Becoming a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
A skilled executive in the medical sales industry, Chris Manfuso works for Enovachem Pharmaceuticals and Nubratori RX. He serves as the national director of sales at both Torrance, California-based companies, and is responsible for helping the businesses reach new goals. To this end, Chris Manfuso leads business development, boosts revenue generation, and guides company sales.
As new drug discoveries are made and medical technology advances, the pharmaceutical industry continues to grow. Pharmaceutical sales representatives are essential for getting these new products into the hands of consumers. They not only persuade medical professionals to use new treatments, drugs, and devices to benefit patients, they also demonstrate why these products are superior to competitors’ products.
Since the pharmaceutical industry is a technical field, sales reps need at least a GED or high school diploma, with a special focus on courses in biology, chemistry, anatomy, and public speaking. Individuals can find work as a pharmaceutical sales rep with just this level of education, but most companies also require a bachelor’s degree in medicine, pharmacology, chemistry, or mathematics. There is also a preference among some pharmaceutical employers that sales reps have graduate degrees, but this is less common.
In addition to a formal education, aspiring pharmaceutical sales reps should also get certified as Certified National Pharmaceutical Representatives (CNPR). This certification is voluntary, but it is specifically tailored toward helping students learn the skills and information they need to be sales reps, such as the regulations of selling pharmaceutical products. Furthermore, aspiring pharmaceutical sales reps should network and work on selling themselves at meetings, events, and conferences so they can reap the benefits of every opportunity possible.
