Job and Career |

Put Your Business Career into the Passing Lane with an Online MBA Degree

I remember the excitement that my MBA classmates shared with me while recruiters fawned over them making job offers that could lead to fast-track business careers. Naturally, everyone wanted either to eventually own a business or become the CEO of a business. The best that most new MBAs could hope for immediately, however, was to gain a place in a training program that would lead to an executive position or to become a consultant to senior management in a business.

It was a big commitment to earn a Harvard MBA to become a businessman. You had to live in the Boston area, work long hours every week, not earn much money for two years, and pay lots of tuition fees and expenses. Many classmates graduated with large loans that took many years to repay. Most people figured that they would finally be ahead of the game financially within five to ten years . . . or so they hoped.

Gaining the choice to make that big time and financial commitment was hard, too. Many more applicants were rejected than accepted in those days (it’s even more difficult to gain a place at Harvard now).

If you were over a certain age, you probably wouldn’t even consider taking this route. Why? The companies hiring from Harvard then were looking for relatively young talent with no more than five years of experience.

If you weren’t a person with an undergraduate degree from a prestigious university or someone who had excelled in the military, you probably didn’t even apply for admission into Harvard Business School. The odds against your acceptance were staggering.

To many people it seemed like the fast track to business success was a very narrow lane that was closed to them.

Fortunately, optimists abound among those who want to have good business careers. Many feel that if they can get a chance to prove themselves, they will stand out.

Experience supports this confidence: If we look at the leaders of many of the most successful companies, these people didn’t go through any hard-to-acquire educational experiences. These leaders proved themselves to be capable of getting things done on the job . . . not in the classroom.

Today, the fast track to a successful business career, a passing lane that puts you ahead of other people, is still an MBA . . . but increasingly that MBA is gained from an online school and is earned by someone who has at least twenty years of work experience and is holding down a full-time job. That combination of work and study used to be called “working your way through school” but now it has become the best way to get a practical education: You are able to use what you learn in school during your day job. This means faster advancement in a current job while gaining lots of experience in applying new learning to your work.

What are some of the benefits of this approach?

1. You gain credibility: Not everyone has an MBA degree.

2. You are considered for higher level jobs because you have a good education and lots of experience.

3. You arrive in your next job ready to do the work, rather than needing a lot more training.

4. Doing a good job in your first post-MBA position qualifies you for quick advancement into more senior positions.

5. You are likely to gain an earlier opportunity to build a substantial equity stake in your new employer.

Let’s look at Mr. Ralph R. Richey, a 2006 MBA graduate of Rushmore University (an online school) as an example of what can be done to help your business career. While in high school, Mr. Richey was accepted into a two-year apprentice program to become an electronic technician. After that, his curiosity about business led him to take courses in bookkeeping and management.

In the late 1970s and the 1980s, Mr. Richey decided to try a different life style and founded a music studio and a martial arts studio. He also fronted for a rock band, earned a music teacher’s certificate, and taught both music and martial arts. Having burned the proverbial candle at both ends while single, he decided to go back into a more conventional career after marrying.

During the 1980s, Mr. Richey owned or managed several companies offering fire and security alarms. He also developed an interest in Computer-Aided Design and took courses to become qualified to work in that emerging technology activity.

In the 1990s, he shifted to finance and helped raise millions of dollars for a high-tech marine manufacturing company. In the 2000s, he switched his expertise into raising money for real estate development and had the misfortune to attract a fraudulent lending company which didn’t meet its commitments. That misfire set him back, and he refocused his attention again.

Mr. Richey decided to go into technology management, looking for a senior level position. People didn’t take him seriously because he lacked a business degree.

Spurred by that realization, he enrolled at Rushmore in early 2005 and graduated less than two years later while holding down a demanding full-time job. He picked Rushmore because he would get credit for 30 years of work experience, would study under experienced executives as his professors, and would have a chance to apply his learning to his job.

At the time he enrolled, Mr. Richey hoped to use his MBA studies to either start a successful technology consulting business or to be hired as a senior executive in an established technology company with a six-figure salary.

How did he do after graduation?

His first job was a four-week temporary assignment to be the controller for a division of a construction company consortium that paid within his target salary range. Within 18 months, he advanced to become the full-time CFO of the entire consortium. Candidly, he feels that he wouldn’t have even landed an interview for his current job without his MBA degree form Rushmore.

Mr. Richey reports that “I have a new sense of personal satisfaction from earning my degree, which in turn has provided a new sense of financial security.”

Imagine where Mr. Richey’s career might be today if he had earned that MBA degree twenty years earlier.

What’s the lesson? The passing lane that can speed you into a highly successful career is available through earning a low-cost, online MBA degree while you keep your current job. You gain a lot of upside potential at little cost in time and effort.

Are you ready to accelerate your career progress?

Why Should You Look at a Pharmaceutical Sales Job in this Economy?

