Any Drug Rep/Outside Sales types?

[magenta321]

In my constant desire to make more money, find a career, and um, to enjoy what I do... I'm thinking of becoming a drug rep.

I have the four year degree, I have experience with physicians and their needs (and their attitudes), I am good at making friends (and buying them with food if need be), and surprise of all surprises, I do turn out to be a good salesperson. And I'm good without having to ruin my concious because I am good at selling what I love (or believe in...).

Any of you already on this road, or tried it in a past life?

What are the advantage and disadvantages you found with this career?

What didn't you know when you went into the field that you wish you had?

How much of your life do you have to be prepared to give up?

What do you find most rewarding about this career?

If you could have a career make over, what would you be doing (or what are you doing if you already had a make over)?

How do you find the strength to stay up beat and positive despite gate keepers and physicians that do not want to talk to you?

[mtomm[$]]

I don't know a thing about it but it sounds like you'd be a great fit.

[amykhar]

When I was in high school, I babysat for a family whose husband was a drug rep. He was able to work from home, traveled some, but not too much and seemed to make a very good living. I know they lived in a house way better than my dad could afford on a NCO's salary.

[magenta321]

I told 2 people at my current job what I'm thinking of doing. One is my boss, because I'm afraid she'll hear rumors and she'll feel like I'm just looking to leave. I might be looking to leave, but not just to leave, to find something that will improve my life. She is a tough person, but she actually took it well, and in her way, she was supportive. She is going to give me the name/number of the one rep she deals with.

I told another supervisor at my job too. She is not over me, but she's the one who actually suggested this path to me. Her friend gave up her career in favor of becoming a drug rep relatively recently. The friend has an adult daughter that she just brought into the business too.

I'm thinking I can contact these people on Monday. Hopefully they'll take a few minutes to answer some questions, and, with any luck, maybe I can persuede them to let me ride with them for a day. I'd really like to get a feel for it before I decide if it is the path for me.

Then I SO have to buy more suits.

[phoenixx]

What happened to Ohio?

[magenta321]

They pay assistant managers $12 an hour out there, so while houses are dirt cheap, they're still unobtainable.

But when you need to make a minimum of $70k here to obtain low-income housing... and you don't want to live with your parents forever... you begin looking for new careers.