Nursing to Repping

Re: Nursing to Repping

Roseann21 — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:07:25 GMT

There's a rep job in this week's VN Times (for Dorwest Herbs) if you're interested.

Re: Nursing to Repping

Jo Mackenzie — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 21:13:43 GMT

Thanks everyone, that's all been really helpful. I'm still not sure if it's for me at the moment but will definitely be keeping an eye out for any jobs that come up that might suit me :)

Re: Nursing to Repping

Dippy — Wed, 30 May 2012 11:55:16 GMT

Ditto all of Helen's comments. I did it and it wasn't for me - I'm too nice and took it too personally when they said no or gave me a hard time! I also found the targets too stressful and missed being hands on with the animals. Having said that, I was sent on lots of sales and presentation courses which have stood me in excellent stead since returning to nursing and other animal related fields. It can be quite lonely on the road, which I also found hard full time. If you're driven by money etc though, you can earn a fantastic amount and also meet some great people etc. The job I'm in now is kind of repping but not sales as such and I'd definitely say that my stint in sales gave me loads more confidence and knowledge so although the particular jobs I took weren't for me at the time, they've led me to where I am now. I think a lot depends on your individual personality - I have several rep friends who love their jobs and wouldn't go back to nursing for the world. If it's what you ultimately decide you'd like to do, go for it and good luck

Re: Nursing to Repping

Lynne Vickers — Wed, 30 May 2012 11:24:17 GMT

I moved from nursing to repping 12 years ago. Initially it is quite daunting, there seems to be a mountain of product knowledge and also competitor product knowledge to learn along with the company policies and product deals etc. You then have to learn all about the veterinary practice industry - corporate practice, buying groups etc. You will usually start with a few weeks in the head office learning and in most companies you will also spend time out on the road with experienced reps before being 'let loose'. After a few weeks in the office I found I was chomping at the bit to get out on the road and try out my new knowledge. I found being a VN very useful because the base knowledge of how products work was in many cases already there.

Once you have all your base training you then need to start contacting practices, which can be quite frustrating at times, trying to make a logical list of appointments, everyone gives you the same times and can't see you at the times which 'fit' into your plan! However over time and once people get to know you this becomes much easier.

I would say it took me a year before I actually learned to sell like a Rep, initially I felt like a nurse trying to sell and you feel a bit inadequate and almost apologetic for expecting to get an order...I just kept telling myself I am a Rep and the practice know I am here to sell to them.

You have no set working hours and you have to be flexible, sometimes you have an early start or a late finish but on the other hand you will have some days when you get home early. There are also conferences, practice open days, CPD courses and other meetings which may be on evenings or weekend but you will usually get lieu time back for these.

The pay is better than most nursing jobs and you will usually be given a base pay with bonuses for target achievements. You will also have company car, laptop and phone (but you do pay a higher tax rate for the personal use of these)

Overall I found it to be an enjoyable job (with frustrating moments - but what job doesn't), I still work for the same company but I have progressed into management and I am now head office based.

If I haven't put you off and you are interested we do have a vacancy (Animalcare Ltd). It is to cover North London, East Anglia and Home Counties. The closing date was yesterday but if you wish to apply and can get me a CV today I would pass this to the Sales Manager for consideration. My Email is lvickers@animalcare.co.uk

Re: Nursing to Repping

Helen Tottey — Wed, 30 May 2012 09:38:53 GMT

i went from nursing to rep'ing and then back to nursing.

Rep'ing is great but it is not an easy change, it is very much a sales job with financial targets to be met and other responsibilities that are different to nursing.

The pay is certainly better, the hours are not really 9-5 as you can be up early to drive a long way to get somewhere and have evening meeting responsibilities but generally weekends are off (unless you are at an exhibition ie BVNA, BSAVA etc).

If you are serious then you should definatley speak to reps you know and think about the products/services you are comfortable with as they will stay with you day in day out - no real variety like in nursing!

i enjoyed my time working on the industry side of things but their is something about nursing that pulled me back!

hope this helps

Re: Nursing to Repping

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 30 May 2012 08:56:35 GMT

A colleague became a Rep - she says it's good for pay (so long as you are meeting or exceeding sales targets - in some jobs the base pay is not good and is made up from bonuses from meeting sales targets...). You get to meet lots of different people but you do sometimes feel a bit lonely as you lose the daily team-work environment, (plusses and minuses with that...), sometimes her hours are great but sometimes very very long, she has to travel a lot and therefore lives out of her car (she calls it her 'office'!), she has to meet sales targets and that can be both exciting (if you do it) and frustrating/penalising (when you don't). She says it's a very interesting job, has learned a lot about her chosen field. You have to believe in yourself and your product (and know it 100%). You' have to be able to ask the 'buy' question. Confidence, happy demeanour, bright, approachable and intelligent . Sometimes a thick skin. She finds it a challenging, interesting and stimulating job.

Hope that helps?!

Ali

Re: Nursing to Repping

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 30 May 2012 06:46:28 GMT

Sure; talk to your local reps first, it's a very small world and they often know if people are hiring. Second, keep an eye on vet times and vn times, good ads there sometimes. Third, recruiting companies are useful - noble futures and rig animal health have some jobs advertised as well. Fourth, monster.co.uk. Not as rich pickings but the occasional good one. And after all that, i answered an ad on vetsurgeon.org. :)

Pay is often better, at least according to spvs, the work is quite different. Good fun if you like meeting people. :)