. No placements made, No Money!

The problem is this, only a percentage of companies (30%) use recruiters and are willing pay a fee for their services. That percentage has dropped over the past decade due to in-house recruiting, employee incentive referral programs, corporate website employment postings and the overall general Internet era.

So is it worth it to pick up the phone and call recruiters? ABSOLUTELY YES!

Just know that you have to sell them on representing you. Ask for their honest opinion about the chance of helping you with your career search. Very Important! Don’t get defensive or mad if they offer an opinion that you don’t like. Meet them if at all possible, even if you have to drive a few hours.  Nothing beats the personal touch. 

During my 30 years in recruiting medical sales professionals, I always advised jobseekers to use all vehicles possible.  Market yourself in any way you can think of, to include recruiters, Internet, local newspapers, industry journals, networking with people in the industry, and direct targeted marketing. You never know what will work at this time in your life, so do it all and success will happen!

Summer is Coming! 

At least that’s what the calendar says. So far in the Midwest it can’t get here quite soon enough. 

Generally speaking, both companies and jobseekers slow the pace down during the summer months based 
on vacations and family commitments. 
BUT, IT’S STILL A GOOD TIME OF YEAR!
People receiving job opportunites today are turning over and creating open jobs that need to be filled whether good old summer time is here or not. So freshen up that resume by adding your accomplishments and achievements for first half of 2008.  
Start calling and emailing recruiters, peruse the job boards and continue to confidentially network with friends and business associates. 
Even though, it might be a little slower time, sticking to your job search game plan can still make finding your dream career possible.

 Oh Yeah..Sign up with Medicalreps.com
You Never Know If Your Next Company Is Online

written by Ralph Steeber, CPC 

So, you’re considering uploading your resume 
on a job board but wondering if it’s worth the time?

The answer is “YES“.

Are There Opportunities Available?
More than ever with today’s economy, companies and recruiters are searching
career websites to locate job talent to fill critical job openings.

Even though there are thousands of jobs listed on most career websites, many recruiters and human resources report they are searching the job boards for candidates without posting their open jobs — due to a fear of an excessive response from both qualified and unqualified jobseekers.

That makes this a GREAT time to put your resume on appropriate career portals 
reported to be searched by employers, recruiters and hiring managers daily.

A recent poll by the Society for Human Resource Management, 
show that more than 80% of human resource professionals rely on the Internet to fill open positions. 

Posting resume to niche or small job websites?
While it’s true that many companies search the largest career websites such as Monster, CareerBuilder, Yahoo, an increasing number of employers and recruiters are cutting costs by searching the lesser expensive mid-sized niche career websites.

Whether you fill out the forms yourself or elect to have a Resume Distribution Service do it for you, being on numerous career websites is a good idea. It’s a competitive job market right now. If you know how to play the numbers game you can beat the odds and succeed. Post your resume to as many career websites as possible, keep your resume and information fresh and good things can happen!  

Please share your experiences with our readers on your success or thoughts about posting resumes online.

Click the comment button below to share

If Not, Here are some tips to consider next time !

When most employers or recruiters set up a planned time for a phone interview you can bet your last dollar that you’re not the only person on the schedule and that their goal is to weed out those candidates that aren’t going to be a good fit for the opportunity they represent. Your ultimate goal is to get selected for a face to face interview and obviously they’re trying to eliminate those candidates that don’t cut the mustard over the phone. You must treat this interview with more detail then the personal interview since you don’t get to show off your best suit, haircut, body language, smile, one on one personality, etc. I could rattle on but I think you get the idea.  

   Make sure you have you resume handy to reference, pen and pad for taking notes or directions, a glass of water in case it becomes extended and you get a little parched. Most important is to take your time and answer questions as carefully as possible. Sometimes in person you can read body lanquage and restate the answer but over the phone you don’t usually get a second chance. We hope this article gives you some insight on the importants of being prepared. If you have any thought to share regarding youer own personal experience please click the comment button below. Good Luck!

prepared by Ralph Steeber, CPC 

During the past year many people have asked us if we had any statistics or hard data on what choices experienced medical sales professionals use when they are looking for new career opportunities. We felt that we had a pretty good idea, but not anything that we would put our seal of approval on. We then decided to program a ”simple survey” to our jobseeker registration form.
After more than 5000 responses we were very surprised with the results. Recruiters and Job Boards made up 78% with Recruiters holding a slight edge 41%, followed by Job Boards at 37%. Third place was 3rd Personal Networking capturing 14%. What was most surprising was that Newspapers came in last at 8%. In defense of newspaper advertising, which just a short 5-7 years ago was probably #1, is that many local and national newspapers are tied or partnered with the job boards in package advertising and therefore the original advertisement is accessed via the Internet.

