Pharmaceutical sales representatives are the connection between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers. Their work helps to ensure that patients access the best treatments available. But what makes a great sales rep? Becoming a good rep involves a balance of in-depth medical knowledge and sales skills. The rep must be able to represent their company’s products and communicate to healthcare providers exactly why they should choose them.
But what exactly do companies look for when hiring a pharmaceutical sales rep? Here are some insights from a recruiter.
The Role of a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Understanding the role of a pharmaceutical sales rep is essential. To provide an overview of the role: the representative is responsible for marketing and selling pharmaceutical products to healthcare providers. They’ll often specialise in a particular niche such as drug class or type of treatment. Within the role, reps are expected to:
- Educate healthcare providers about the ins and outs of their pharmaceutical products
- Build long-lasting professional partnerships with healthcare providers
- Drive sales and growth for their pharmaceutical company
- Stay ahead of the market by keeping up with the latest products and trends in the industry
Key Traits of a Successful Pharmaceutical Sales Rep
There are key traits that most successful pharmaceutical sales reps have. These are:
- Knowledge
The majority of successful reps in the industry have studied the sciences, including pharmaceuticals. This provides the foundation for a solid understanding of medical terminology and the science behind the products that they are promoting. This knowledge sets successful reps apart from those who struggle, as educating healthcare providers about the benefits, usage and side effects of their products is a critical part of the role.
- Communication skills
In any sales-related role, strong communication skills are essential. Pharmaceutical sales reps must be able to pitch in an engaging and compelling manner, holding the attention of the room throughout. They must be able to uncover the needs of the healthcare provider and communicate how their pharmaceutical company’s products can meet those. A successful sales rep will possess all of these traits.
- Drive for success
Much of a pharmaceutical sales rep work is independent which is why successful reps possess a strong drive for success. They are self-motivated and strive to achieve results. And these results come in two forms. Firstly, they have a passion for the products that they’re selling to achieve growth for their company, and secondly, they want to supply healthcare providers with the best products for their patients.
- Resilience
Much like any sales role, pharmaceutical sales reps face rejection on the daily. Successful reps are resilient and can bounce back from rejection without losing motivation. This resilience and adaptability enable them to navigate challenging conversations and remain determined and focused at every pitch.
How a Recruitment Agency Can Help Find the Right Fit
Finding a pharmaceutical sales representative that is the right fit for your company can be costly, time-consuming and stressful. It’s important to find reps that align with your company values, have experience with your type of products, and possess all of the traits outlined above. By working with a recruitment agency, you can reduce the resources required from your company and maximise the success of your hiring.
- Candidates
Recruitment firms have a wide pool of candidates from all backgrounds who could be the perfect fit for your role. They have a constant stream of candidates coming through their agency that they can assess for compatibility with your role. They will speak to your business to understand your needs and use this information to shortlist reps that are most suitable for screening.
- Screening
Saving you time and resources, recruitment agencies will screen any potential candidates to ensure that they are a good fit and understand every nuance of your position. Experts in their field, recruitment agencies have a lot of experience in finding the right candidate for the position. They have sophisticated and efficient screening processes that will shortlist the best reps for interviews.
- Cost
Choosing to hire through a recruitment agency is a cost-effective solution. You won’t have to spend a dollar on marketing or advertisement, you won’t be hit with costs to screen candidates, and you won’t need to build a recruiting system. With the right recruitment agency, you will be paying a flat monthly rate and accessing a diverse pool of talent.
Want more information on how a recruitment firm can help with your hiring? Get in touch with the experts at HyperHired today.
