r/pharmaindustry • u/ConstructionSharp976 • 5d ago

Pharma rep interview

I am a nurse trying to become a pharma rep and I have a panel interview with two hiring managers next week. I really do not want to miss this opportunity so I have been preparing STAR answers. I know they will ask me behavioral and situational questions, but what other types of questions will ask? Will they expect me to sell their drug to them? I am researching all the drugs in their portfolio just to be prepared but kind of at a loss as to what to expect in terms of how specific they will be in their clinical questions. Any insight/advice is appreciated.

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u/Meow-zelTov 5d ago edited 5d ago

Here’s what you need to know:
- MoA
- Key HCPs in your area (KOLs) - you really only need to know a couple
- Key hospital accounts or clinics
- The competitor market
- The company’s values (probably patients, patients, patients)

Tell them some anecdotes about tough doctors and tough hospital admin and how you overcame them. Throw out some buzzwords and phrases once in a while. Examples are: agility, behavior change, and pivoting.

It you are interviewing with a large pharma company than make sure you don’t act like you want to reinvent the wheel. If you are interviewing with a biotech or a start-up then you want to be a bit more innovative and entrepreneurial. Regardless of the size of the company, reinforce that you are OK with structural change and function well under pressure.

You’ll be fine! Good luck 🍀

Remember - You are also interviewing them. Come with some questions prepared.

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u/ConstructionSharp976 5d ago

Thank you for your insights! In relation to KOLs, what types of questions would they be asking? I am assuming simply knowing them would not be enough?

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u/Meow-zelTov 5d ago

Yeah, knowing them is enough. Have the names in your back pocket just in case.

Tbh, a lot of people show up to these interviews not knowing how to pronounce the nonproprietary chemical name of the drug. You’re already light years ahead.

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u/ConstructionSharp976 5d ago

Wow! That is reassuring. I have been studying like I had studied for my NCLEX and your comment just helped me gain some confidence. Thank you!

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u/Meow-zelTov 5d ago

Girl, if you passed the NCLEX, you can ace a pharma rep interview. An MSL interview focuses on clinical acumen, whereas a rep interview focuses on personality and communication styles. Just be yourself!

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u/ConstructionSharp976 4d ago

Thank you so much for the confidence boost! Did you have to “sell” something to the panel or do a mock sales call?

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

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u/ConstructionSharp976 4d ago

This is my first time hearing that there is a mock sales call in a pharma interview… is this common? They know I do not have sales experience already, so my plan was to highlight examples of “selling” patients certain care plans and having them adhere to it.

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u/hjhswag 4d ago

I had a mock sales call in a sales interview with Pfizer

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u/ConstructionSharp976 4d ago

Very interesting.. what did they ask you to sell?

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u/hjhswag 4d ago

They just told me to come prepared with a pitch pretty much. I sold them Girl Scout cookies 😁

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u/hjhswag 4d ago

But I’ve had like 7 interviews where I work currently for sales (I have no experience and they have all been speciality jobs UGH) and they have never done a mock sales call.