In conclusion, after reviewing the data myself and relying on my more than 30 years experience in this recruitment industry, the tide appears to have changed.  But when you really read between the lines, the actual methods, although disguised with technology, haven’t really changed much.

What’s your opinion? We love you to offer your thoughts. It will be helpful to visitors and fellow medical sales jobseekers. Select the comment button below it easy and quick.

prepared by Ralph Steeber, CPC

Instant Visibility If You’re Qualified

Are you qualified and actively seeking a career change? I’m sure you have seen the many choices you have to get your resume sent out. You could pay a “Resume Submission Service” that claims with ONE CLICK of the button they can have your resume in the hands of the Best and Most Successful Recruiters coast to coast and your phone will start ringing with JOBS-JOBS-JOBS-JOBS. Well, it’s not quite that easy. Yes, it’s a smart and cost effective way to get great exposure in a hurry but you need to know if you have the qualifications necessary to create interest. All the clicks in the world won’t help if you don’t have what they want. On the upside, Recruiters have the technology to work anywhere worldwide with no boundaries. That means simply, you don’t know who is going to have the right client and job opportunity sitting on their desk that’s perfect for you. After evaluating and reviewing resume services ask the question before you spend your money ” Do I Qualified? “. Our website highly recommends PharmaResumeBlaster. PharmaBlaster has an excellent database of experienced sales recruiters and most importantly, guarantees to help you until you get results. 

 If you would like your resume reviewed for free prior to purchasing this type service just simply send your resume to admin@medicalreps.com ( tagline- Resume Review)

written by: Ralph Steeber, CPC 

Many are not aware that Medical Sales offers numerous product levels that can impact your career path. Because of the vast multifacets of the marketplace, knowing where you are is important so you don’t get trapped or become stagnate. 

The Five Basic Product Sales Levels are: (1) Pharmaceuticals (2) Disposables (3) Medical Devices (4) Small Equipment (50K-500K) (5) Large Equipment (500K-5 million)

Most people who begin their career without having past medical sales experience start in levels 1 or 2 depending on experience and many times “who they have worked for”.  Once accomplished, after 3-4 years you need to evaluate yourself and determine if you like what you do and can be challenged, plus earn the type of money to keep you happy. 

Choosing the right first job isn’t always possible because generally you’re just excited to “Get a Job in Medical Sales” and when given the first offer the answer is “YES”.  

Iif that’s the case, you need to periodically evaluate your career, determine whether you can stay the course, be happy for a long time or start checking out your options in higher levels. Unfortunately, in my 30 years of recruiting, I have seen too many people get content, wait too long, then when the light finally goes off  it’s often too late. 

Once you get over 5 years in any level, both money and options to be a “Choice A Candidate” to that hiring employer,  becomes less and less with each passing year. 

When making career changes, to sell yourself you have to offer either product  or market knowledge to command attention from hiring managers and companies. Of course demonstrating sales accomplishments over the past 3-4 years is also very important. Anything more than that is irrelevant and nobody usually cares what you did 7-8 years ago.  

So my advice is to periodically evaluate your career path and future with your current employer and keep an open ear to other options when they present themselves. If you would like a professional evaluation of your employment path and advice on possibilities for future options send your resume to admin@medicalreps.com

 written by: Ralph Steeber, CPC

Would you be shocked to know that the “Pharmaceutical Industry” is passing out pink slips? Well, it’s true!

Last year in November, the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced plans for a 20% reduction in their sales force and more cuts forthcoming in 2008. Many companies are looking at similar action in 2008 and beyond, as they evaluate the dwindling profitability of their primary care physician sales reps. Although the industry has always had a stigma of detailing, it’s now becoming very evident that the typical PCP reps are delegated to merchandising, yet command the salaries of their consultative selling peers. Many major pharmaceutical companies are taking a hard look at how reps are being paid and preparing for strategic changes across the board. The good thing for the industry in general is we have had a natural slow down based on an overall soft economy. This has created less turnover, giving companies cause or power to justify smaller salary increases, commissions and bonus payouts. Obviously this won’t be enough in the long haul to correct the problem, and additional changes and reductions will follow in the years to come. Despite everything we see and read there is still good news, many companies in the specialty and managed-care markets are still growing with new product launches thus making this a solid career for many who choose this path.

