Veterinary Reps

Re: Veterinary Reps

Mark Hedberg — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 22:00:35 GMT

Apologies if you felt patronised - not what I intended. Dedication and enthusiasm are important; we wouldn't be here if it wasn't. I just know from friends that they see loads of CVs just oozing with enthusiasm, just like you do when you're interviewing work experience or employment CVs - do you let every last one in? Probably not. Was there something about the letters in the ones you let in? You bet. ;)

Good luck, i mean well, but as you've noticed, tough to get into repping...

Re: Veterinary Reps

VN12 — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 19:25:35 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

[quote user="VN12"]

I've been attempting to get a rep position recently. It appears it is quite difficult to get into unless you have previous sales experience, or have I just been talking to the wrong people?

Its disappointing as I feel its something I could do and do it well, just need a chance to prove it.

[/quote]

Chances are you're showing them a clinical CV instead of a sales based CV. Which is no crime, just that your data isn't showing them what they want to see. You need to rewrite your CV to reflect your existing sales and people skills. Were you good at getting people to buy wormers and flea control? Perhaps you hosted puppy parties? Were you good at explaining to owners how to take care of their pets after surgery? Quite a few reps do lunch alnd learns - have you ever held a CPD talk for your colleagues? If you can say yes to any of these questions, make sure it's on your CV and cover letter. Your previous jobs are the proof that you can do the next job - think about it, nobody gave you an SVN job because you felt like you deserved it, did they?

Your main job as a rep will be to go into practices and get them to like you so they will buy from you - make sure you show how your job has helped prepare you for this role.

Also, sit down and chat to your reps. Be the one to welcome them into practice. Get to know them and how they work, find out how they got their rep job. Very often they will know when openings or mat leave is coming up for either their company or someone else - because everyone knows everyone.

But make no mistake, it's a hard job, you spend your week on the road and you WILL work almost as long as you did in practice. You'll have sales targets to meet and conferences to cover.

You will be the ship passing in the night; some practices will welcome you with open arms and a smile, others will see you as that annoying person who rings up once a month to interrupt your lunch minute.

It's MUCH harder manning a stand than you think. Delegates get to wander over for a cuppa, staff have to have the answers ready, the tea hot, the cards ready, and the orders standing by.

I know a lot of people who work for different pharma companies and they're all honourable, friendly, passionate people, but it's by no means a cushy job. They can tell you stories of people who 'felt' they could do the job. Some could, some couldn't. I mean no offense, but how many work experience students do you remember who 'felt they could do it'? Some could, some couldn't.

Good luck, though! If you want to pm me your CV i'm happy to give you some pointers, but there are also some excellent tips in other topics on vetnurse.co.uk as well.

Vetclick.com has more non-clinical jobs, but for your first job out of practice you may have more luck if you register with a recruitment agency - check with Rig animal health (Mark Hoare is the guy you want) or Tony Noble at Noble Recruitment.

Cheers,
Mark

[/quote]

Whilst I'm sure you mean well with your post I must say I felt it a little patronising personally. The role of a rep is not something I am looking for as a 'cushy' alternative or for less hours, I am aware of the what the role involves and that it is a competitive job and requires work and dedication to succeed as does being a good veterinary nurse so please give me some credit!

I am in a management position currently and I believe that dedication and enthusiasm to a role shines through, so candidates that have the belief they can do it along with the enthusiasm stick out far more than someone who is just applying because its another job

I appreciate the tips with the C.V so thanks for that.

Re: Veterinary Reps

Lee484 — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:37:10 GMT

[quote user="Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA"]

Just wondering did you take the rep position? Steph who did you work as a rep for?

[/quote] I didn't, in the end I accepted a head nurse position and so far I'm very glad I made this decision. I was helped along a bit in that the rep job I applied for changed slightly and they no longer wanted a nurse background, rather someone from human sales. I did consider continuing locuming until a new position came up, but after lots of talks with friends and family I made my final decision:) I did worry, after hearing why the rep position changed, that I would just become a unit to a manager and if I struggled in sales perhaps wouldn't find much support, and I couldn't turn down the nursing opportunity for that, after all, it took me nearly two years of locuming to find a practice I felt I could be a part of. Also, and this is cheesy, I really do think I'd miss my patients too much:)

Re: Veterinary Reps

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 21:31:47 GMT

[quote user="VN12"]

I've been attempting to get a rep position recently. It appears it is quite difficult to get into unless you have previous sales experience, or have I just been talking to the wrong people?

Its disappointing as I feel its something I could do and do it well, just need a chance to prove it.

[/quote]

Your main job as a rep will be to go into practices and get them to like you so they will buy from you - make sure you show how your job has helped prepare you for this role.

But make no mistake, it's a hard job, you spend your week on the road and you WILL work almost as long as you did in practice. You'll have sales targets to meet and conferences to cover.

It's MUCH harder manning a stand than you think. Delegates get to wander over for a cuppa, staff have to have the answers ready, the tea hot, the cards ready, and the orders standing by.

Good luck, though! If you want to pm me your CV i'm happy to give you some pointers, but there are also some excellent tips in other topics on vetnurse.co.uk as well.

Cheers,
Mark

Re: Veterinary Reps

VN12 — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:05:55 GMT

I've been attempting to get a rep position recently. It appears it is quite difficult to get into unless you have previous sales experience, or have I just been talking to the wrong people?

Its disappointing as I feel its something I could do and do it well, just need a chance to prove it.

Re: Veterinary Reps

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:44:32 GMT

Just wondering did you take the rep position? Steph who did you work as a rep for?

Re: Veterinary Reps

Lynne Vickers — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:30:40 GMT

The role of a rep does vary in each company but there are general similarities. I started my career at Animalcare as a field rep and I am now the operations manager and head office based.

The basics are, you will have a portfolio of products that you will need to learn about, this includes what they are used for, how they work etc , you will then have to learn about all the competitors products so that you can sell against them. The sales manager would teach you all of the skills needed and then you hone them over time. Most companies would provide you with a laptop so that your 'paperwork' can be done while you have gaps between calls. There will be a certain amount of tying up when you get back home but if you are organised and with experience you will have this down to an efficient speedy process.

There will be occasions when you might have to do in practice training (depending on what you are selling) sometimes this is evenings but very often you can arrange to do this over lunchtimes....taking sandwiches with you!

There will then be the occasional congresses and trade fairs that you will be required to attend and of course some of these are on weekends but you would usually get time back in lieu.

You will either love repping and be successful or you won't.......you'll never really know until you give it a shot.

I would suggest if the company offers you the position, before you accept or refuse, ask if you can shadow one of their reps local to you for a day just to be sure....Good Luck whatever you choose!

Re: Veterinary Reps

Steph Worsley — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:48:38 GMT

Hey

I did a bit of repping about 7/8 yrs ago and it wasn't for me. I suppose it depends on the company, and the area you cover. I covered a vast area and could often be out of the house on the road for 12 hours.

When I wasn't on the road there was reports to be completed for every meeting,mail shots to be prepared, calls to be made etc.

I loved the practice I was in when I got the job but we were all of the mind set that if I don't go for it I'll always wonder what if. so I did it and regretted it but that might have just been me and the company I worked for.

Be aware that you will have to sell to practices and that can be hard as well as lunch and learns etc so you have to be prepared to speak in front of groups of people as well an you will probably have sales targets to meet as well

Good luck in whatever you decide to do