Readers:
Dr. Randall Hansen, a nationally recognized career expert, is the Career Doctor.
Discover more about Dr. Hansen, read about the purpose of this column,
and find previous issues of this column at the home of The Career Doctor.
If you have any college, career, or job-related questions or comments that Dr. Hansen could
provide valuable assistance with, please
feel free to email him at: careerdr@quintcareers.com.
Dr. Hansen writes this column on a biweekly basis.
Karly writes:
Two years ago I received a bachelor’s degree in marketing and have been
working in sales for a large consumer goods company. I am responsible for
developing and maintaining accounts for a specific region, pushing current or
new lines of our food products.
However, I have always had an interest in pharmaceutical sales, and I feel
my two years in sales now gives me a better chance of achieving my dream.
How do I go about making the switch from food to meds?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
You break into pharmaceutical sales by answering these two questions:
How am I qualified for a position? How will I expand my network to get
contacts that can assist me?
Pharmaceutical sales is a booming career choice right now -- all pharmaceutical
companies have sales reps and many are hiring more. Of course, the downside
is that there are more job-seekers interested than there are slots… so the
competition is pretty fierce.
So, are you qualified to apply? The basic requirements for most pharmaceutical
sales positions are a 4-year degree, sales experience (business-to-business
or medical industry best), proven track record of achievement, strong
communications and organizational skills, and a clean driving record.
Some background in the sciences (even taking a few life science classes in
college) is helpful. And this may be obvious, but you must also not be a
drug user of any sort; expect to be drug-tested.
Okay, so based on what you’ve told me, you sound like you could be qualified
to make the career switch… so how can you expand your network?
Networking is always an essential job-search tool, but in any career field as
hot as pharmaceutical sales, it is just about the only way to get a job lead.
Some firms will place job ads, go to job fairs, and hire headhunters, but the
vast majority prefer to fill positions through word-of-mouth… through referrals.
If you have friends or associates who are doctors (including your personal
physician) -- and if not, now is the time to find and build these relationships --
ask them for the contact information of the reps that call on them; or better,
ask to meet the reps when they make their next office visits.
And use this tool to go directly to the career/employment centers of these
Pharmaceutical
Companies.
Q:
Alma writes:
My name is Alma and I am a high school student and I am so confused
because I don’t know what career I want. I thought that I liked journalism
because I like to write. But I am not even good writing English. I really like
history and Spanish literature, but I don’t know if there is any career that
includes those subjects. Right now I am taking my first semester of journalism
in school and I am getting into the school newspaper next semester.
But I don’t know if I really want to become a journalist.
Can you help?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
First let me state that confusion is okay. You don’t need to have your
whole life planned out while you’re still in high school. And even if my
advice brings you closer to a career choice, the courses you take in
college may totally change your career choices… and that’s okay too.
Now is the point in your life to explore different paths. So, take the journalism
class and write for the school newspaper. Writing is one of those skills that
can easily improve the more you do it. So, since you enjoy writing, keep at it.
Ask one of your English teachers for some extra guidance or tutoring.
Meanwhile, do some research on careers related to writing, history, and
Spanish literature. Talk with your teachers and go to the library or online
and research those subjects. You’ll be surprised at how many careers
use the skills from these subjects.
You can also get a clue about what matters to you most by examining
how you spend your time. Make a list of the activities you do the most --
and that you most enjoy. Look for some common themes. For example, if
you find you really do spend a lot of time writing, whether in a journal or
poetry, or whatever, that should be a sign that writing really is important to you.
And by the way, there are lots of career possibilities beyond just journalism
for people who enjoy writing.
Anonymous writes:
After almost 20 years of employment with the same company, I was fired
last September due to excessive tardiness. I have read "Getting Fired: An
Opportunity for Change and Growth" and found it very helpful. However, the
circumstances that led to my termination are very personal. It involved a
divorce and a bout of depression that required psychiatric help and medication.
Leading to my termination. I have a very good resume, 11 consecutive years
of perfect attendance award, good references from my former employer. I am
physically and mentally fit for employment and I am eager to get back into
the work force. How can I explain this to a potential employer?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
First, let me offer both my condolences (on the divorce and loss of your job)
and congratulations (for seeking and getting the help you needed).
I think the first thing you need to do in terms of your job-search is bury all
the bad stuff as deeply as possible. Prospective employers do not want to
know any of the personal stuff, so ideally no explanation is necessary.
Certainly, never -- and I mean never -- raise any negative issue yourself.
But you do need to be prepared to discuss why you are without a job and
why you are currently seeking a new one. But the story you present does
not have to mention your personal issues. I would suggest volunteering,
consulting, or temping as ways to get some new experience on your resume --
and thus avoid having the question ever raised. And if it were raised, you
could say you were fired for some issues that have since been resolved.
By the way, unless you have a very spiteful boss, your former employer will
never give a reason for why you were fired… but that does not mean you
make up a lie about it either.
As for references, why not ask some of your former co-workers whether they
would feel comfortable providing a reference for you? References do not have
to be former bosses or supervisors. And, again, by temping or volunteering,
you’ll be able to get some new references.
Q:
Ian writes:
I am having problems finding a job, but not for the reasons you would
expect. I have a professionally developed resume and I am getting a lot
of interviews. The consistent feedback that I am getting from employers
is that I am “Over Qualified.” Being a professional marketing coordinator
who also has internet design skills, I never expected finding a job would
be this hard.
I have spoken with professional employment counselors who tell me that
often the interviewer may say “Over Qualified” as a way for them to not to
tell me that I am a threat to them and may be out for their position.
I would really like your feedback as to what I should do.
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
Time for a douse of honesty and reality. You need to examine your qualifications
and credentials and compare those to the jobs you have been seeking. Do you
consistently have more experience than the jobs require? If so, why are you
applying for those positions and not others?
My sense of your situation is that you are, in fact, coming across as
overqualified for a number of the positions that you have been seeking.
Overqualified is not code for he is “a threat who will be going after my job.” Sorry.
Overqualified is code for “will not fit the current position” -- and be forewarned that
it is a difficult label to overcome. Typically, you’re overqualified if you have too
much experience, too much education, or too high a salary… how many of
these fit your situation?
You’re in marketing, so you know that job-hunting is all about developing your
brand and creating a story that prospective employers will understand. You
are creating an image with your cover letter, resume, and interviewing… In
your case, perhaps the wrong image.
There are two things you should do. First, you need to take a look at your
resume and make sure you are not selling yourself to an extreme -- either
too little or too much. Second, you need to evaluate the best types of jobs
that fit someone with your background.