No doubt that if you are on the job market, you have thought about a position as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative. Despite the tough economy, pharmaceutical sales jobs continue to be one of the most stable and lucrative careers and the industry looks to remain strong in the future. Even with talk of some kind of government run healthcare, pharmaceutical companies will still need sales representatives to educate doctors on their products and to drive bottom line revenues. Here are my top three reasons why you should take a serious look at this nearly recession-proof industry:

1. The industry is growing. In 1993, the average American received seven prescriptions in a year. In 2004, that number nearly doubled to twelve prescriptions per person in the US. The total number of annual prescriptions in the US now stands at over 3 billion. The global pharmaceutical market grew to 2 billion in 2007 at an annual growth rate of 10% between 1999 and 2007. This strong and consistent growth is largely the result of sales for new and innovative products and emerging international markets. Currently, the top five international pharmaceutical companies are, by revenue in 2007, Johnson & Johnson (.1 B), Pfizer (48.4 B), Glaxo SmithKline (.4 B), Novartis (.8 B) and Sanofi-Aventis (.5 B). In addition, four of the top 10 products in 2007 are forecast to consistently increase sales over the next five years. And the pipeline of new drugs is continuing to grow with many companies reinvesting up to 50% of their sales back into research and development.

2. The job is exciting. Often described as competitive, lucrative, and rewarding, companies rely on pharmaceutical sales reps to work closely with doctors, hospitals and pharmacies to educate them on the use of the products and to better understand patient needs. It is through these professional relationships that sales reps can encourage doctors to prescribe their company’s drugs. Drug companies are also moving towards more innovative and dynamic ways to get their sales message across to doctors, such as Facebook, You Tube, and Twitter. These smarter and more efficient ways of marketing give the sales reps opportunities to network with busy doctors who may not be able to see them in the office. Most pharmaceutical sales reps also find their job challenging and enjoy calling on such an educated customer. The job also involves intense studying of product knowledge, clinical studies, drug indications, side effects, and how to sell against competitive medicines. Pharmaceutical sales reps are among the most knowledgeable and well trained sales reps in any industry.

3. The job is lucrative. Currently, the average pharmaceutical sales rep makes a base salary of ,000, plus bonuses, benefits, and a company car. Sales reps are paid either through commissions or bonuses to meet and exceed sales quotas. Add in incentives for top performers such as cash, stock, and trips, and you can see why most pharmaceutical sales reps make over 0,000 year. There are also plenty of opportunities for advancement within most pharmaceutical companies. Most sales reps start out as a Primary Care rep which calls on family practice doctors and internal medicine doctors. From there a rep can move into a Specialty Care position, such as calling on Cardiologists, Urologists, etc. Reaching the position of Hospital Rep is considered to be the ultimate promotion for many professionals in pharmaceutical sales jobs where the reps interface with the doctors and pharmacists in the Hospital setting. To boot, major companies such as Johnson & Johnson have several different divisions which allows for plenty of upward mobility for top performers.

So what do hiring managers and recruiters look for? Well, certainly the competition for pharmaceutical sales jobs can be high. You will typically need a bachelor’s degree but there are entry-level pharmaceutical sales job positions available and some companies will even help employees get their degree. Most also require one to two years of strong performance and proven success in outside sales, such as copiers, business to business services, or consumer products. But I have personally also helped other professionals such as teachers and nurses land jobs in this industry.

To stand out from your competition, you must first have a winning resume written for the industry. Once you get the interview, companies are looking for you to have a positive attitude and a strong drive to succeed. You will also need to show your great communication skills, creativity, and the ability to generate new business.

Jobs in pharmaceutical sales have not been immune to the effects of the current economic downturn; however, our population is continuing to age and people will always need medical attention and care. And many companies are continuing to experience strong growth. For example, Novartis Pharmaceuticals is expected to increase one sector of its employee base by 20 percent each year until at least 2013 and the bulk of the new positions will be pharmaceutical sales jobs.

I personally continue to see major pharmaceutical companies hiring as evidenced by the sheer number of job postings on many of the job search websites. All in all, employment forecasters are predicting that a pharmaceutical sales job will continue to be one of the more stable careers to enter in the future. If you would like to learn more about how to land your dream job in pharmaceutical sales, visit my website at www.PharmRepConnect.com where you can sign up for my free report on how to avoid the most common job search mistakes.

©2009 Nikki K. Kerzic, Find Your Dream Job Now, Inc.

The New Year – sure, it’s a time to rejoice, be merry and have some fun, but to some folks it is a time to reflect on their lives, and yes (a big sigh here) that means making the ever popular New Year’s resolutions.  The most common resolutions are losing weight, paying off debt, saving money and getting a better job.  Try looking beyond the recession and the “doom and gloom” of 2009, and make 2010 a bright new year by kicking your job search into high gear.

