Pharmaceutical sales representatives educate doctors and other professionals who prescribe medication on the pharmaceutical industry’s newest developments. They connect a provider with the knowledge, drugs, and treatments necessary to provide the newest care for their patients. They educate physicians, health care facilities, consumers, and pharmacists about the newest pharmaceutical products on the market.
Pharmaceutical sales representatives are fluent in pharmacology. When proposing or selling a new product, a pharmaceutical sales representative must describe its chemistry, the method of action, and the side effects and potential interactions with other drugs. They specialize in specific groups or classes of pharmaceutical drugs, including cardiac drugs or psychiatric drugs, and deepen their knowledge base. They schedule and attend sales meetings with healthcare providers and follow up on leads while cultivating new customers for the company or the products. They are also required to attend industry conferences and to speak at provider events. They conduct continuing education sessions for medical professionals and field research on behalf of their employers. Pharmaceutical sales representatives need a minimum bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or sales. A background in the study of pharmacology is also helpful.