Jobs In Pharmaceuticals And Field Based Training Options

By: Jac Bult
Submitted: 2008-11-19 14:53:44
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My first few days at the outset of my career in medical sales were spent being trained by a senior team member who also spent 2 days each week working as a field trainer.

When I started out in pharmaceutical sales there were not many options to choose from concerning being promoted to regional sales management, product management, field training or head office training. Apart from first jobs in field training positions, the jump to any of the aforementioned was deemed too big if you were employed in a field based sales role. As a result the prospect of field training was very attractive. Not only did it offer a role that would be considered to have higher status it was also regarded potentially as a stepping stone to yet a bigger position.

In a field training role the idea is to take someone who has done the job and get them to work out in the field alongside someone less experienced. By working together the student benefits from learning the developmental skills and training they need to improve over a period of time. The training they receive will go a long way in helping them in the future working in head office training or management for instance. Because the trainer is more of a mentor than a manager they are a more neutral figure and don’t have to handle the same kind of stress to achieve particular results.

What negatives accompany field training? There are issues worth considering. Just imagine being a striker who’s job is to train a junior member of the team by passing to him whenever in front of the goal, instead of taking the shot himself. Imagine the frustration of watching him repeatedly miss as he learns the ropes! Well that’s what it’s like for a top sales person. Instead of joining in the action you have to take a backseat and let your trainee take the reins.

Currently, jobs in pharmaceuticals are being reformed to fit the changing demands of the NHS. Since dedicated field training roles aren’t usually roles that ‘directly’ produce when it comes to cutting numbers of employees they are often among the first redundancies that makes job security an important issue to think about.

Don’t ignore the fact that a field trainer’s position lies between those of management and field force. If you’re working with a student whose performance is poor and you are asked to report on how they’re improving your assessment can have an impact on their future chances. Other team members out in the field with you may feel this sets you apart from the rest of them and as result you become segregated as you no longer fall into one of the camps of sales team or management.

Ideally, if your are considering a field training option in jobs in pharmaceuticals you should develop field training responsibility without giving up your sales role. Holding on to your patch and organizing training days can be challenging but with regard to the aforementioned issues it has several benefits. Security is maintained since you are working in a producing role. You will enjoy variety in your work and still have the buzz of selling to keep you on your toes. Not only are you more likely to feel that you ‘belong’ with the sales team they will see you as one of them too since you are still selling. Overall there is no doubt at all that field training experience is an invaluable bonus that will open more doors to you later in your working life.

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