My line of work has always involved patient interaction and suggesting products that would benefit their health, but I’m not interested in staying in this company anymore, for reasons I won’t disclose. I’m contemplating on jumping into sales for a change in scenery so any advice would be much appreciated (the last sales rep post was back in like 2015?)

1. I’ve always had to clock in when we come into work, is that the same for a medical/pharma sales rep? Or can you just wake up and start visiting hospitals/pharmacies off the bat and go home when you’re done with your appointments for the day? Reason being I see a company that I’m quite interested in, but the commute there is awfully long. Normal traffic 40 minutes, with traffic would be 1.5 hours at least.

2. What’s the success rate of actually being able to close a sale for an average rep? I’m sure they have many sales reps coming in every day, and they must have a plethora of meds already on hand.

3. What’s your basic + commission (and upper limit) + car(per km or max $x00 amount each month?)/parking/toll allowance + meal/hotel allowance (for outstation trips, if any). Don’t want to be cheated by kiamsiap companies

Apologies for the lengthy post, just want to know what I might be getting into. Background info: I have a degree in Biomedical Science circa 2019, 2 years experience in the healthcare industry. Thanks in advance for your replies

Oh and for my female reps out there, do doctors actually make a move 🙄 or are all these piap piap talk just a joke

1. I’ve always had to clock in when we come into work, is that the same for a medical/pharma sales rep? Or can you just wake up and start visiting hospitals/pharmacies off the bat and go home when you’re done with your appointments for the day? Reason being I see a company that I’m quite interested in, but the commute there is awfully long. Normal traffic 40 minutes, with traffic would be 1.5 hours at least.
-Yes & No.
For my company those who worked at the HQ which is in KV they need to clock in the office everyday before going out and this is before the pandemic. Currently they have a rotation( which I'm not sure will last untill when) so majority can straight go out without clocking in.
For me I work in oustation office the same rules applies but I can request for excuse to go out straight without clocking in from my manager. This more of on Trust between me & my manager that I don't abuse this. 7 years in the company with the same manager we have quite good faith in each other.

2. What’s the success rate of actually being able to close a sale for an average rep? I’m sure they have many sales reps coming in every day, and they must have a plethora of meds already on hand.
-I'd say around 50% or less maybe? For me this also depend on how good your rapport is with your customer. Whether they see you as someone who only chase them for sales or someone that can help assist them in giving the best to their patients.(assuming you work for an innovator company & not generics). The higher your credibility in their eyes the easier it is to close the sales.

3. What’s your basic + commission (and upper limit) + car(per km or max $x00 amount each month?)/parking/toll allowance + meal/hotel allowance (for outstation trips, if any). Don’t want to be cheated by kiamsiap companies
-Rm4.7k basic(join with 2.1k)+ rm6xk annual commission+ rm1k petrol limit + average rm1.7k travelling allowance+ toll and hotel claims if any.

Thanks for your lengthy reply! Also curious on how your day-to-day looks like. Do you spend all 5 working days out of office? and how many hospitals/pharmacies do you have to meet each day?

Yes for most of the time. Unless there is a meeting. However current working arrangements is a lot more flexible now with virtual meetings made available. So depending on appointments there a few days in a month that I’ll stay in office/wfh to have virtual meetings with customers.

Hi Kira. Thank you for sharing your insightful information. I have one question regarding the commission. Is it usually by annually or quarterly or monthly?

Thank you very much for your time

That is actually depends on your company though, it can have several of variation. Target can be monthly, bi monthly quarterly. incentive pay out may be that way too. ex. mine target is monthly but incentive pay out is every 2 months

Hi. I saw your thread late. I was previously in a pharma company as Asst Manager. They don't have physical presence here, only a sales office. I was there to support many things. Our sales rep do not clock in office. They directly go to field. Of coz we track them via an app in their iPad. Commission is qtrly, with special half year commission and year end as well.

Our best sales rep makes 8k commission qtrly. For a pharma sales rep, ours quite stingy actually. Then we give them petrol card. Can't remember the meal and hotel allowance amount. U can try survey a few companies.