Well you survived the interview!  The interviewer was human afterall (!) and you have performed very well.

Your work is not done!

To focus your efforts to find work in this area you should be keeping faithful records of what agencies you are working with, what companies your CV has been sent to and finally an analysis of each interview

Approaching the job search with such a degree of organization will yield terrific results.

Reviewing the interview:

This interview may have been a first round interview, in which case you will need your notes to prepare well for a second round interview.

Record who interviewed you and retain their business card

Record what went well and what did not go so well

Think what you might say differently if you are granted a second round interview

Make notes and refer to these notes over the coming days as you prepare for a second interview

During the course of the interview you should have been given a business card for the person interviewing you

Immediately after the interview send a simple, handwritten note of thanks to the interviewer.

It should read as follows:

Dear Ms Blog

Thank you for taking the time and trouble to interview me for the position of Medical Sales Representative on the South Dublin territory with Pfizer.

I am really interested in the position, more so now that I have met with you.  I really feel I could work very well for you.

I look forward to having the opportunity to meet with you again.

Yours sincerely

A simple thank you note will help you stand out from the crowd and even if you do not get a second interview, the Pharmaceutical/Medical Sales world is small and your paths will cross again over the next few years.

Good luck with all those interviews!

Enter the room with confidence!

The interviewer wants to meet you, wants to talk to you and you are there to sell yourself, promote yourself and talk about your favorite subject – YOU!

There are a couple of rules and guidelines:

1.  Offer a firm handshake

2. Remember their names

3. Wait to be invited to sit down

4. Maintain good eye contact – sincere but not staring

5. Be professional and confident

6.  Be enthusiatic and friendly

7.  If offered a glass of water – take it.  It will staedy the nerves

8.  Remember to breathe!!

9.  Never say anything that is not on your CV and cannot be substantiated

10.  When invited to ask questions ask questions that show you have thought about the job and the company

Good suggested examples:    Why does the vacancy exist? How many reps in the company?  How many reps in my team?  What is the exact territory?

Above all ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE!  You are there to talk about YOU - your favorite topic of conversation!

Good Luck!

Submitting your CV is the first step in the search for employment

A good CV should secure an interview

An interview is YOUR opportunity, over thirty or forty minutes, to sell YOURSELF and promote YOURSELF to the interviewer as the IDEAL candidate for the job

Preparation is the key to a successful interview

Preparation:

1. Consult the company website

2. Consult MIMS

3. Consult the IRISH MEDICAL DIRECTORY

4. Talk to your Recruitment Consultant

5. Consider doing a Pre Interview Training Seminar

PART ONE – BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

1.  Chose your clothes carefully

2. Make sure you know the way to the appointed venue

3. On the day leave home in plenty of time and aim to arrive 15 minutes early

4.  In the minutes before the interview read through your CV one last time and predict possible questions

5.  Drink a glass of water to keep your throat moist

6.  Practice deep breathing and relax

Remember the interviewer is not a firing squad!

This is your opportunity to shine so shine!

The Pharmaceutical, Medical Equipment, Consumer and Generic companies use Recruitment Companies to recruit Medical Sales Representatives.

In ireland there are more than 40 Recruitment Companies that specialise in recruiting for the industry.

In the current economic climate it is advisable to be with at least four Recruitment Agencies.

You should arrange to meet with the Recruitment Consultant to discuss your CV and application in detail.

He or she will assess your chances of securing an interview and will appraise you of the vacancies they are currently dealing with.

You should be in regular contact with the consultant.  The rule of thumb would be to email or telephone them every two weeks.

During this time you should do everything possible to prepare for the interview.  The competition is fierce and you must do everything you can to help differentiate yourself from all the other candidates.

1. Prepare your CV properly and ensure that it is in the acceptable format

2. Take an Introduction to Medical Sales course

3. Join the Medical Representatives Institute of Ireland as a student member

4. Arrange to shadow a Medical Sales Representative

5. Read about Medical Sales

6. Research the role of Medical Sales Representative

7. Take a Preliminary Training for Medical Sales course

8. Speak to your own GP and Pharmacist

When you have a specific interview scheduled you could consider taking a Pre Interview Training Seminar.

Failure to prepare is to prepare to fail!

Securing an interview and preparing for it is the first part of your campaign.  The next part is the actual interview itself.

The job of a Medical Sales Representative is one of the most challenging jobs you can do.  It is also immensely satisfying and very rewarding.

At interview you will be asked why you want to be a Medical Sales Representative.  Can you answer that question?  Why do you want to be a Medical Sales Representative?

Is it for the CHALLENGE?

Is it for the EXCITEMENT OF SALES?

Is it because it will be a REWARDING CAREER?

Is it because the Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Industries are so PROFESSIONAL?

You would like to INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE?

You believe you have the NECESSARY SKILLS?

You have been out with a Medical Representative and were fascinated by what you saw?

You want to be YOUR OWN MANAGER ON A DAILY BASIS?

You want to be RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SUCCESS?

If you answer YES to most of these questions you have good reasons to want to be a Medical Sales Representative.

Medical Sales Representatives come from a variety of backgrounds but with appropriate training and support most candidates go on to become very good Medical Sales Representatives.