“No matter the market conditions, there are always companies looking to hire talented professionals, and those people who are prepared will be best positioned to take advantage of new career opportunities as they are uncovered,” says David Sanford, executive vice president of business development at Winter, Wyman. Sanford says that people should always be looking for a new job (hey, you never know what’s out there unless you’re looking) and that the New Year is a great time to go out and make it happen.

If you want to know how to get yourself noticed and find your dream job during the New Year, follow these 10 tips for 2010.

Be ready to move.
As with all of life’s opportunities, you have to be ready to strike when the iron is hot — and sometimes even when it’s heating up.  No matter if your plan includes pounding the pavement for a new job or sitting back and waiting for one to come your way, make sure you have all the groundwork  in place for a successful job search.  Update your résumé, prepare a compelling story to tell about why you would consider a new opportunity and know whom you would use for references.  Start becoming mentally and emotionally ready for a change so you are better prepared for when it happens.

Don’t ignore the elephant in the room.
In soft economies, many people think it’s safer to stay with their current employer than to risk taking a position with a new company — and often it is.  But don’t ignore the elephant in the room and  hope that everything will be OK.  Even in the best of times, companies routinely are merged, acquired, imploded and overtaken, sometimes leaving hundreds and thousands of people looking for new jobs.  Be prudent and always be aware of your business’s conditions; keep your nose in the wind and your eyes and ears open for when it is the best time to move on to a new job.

Know thyself.
As people age and lives and goals change, so do their career objectives.  Spend the time necessary to know what really makes you happy.  Is it being an authority at work?  Having a schedule flexible enough to see your kids play soccer on a midweek afternoon?  Knowing the drug you are researching will someday eradicate a life-threatening disease?  Have a heart-to-heart with yourself about what you want from your career and what steps would be necessary to achieve this goal.  Have realistic expectations, but know that most career dreams are within our reach.

Step out of your comfort zone.
As human beings, we don’t like to admit that we don’t have all the answers, and it’s uncomfortable for most people to ask for help, especially from those outside their inner circle.  Asking for assistance and advice is the heart of networking and the single most important thing a person looking for a new job should do.

Your next opportunity could come via a tip or chance encounter with a former boss, colleague, neighbor, recruiter, barber, golf buddy — but you will never hear about it if they don’t know you are looking (even passively).  You need to be courageous enough to talk to people you meet about what you ultimately want instead of regretting that you didn’t mention it sooner.

Devote time to job searching.
Take a hint from the world’s greatest athletes. Succeeding at anything takes practice and hard work. If you are trying to further your career, you need to devote the energy needed to make that change, and that takes time.  Find a way to carve out the hours necessary, whether it’s giving up an hour of gym time on Tuesday nights to attend networking meetings, or getting up early on Sunday mornings to search for leads and contacts online, establish some goals and set aside the time it will take to accomplish them.

Focus your résumé.
Most résumés are vanilla — overview, titles, tasks, accomplishments and education.  But companies want to see the sizzle and the steak.  They want to see progression in experience, skills and responsibility and how you have contributed directly to your employer’s, or former employer’s, success.  Make sure your document includes enough substance to explain the strategies and tactics you were responsible for, but also the intangibles where you made a difference.  It doesn’t have to be overly long or detailed, but back up any success claims with real facts and examples.

Join in and get connected.
There isn’t a profession or industry on Earth that doesn’t have a trade association, user group, online discussion board or fan club.  Find one relevant to you and join it.  Whether you are employed or not, opportunities flow from being around like-minded people, and professional associations and communities are where you need to be.  They are a great way for uncovering hidden jobs, to further your knowledge and to make new relationships.  Investigate which are appropriate for you and join in.

Sell yourself.
Unless you are a pompous, arrogant bore, you are probably not used to — and are uncomfortable with — talking immodestly about yourself, your attributes and shining moments.  Get over it.  Advancing in your career or finding a new job requires you to balance humility with bravado.  Your résumé or a relationship may open a door, but you have to be prepared to march through it with a lot of confidence and a bit of swagger.

Find a way to get over any discomfort when talking about yourself and how wonderful you are.  The best job candidate is one who truly believes he has something unique to offer and can articulate his message with words, body language and confidence.  A hiring manager wants to fall in love with you; give her reason to.

Narrow your thinking.
Don’t try to be all things to all people, especially when looking for a job.  You are not going to be good at everything you do, so don’t fool yourself into thinking you are.  Figure out what you want to do and where you want to do it, and narrow your search to opportunities that fit into your realm.  Don’t have interviews or networking meetings where you hope the other person can help you figure out what you want to do.  The responsibility is yours; be targeted and specific about the jobs you want, skills you have and the companies for which you want to work.

Get started.
Self-assessment is important but can be paralyzing.  Take the time necessary to be introspective and then craft your plan, but don’t let those activities stall you from taking action.  Talk is cheap – get out there and take the steps to change or improve your career.  Being proactive in your career will open up opportunities you never dreamed of and will start 2010 off right.