From LinkedIn, another data point in the "working for scientific equipment manufacturers" discussion in the comments of the plumber post:
*You could also argue that someone is exaggerating; that, of course, might be overly cynical.
My client is a highly respected, well known manufacturer of scientific instrumentation and consumables serving researchers at pharma and biotech companies, as well as scientists at academic and government research institutions. This client is looking to hire a San Francisco or San Diego based Sales Rep to cover CA, AZ, and NV. Overnight travel is estimated at around 30-50%.
Requirements:
- BS/BA degree in Chemistry (or related) is strongly preferred but applicable work experience could be substituted
- Understanding of Organic Chemistry is preferred but not required
- Experience in sales or a customer facing role (Field Applications Scientist, Technical Specialist, etc)
- Preference for capital equipment sales (equipment over 10k)
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills
- Ability and willingness to perform the required travel
- Ability and willingness to perform some of your own lead generation
Compensation:
The position offers a base salary + total comp of anywhere from 90-115k, depending on the base salary you receive and overall performance. Candidates seeking a total comp package at plan of up to 120k are encouraged to apply. The position also includes a car allowance, home office set-up, and complete benefits package.Uh, wow. That sounds like a lot of money*; of course, it is sales, where you're working your butt off and trying to interact with people. It is this latter item that I suspect most chemists just don't have the stomach for (I know I don't.) Best of luck to those who are interested (click through for contact info.)
*You could also argue that someone is exaggerating; that, of course, might be overly cynical.
Scientists shouldn't be too intimidated to try sales. In this case, you will be selling lab equipment to other scientists. If you can wax geeky about your NMR or HPLC, you can do this!
ReplyDeleteThere is a certain loss of self-respect in becoming a traveling sales rep, even for a reputable instrument company. I would rather be an installation engineer.
ReplyDeleteI consider it an achievement when I successfully deflect an approaching sales rep onto a labmate. Salary is high because there's a lot to be compensated for...
ReplyDeleteI was usually directing the most annoying sales reps to my synthetic chemist ex-boss. (I hinted that he was the actual power behind all expensive instrumentation purchases at the institute). I hope that with my help - and theirs - he broadened his horizons in areas like flow cytometry, fluorescence-based imaging and gene sequencing .
ReplyDeletePharma reps make 6 figures with very little education. If news headlines of off-label promotion are an accurate indication of what they do, they definetly do not have any ethics training.
ReplyDeleteSeems like people who discover medicines should make more than people selling them to consumers who do not need them.
These people perform a very difficult task that is fundamental to the value of any company.
ReplyDeleteNo sales people = no sales = no revenue = no job for anyone
I do not believe that most scientists (including myself) would succeed in sales.
CJ, the job posting omitted one key qualification: being physically attractive, as in smokin' hot, a-dime, phine, daaammmnnn!
ReplyDeleteAt my old company, the guys swooned over our VWR sales rep whereas the gals swooned over the Biotage rep. Perhaps it's worth investing in cosmetic surgery, since even "objective" scientists/customers can be swayed by appearances.
bbooooooya:
ReplyDeleteActually, for what it's worth, I agree. My personal philosophy is: "They eat well, we eat well."
I think what I was reacting to is the suggestion that scientific equipment sales is *that* lucrative [the ad suggests a low 6-fig salary, which I find unlikely]. Remember, it's sales to organic chemists and at this economically sensitive time.
All of this to say, I'm hopeful, but a little skeptical.
@4:01am
ReplyDeleteno scientists = no products = no sales = no company .
Pharma reps are paid too much in relationship to the ones who discover drugs.
If your salespeople are good enough, you can sell a plate of crap to a pig farmer. Of course, at some point people will stop buying crap, either because they get smart or because they die.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with pharma isn't lack of sales - based on the reputational hits it's taken from overzealous selling, it probably has too much already. It simply doesn't have enough products. If you have products sales can help you make more money to make more products. Without products, sales sells your reputation for cash. Reputations don't regrow, and if you don't have people to make new products, the money won't make them appear. Of course, the people you've sent jobs to are spending money and getting people who can make drugs. I'm sure they can find people to lieXXX sell product.
Hap this is a very good point. My former employer has a great number of mass layoffs in R&D. One of the massive layoffs was immediately followed by a very expensive, annoying television advertisement. I think it was one of the longest, most mind-numbing advertisments for drugs ever aired. I am sure many scientists could have been kept if this advertisement had not be aired.
ReplyDeleteThe company was later sued over the details of the advertisement. They lost the lawsuit, and paid for it.
Seems like they should have kept scientists instead of pushing the limits of overselling a mediocre product.
Sales and scientists can be a powerful combination as scientists are by nature skeptical - thus who better to sell to scientists than another scientist?
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, my company, Norton Scientific is looking for independent sales reps or small sales companies in California to sell our protein aggregation monitor (PAM) and UV/Vis spectrophotometer into proteomics and crystallography labs. If you know of such a person/company, have them contact me: bcw@norsci.ca or 905 359 4445
Mr. Webb: Your comment has registered.
ReplyDelete