How to break in
How to break into the industry
We researched this by reaching out to industry leaders, established recruiting firms, pharmaceutical job boards, and other executives. Each note below is a short synopsis and a link, written for entry-level candidates. Read more than one.
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01
monster.com
How to become a pharmaceutical sales rep
Monster
Monster connects people and jobs, and this piece covers hiring trends for pharmaceutical sales.
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02
ziprecruiter.com
How to become a pharmaceutical sales representative
ZipRecruiter
ZipRecruiter’s walkthrough of the role, from an employment marketplace used by companies of every size.
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03
wikihow.com
How to become a pharmaceutical sales representative
wikiHow
A step-by-step guide from wikiHow, written as a practical how-to anyone can follow.
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04
blog.hubspot.com
How to become a pharmaceutical sales rep, even with no experience
MedReps
Listed from MedReps, which connects candidates to pharmaceutical sales jobs and industry news. The link opens the article they pointed to.
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05
healthgrad.com
Getting a job in pharmaceutical sales
Healthgrad
Healthgrad covers health-care careers in the U.S., including certification for pharmaceutical sales.
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06
careertrend.com
How to become a pharmaceutical sales rep
Career Trend
Career Trend’s steps for breaking into a pharmaceutical sales career.
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07
work.chron.com
Start as an entry-level pharmaceutical sales representative
Chron
A job-description view of the entry-level role, from Chron’s career guides.
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08
study.com
Education requirements for a career in pharma sales
Study.com
What Study.com says you need to study before you pursue the job.
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09
mba-healthcare-management.com
What education is involved in becoming a pharmaceutical sales representative?
Healthcare Management
A vocational-training view of the schooling behind the role.
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10
innerbody.com
How to become a pharmaceutical sales representative
Innerbody
Innerbody’s science-based guide to the career and what the day-to-day requires.
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11
education.seattlepi.com
What classes should I take to be a pharmaceutical rep?
Seattle PI Education
Coursework that shows up again and again for people aiming at the role.
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12
learn.org
How do I become a pharmaceutical sales rep?
Learn.org
A free overview from Learn.org for students and career changers.
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13
smrgroupltd.com
How can a sales certification help a pharmaceutical sales career?
SMR Group
SMR Group recruits sales and marketing professionals for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical companies, and has placed candidates since 1995.
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14
topmastersinhealthcare.com
Becoming a pharmaceutical sales rep: what it takes
Top Masters in Healthcare
A job profile aimed at people preparing for healthcare careers and graduate study.
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15
biospace.com
Career advancement tips for pharmaceutical sales
BioSpace
BioSpace covers life-science news and career advice across biotech, pharma, and medical devices.
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16
mvorganizing.org
How long does it take to become a pharmaceutical sales rep?
Knowledge Bank
A straight answer on the timeline, from training through the first role.
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17
shapironegotiations.com
Is a pharmaceutical sales certification valuable?
SNI
Shapiro Negotiations on whether a certification is worth it, and how practice under pressure changes the answer.
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18
excite.com
Steps to become a pharmaceutical sales representative
Excite
A short sequence of steps from Excite’s education and career pages.
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19
work.chron.com
Qualifications to become a pharmaceutical sales representative
Work Chron
The qualifications drug companies tend to ask for before an interview.
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20
ziprecruiter.com
What is a pharmaceutical sales representative, and how do you become one?
ZipRecruiter Marketplace
A role overview from ZipRecruiter’s career marketplace: what the job is, and the path into it.
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21
cheapnursedegrees.com
How to become a pharmaceutical sales representative with a nursing degree
Nursing Degrees
How a nursing background maps onto pharmaceutical sales, for new graduates and people returning to school.
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22
workingmother.com
How to become a pharmaceutical sales rep
Working Mother
Working Mother’s take on the career, written for people balancing the job with family life.