The Secret to Standing Out in Your Pharma Sales Job Interview – Part V

If you’ve been in the position search very long for a job in pharmaceutical sales, clinical sales, clinical device sales, surgical sales, pharma sales, or any other health care sales field, you know how competitive it is.  But there are things you can do to make yourself stand out as a candidate…and that’s where this series comes in.  Previously, we’ve covered:

Part 1 – Rethinking your job search

Part 2 – Using social media to help you land the career opportunity

Part THREE – Using the right tools to impress your interviewer

Part 4 – Career opportunity shadowing (a.k.a. clinical revenue field preceptorship)

Today’s post is part 5:  Polish Your Interview Skills

You already know the basic rules for interviewing:  costume appropriately (usually, that means conservatively), watch your body language, and prepare answers to typical interview queries.  And they really are make-or-break issues.

But did you know how important it is to ask queries of your own?

Or that you must ask for the job before you leave?

These actions demonstrate your confidence and professionalism.  They definitely help you stand out, because you’ve gone a step or 2 farther than most candidates who just answer what they’re asked.

Asking questions of your own shows that you’ve done your research, you think strategically, and you have great communication skills.  Yes, you should ask about the company and the job, but you should also ask “What are you looking for in this job?” or even, “Tell me about your best employee.”  That’s going to give you major clues to what the hiring manager wants to hear in your answers, and you can tailor Them accordingly.

Asking for the job shows that you want it.  Many candidates are afraid to be that bold, but you’ve to do it.  If you don’t, hiring managers wonder if you really want the job, or if you have enough initiative to do it well.  Simply ask, “What’s the next step?” or “Are you confident that I’m a person who can meet the challenges of this job?”  You’ll uncover any doubts the hiring manager has about you so that you can deal with Them right then and there.  Don’t let this territory pass you by, because chances are you won’t get another one.

What else can you do?

• Check out one of my free one-hour training classes:

How to Land a Job in Laboratory Revenue

Job Search Boot Camp

• Read all the articles on this blog, and go to the Pharmaceutical Sales Headhunter’s YouTube Channel for vids to walk you through the whole interview process–including the all-important follow up.

• Invest in yourself by hiring an interview coach to role play interview queries with you.  Sometimes it results in a major shift in strategy or style, and sometimes it’s just the miniature tweak you got to put you ahead of other candidates.

Article courtesy of  Peggy McKee - Owner / Senior Headhunter at the nationally
recognized clinical and clinical laboratory sales recruiting team of PHC Consulting.
© Copyright 2008 PHC Consulting | All rights reserved

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