The next sction of the interview will focus on YOU

The questions will focus on YOU as a person and will be asked to ascertain your personal qualities, skill set and attributes.

This is your opportunity to really shine

The first question will be fairly general: Tell me about yourself

You should outline your background, educational achievements, goals and aspirations.  Be as clear, succinct and articulate as you can.

Personal attributes of

• Ability to sell
• Good raport building skills
• Highly organized
• Good planning skills
• Good communicator
• Highly self motivated
• Highly driven
• Thrive on a challenge
• Enthusiastic
• Friendly
• Fast learner

These are the attributes the interviewer is looking for.

How would your friends describe you?

This is a common question which allows the interviewer to see what you think of yourself through someone else’s eyes.  It is a clever question.

The ideal answers are:

• Friendly
• Outgoing
• Charming
• Loyal
• Highly organized
• Practical
• Team player

What do you think of your present boss?

Always be POSITIVE!  A typical answer might be: I am very lucky in my present boss.  He/she is firm but fair, demanding but realistic, and above all encouraging and supportive.  He/she is a great leader.

Name three things you like doing

• Interacting with people
• Organizing my day myself
• Achieving targets on a daily basis

Always remember the golden rule of interviews: Never say anything that is not documented on your CV and cannot be substantiated.

Good luck with those intervews!

Every interview is different but as said in an earlier post, there is a common structure to each interview.

The first section will relate to your CV

You will be asked to talk through your CV, starting at any point.

HINT: KNOW YOUR CV BACKWARDS

The second section will focus on what you know about the job

HINT: DO YOUR RESEARCH THOROUGHLY

This section will include the following three questions:

What so you think the most difficult aspect of the job of Medical Sales Representative is?

The simple answer is ACCESS

The Pharma Representative (calling on GPs and Retail Pharmacists) will have to contend with the receptionist

The Pharma Representative will also have to work with GPs who do not see representatves or who see only once a year by annual appointment.

The Medical Equipment Representative will have difficulties making sure that they are seeing the right person and are in front of the purchaser.

How would you reach a doctor who does not see representatives?

Liaise with and work with ancillary staff (receptionists, medical secretaries, Practice Nurses, Ward Nurses, Theatre Staff, and Practice Managers)

Ask if you could write to the Medical professional and send him product information and literature

Invite him to spreaker meetings

See him at CME meetings

Support his practice or team in other ways (always complying with Code of Practice 2008 (IPHA)

You have strong Nursing experince/Management experience – why should I hire you as a Representative?

You could answer: I bring a wealth of experience which I can apply to managing my territory as a small business.  I have managed and been managed and in adopting the best of all that experience I would be an active team player, a willing employee and an excellent Medical Sales Representative

The next section of the interview will focus on YOU and questions abot YOU, your qualities, personal attributes and skills

WHY do you  want to be a Medical Saless Representative?

Do you know?

Are you able to articulate your answer?

Is it for the Challenge of the role?

Do you Love Selling?

Would it be a Good utilization of your skill set and experience?

Would it be a Good Career Move?

Is it because the industry is so Professional?

You have Shadowed a Medcal Sales Representative and were mpressed with what you saw?

You will also be asked WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO RESEARCH THE ROLE?

• You should have shadowed a Medical Sales Representative
• Talked to your own GP and Retail Pharmacist to get their opinion on Medical Sales Representatives
• If possible talk to Hospital based Medical Professionals and hear their opinion
• You should join the MRII as a student member
• Consult the company website
• Consult the Irish Medical Directory
• You may have trained with MEDrep

In the next part we will look at questions which may be asked – focussing on the actual job itself.

Every interview is different and may be quite difficult but there is a certain structure to each interview and you can actually prepare for most of it

1.  There will be an introduction by both sides

2. There will be a review of your CV.  You will be asked to talk your way through your CV from any year and backwards and forwards. (HINT – know your CV very well)

3.  There will be questions arising from your CV

Questions will then follow on THE ROLE OF THE MEDICAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE:

4.  What is the role of the medical sales representative?

Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Companies employ Medical Sales Representatives to COMMUNICATE directly with the Medical Profession, CONVEY MEDICAL INFORMATION, and SELL COMPANY PRODUCTS

The role of the Medical Sales Representative is to improve patient lives by bringing the doctor the most up to date information and to increase market share.

5. What is the job of the Medical Sales Representative?

Increase Sales

Increase awareness of the brand

Increase market share

Meet and exceed targets

Achieve 6-7 face to face calls per day

Manage the territory like a small business

Build relationships

Convey product information

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In part two of this post we will look in detail at WHY you want to be a Medical Sales Representative and WHAT research you have done

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!