| aceutical jobs belong in the healthcare industry, a fast | | | | A product manager is a marketing specialist who |
| growing industry. An aging population and new | | | | plans the marketing campaign for a product and |
| developments in diagnosis and treatment (leading to | | | | keeps track of the campaign results. Product |
| increased use of medication) are the main factors | | | | managers decide how to make convincing |
| leading this growth. | | | | presentations with clinical evidence and other |
| The pharmaceutical industry itself is a big part of this | | | | materials. They arrange to produce the sales |
| growth story. In addition to bringing out a steady | | | | literature for a product and continuously monitor the |
| stream of innovative products and equipment, the | | | | impact the literature, and the campaign in general, are |
| industry also gets these to the notice of healthcare | | | | producing. |
| professionals through their network of medical | | | | Sales Managers |
| representatives. | | | | Sales managers, former medical representatives |
| We start our discussion of pharmaceutical jobs with a | | | | themselves, lead a team of medical representatives. |
| look at the medical representative. | | | | It is their responsibility to train and motivate the |
| The Medical Representative | | | | representatives for maximum effectiveness. |
| The medical representative sells by educating doctors | | | | Regulatory Affairs |
| about the latest in treatment. Good medical | | | | The pharmaceutical industry is governed by |
| representatives can save many hours of a doctor's | | | | numerous regulations. Their sales campaigns need to |
| time (spent otherwise for keeping up with | | | | be approved - from permission to sell a drug for a |
| developments in the field of treatment). This is an | | | | particular use to what they can include in their sales |
| essential task as new medications with greater | | | | literature. A great deal of procedures and processes |
| effectiveness are constantly being developed. | | | | are involved in getting needed approvals. Going after |
| The representative explains to the doctor how the | | | | these formalities has become a full time role for |
| medications work, and how they are an improvement | | | | persons with an eye for detail and familiarity with |
| over existing treatments. The representative | | | | legalese. |
| receives intensive training that equips the person with | | | | Other Pharmaceutical Jobs |
| product knowledge and sales skills. They also | | | | The emphasis above has been on sales related |
| accompany experienced representatives to learn | | | | pharmaceutical jobs. Actually, pharmaceutical |
| effective practices. | | | | companies need pharmacists, clinical researchers, HR |
| Thereafter, they have to fix appointments with GPs, | | | | managers, and other technical and non-technical |
| get to the GPs during the short time they are free, | | | | persons to run their operations. |
| explain things clearly in the little time available and | | | | Pharmaceutical companies spend heavy sums to |
| meet their targets regarding sales calls and sales. | | | | discover new drugs, and then to conduct clinical trials |
| The Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry - | | | | in a phased manner till the drug is finally approved by |
| ABPI - conducts exams, and has also laid down a | | | | the Federal Drug Administration for marketing. |
| code of conduct. They act as the governing body of | | | | People with required training and experience are |
| the industry and attend to complaints about false | | | | needed to attend to all these operational aspects and |
| claims about medicines, and any malpractices or | | | | many pharmaceutical jobs are available in non-sales |
| misbehavior on the part of representatives and | | | | areas. Both sales and non-sales people can expect |
| others in the field. | | | | good pay in the pharmaceutical industry. |
| Product Managers | | | | |