To offer your imput on this subject please visit our blog article www.medicalreps.com/blog and respond with your thoughts.

 written by Ralph Steeber, CPC
30 year veteran of beginning and advancing medical sales careers coast to coast 

 It depends! 

Medical Sales Recruiters are necessary partners in your job searching process.  However, there are things you need to know about them if you really want their help. 

 Many people think that a recruiter will take your resume and then start calling companies looking for the perfect fit.  NOT Really, they work with companies who hire them to fill specific critical openings, and if you’re a good match for one of those job orders that’s sitting on their desk, you’re in luck.  Even though you’re a key part of the equation, they really work for the company who pays their fee.  

If you really want to benefit from this relationship then you need to “meet face to face” if possible.  If you’re just another “piece of paper” to add to  the thousands of resume already in their database your chances of success drops dramatically.

Yes,  if they take the time they can assist you with valuable things like resume critiques, interview prep, salary negotiation tips, and inside information about the company that you can use to improve your interview process. But the reality is they need to see $$$ signs.

Here are some important musts to help you get some attention: 

• send an email with short cover letter and resume attached. remember that your resume is a marketing tool…recruiters are in the business to make money (usually commission) sell your experience and ability to get hired.
•  Very important to stay in touch. Don’t make a pest of yourself but every couple of weeks say hi!
• Call if you have changes in your resume information, or if you have some new positive information like winning an award or a major sales accomplishment. If you like this article take a quick minute and click on the “comment button” below and  share your experiences ( both good and bad ) about recruiters in general for your fellow jobseekers.Recommedations always appreciated. Drop us a name or two, Your recruiter will be happy you did!!!!! I hope!

Celgene must be doing something right.

On Monday, shares of biotech firm Celgene (nasdaq: CELG - news - people ) ticked up 2.9%, or $1.44, to $51.09, in morning trading after it announced late-Sunday that it expects its 2007 earnings to double on the spiking sales of its blood cancer drug Revlimid.

The company also predicts that the product will drive earnings throughout 2008.

Celgene, based in Summit, N.J., said earnings will likely double to $1.05 per share on a 50% jump in sales to $1.4 billion. The results come on the back of a more than 140% increase of Revlimid sales, to between $770 million and $775 million.

During the fourth quarter alone, Revlimid sales rose more than 95% to between $240 million and $245 million.

Celgene now expects its 2008 earnings to rise 45% to between $1.50 and $1.55 per share on a 30% increase in sales to approximately $1.8 billion. Revlimid sales are also expected to rise 60% to $1.25 billion.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expect 2007 earnings of $1.05 per share on sales of $1.37 billion and 2008 earnings of $1.55 per share on sales of $2.04 billion.

Celgene has become one of the largest biotech companies–the fifth-biggest by market capitalization and the seventh by total sales in the U.S.–due to the success of its potent and pricey treatments for multiple myeloma, a blood-and-bone-marrow cancer, which together generated more than $300 million in sales in the most recent quarter.

Celgene’s top seller is Thalomid, a brand name for the drug thalidomide, which was linked to birth defects a half-century ago when used as an anti-nausea drug.

Revlimid, Celgene’s second biggest-selling drug, is basically an improved version of Thalomid. It is also used to treat multiple myeloma, but it was approved first for a rare blood disorder, a version of a set of diseases called myelodysplastic syndromes where part of a particular genetic chromosome is deleted.

Revlimid competes with Millennium Pharmaceuticals (nasdaq: MLNM - news - people )’ Velcade, which is also approved to treat a type of blood cancer. Wall Street has taken a more cautious outlook on that drug, though Cambridge, Mass.-based Millennium expects to turn a profit in 2008 on a 20% to 30% increase in Velcade sales.

Meanwhile, Celgene is adding another blood cancer treatment to its offering with the $2.9 billion acquisition of Boulder, Colo.-based Pharmion and its drug Vidaza (See “Celgene/Pharmion Deal Paces Biotechs”).

The Associated Press contributed to this article