And currently I have a career that some of my friends think I should treat as a job. And walk away from. Seems like a pretty even trade in that light.
Right. Well, there's this: The pharma reps I've known have been Barbie and Ken dolls. Nice people, but the ones that actually care whether or not their shoes are Mephistos or Claibornes. The ones that have four different kinds of cologne and wear different ones for different clients. The ones that not only know how to get the good table at Spago, but are very proud of the fact that they have a career path where it's actually an asset. None of them have nose rings. Do I think you could do it? Sure. Do I think it'd kill you on the inside? A little.
I know a lot of pharma reps. It's a crappy job, it pay pretty well but then there is a fast ceiling that you cannot go beyond. Your job is essentially that of a cheerleader. You're not really "selling" anything, but handing out free samples and catering office lunches. Lame. Also, like you mention, it's about looks. Your job has a shelf-life based on how good you look. No kidding. I've known several good looking women that went in to Pharma sales to meet a doctor to marry. They did, it worked. Now, Med-device sales is a totally different ballgame. In Med-Device you can make a shit-ton of money. $250k a year plus. This requires you to really know a device though. I have a friend that sells a special table made for spinal surgery. He has to know the engineering of it etc and he's in the operating room when the surgeries occur for the first few times. This is a cool job imo. That said, the Pharma job requires very little sales experience and the Med Device job requires a lot. Interestingly, most good organizations to sell for won't even consider former Pharma reps. If _refugee_ was serious about getting in to Bus Dev, I would suggest something in her field, i.e. selling software to banking institutions. There are companies that would pay her $80k base, company car etc with rev share that could equate to $50-100k a year depending on how she does. But it's a busy, stressful life with a quota that never goes away or gets smaller. Bus Dev is where the money is, but it's not for the faint of heart. There's never a break and if you don't produce, you are gone.
For the record, I'm perhaps a surprisingly good salesperson. (Good enough to surprise me when I did it, anyway.) However - no, not really serious. But sometimes an idea comes along and I like to think about it for a while. It sounds appealing - even though in reality it's not. And yes, I get uglier the older I get, and I'm well aware you need to be model-pretty to be a pharma rep.
Who would want a job that superficial anyways? And for the record, you are far more beautiful than the women I was referencing in my comment. I have no doubt that you would be wonderful at most things that you set your mind to, sales being no exception.
3 biggest assets for being a good sales professional: 1. Listening skills 2. Not afraid to challenge assumptions 3. Follow up Simple stuff really. Dig the audio in that ad, nice work! I remember those "side kicks." -I have a number of friends that are talented artists that are in advertising/branding.