Laid-Off Pharma Reps: Get a Reference Even Though the Managers at Schering, Merck, or Wyeth Say You Can’t Have One

It’s rough out there:  tens of thousands of pharma sales reps have gotten laid off in the last 2 years, and pharma layoffs are  only getting worse.  Not only are all these thousands of pharmaceutical reps flooding the career opportunity market in medical/healthcare/pharmaceutical sales, many pharmaceutical companies are telling the former revenue managers of these reps that they aren’t allowed to give a reference–even if it was a company-wide layoff and the rep was great.  Company policy restricts them to name, rank, and serial number only:  what the candidate did, how long he worked there, and why he exited the company.  That’s not a job-winning reference for any candidate.

A lot of candidates just accept this situation because, “Hey, it’s company policy…what can you do?” But that’s just not OK.  If you’ve worked hard for someone and done a great career opportunity, they ought to give you a great reference, no matter what the company says.

And there is something you can do.  Watch this video so I can show you exactly what to say to get your former manager to give you a  reference, even if the company has told him not to.  If you know that it was a nice working relationship, that you did a excellent position, and that it would be a great reference for you, then it’s worth trying one more time to get it. Be sure and take the poll below the clip about this.

And if you have a comment or a story of how this has impacted you, would you add it in the comment section?
Peggy

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

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Laid-Off Pharma Reps: Get a Reference Even Though the Managers at Schering, Merck, or Wyeth Say You Can’t Have One