Peggy McKee's Blog (41)

Technology sheet-use in job interview to get that medical sales job!

Sometimes candidates with degrees in the sciences find that they have a lot more information that the employer might want to know about them that just won’t fit in the traditional resume format. To combat that issue and give yourself an interview edge, consider building a “Technology Sheet” - this is a one-page, column-formated accounting of all of the technologies that you are familiar with…some candidates actually rate their expertise with each (1 to 10).

It not always necessary to… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on October 20, 2008 at 1:47pm — No Comments

Job Search Tip: How to Attract a Recruiter's Attention

OK, so this title isn’t nearly as cool as the title of the article I want to talk about: How to Headhunt the Headhunters, by Tara Weiss from Forbes.com. But, that’s the way it goes. The article got my attention and it has some great information I want to pass along to you.

First, don’t just send your resume out indiscriminately. I get the concept of “flooding the market” with your info, but it just doesn’t work.

What does work? Find a recruiter who specializes in your… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on October 13, 2008 at 11:00am — No Comments

Job Search Tip: Complete the Entire Job Application

Latest story: A hiring manager I am working with in medical sales asked for a completed job application, rather than just a resume. The job is a 65 -75k base, with another 45k up for grabs in commissions. Nothing to sneeze at, surely. When the manager reviewed the application, he discovered that the candidate didn’t fill out the references area or any of the money questions. (You do leave this stuff off a resume, but not off an application when they are specifically asked for.) The manager that… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on October 10, 2008 at 12:00pm — No Comments

PHC Consulting's You Tube Channel: job candidate's survival guide!

In my constant quest to get the word out about PHC Consulting’s top-of-the-line recruiting and employment opportunities in all areas of medical sales, I started a blog. And the blog was good. I have covered information relevant to all aspects of job searching, interviewing, networking, and sales training for pharmaceutical sales, laboratory sales, clinical diagnostics sales, cellular/molecular products sales, medical equipment and supplies sales. That kind of information has been popular, and… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on October 6, 2008 at 11:30am — No Comments

It wasn't the job interview questions that cost you the job!

If I told you there was a very good way to DECREASE your chances of getting a job in medical sales (laboratory sales, pharmaceutical sales, clinical diagnostics sales, imaging sales, DNA products sales, hospital equipment sales, medical device sales, surgical supplies sales, or any healthcare sales) BY OVER 30%, you’d want to know what it was so you could avoid that at all costs, right? Here it is: it’s your Facebook page. Or your MySpace page, or other social networking site… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on October 1, 2008 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Orion International and PHC Consulting! need military bmets/cbets…

Most people know us for our work with medical sales! But we do about 15% to 20% of our placements within the technical support groups. So medical technologist, histologist, the molecular field applications, the field (or onsite) service engineer (bmet/cbet) or EE are key persons that we are interested in getting to know. We had a gentleman (bmet) separating from the military that contacted us from Germany! We placed him within 2 weeks of him landing here in the states. I asked him who else he… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on September 30, 2008 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Improving headhunter productivity........

Business is booming at PHC Consulting, which is of course a great thing for us, but also a great thing for candidates and client companies in medical sales, laboratory sales, clinical diagnostics sales, pharmaceutical sales, medical supplies sales, hospital equipment sales, imaging sales, pathology sales, DNA products sales, cellular and molecular products sales, medical device sales, and all areas of healthcare sales, marketing, and management. Why? Lots more opportunities for both… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on September 30, 2008 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Job Search: How To Work With Sales Recruiters

I get many calls from people (potential candidates) asking about PHC Consulting’s services. The two main questions are always the same: “How much does it cost?” and “Why can’t I apply directly to the company?”

Although I am a niche recruiter (all medical sales-related jobs: laboratory sales, pharmaceutical sales, clinical diagnostics sales, biotechnology sales, surgical equipment sales, hospital equipment sales, medical supply sales, imaging sales, pathology sales, cellular products… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on September 23, 2008 at 5:00pm — No Comments

What is a brag book and how can it help your interview success?

A brag book is a folder/ binder that you can use during your interview process to clarify your skill sets and set you apart from the competition so that you can get a job offer in medical sales, laboratory sales, pharmaceutical sales, clinical diagnostics sales, DNA products sales, cellular sales, molecular sales, medical equipment sales, medical device sales, hospital equipment sales, surgical supplies sales, or any healthcare sales.

It can include letters of recommendation,… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on September 12, 2008 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Friends don’t let friends get a degree in psychology!

All across America this time of year, college campuses are filling with new and returning students all looking for that magic piece of paper that will ensure their futures. All that effort and all those tuition fees…. You’d better make sure it’s worth it.

No offense to those with psychology degrees, but the most valuable college degrees now and in the future are much more science and technology-oriented: Engineering, Computers, Finance, and Science.

A List of Best College… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on September 10, 2008 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Job Interview Etiquette….At Lunch

Not out to lunch…at lunch. As in, what do you need to know to have a successful job interview over lunch? Interviews over meals may seem less formal than office interviews, but they are just as important. If you have a lunch interview for reasons other than your interviewer is truly incredibly busy, it’s because he or she is looking for something more than just your job skills. Like, how do you handle yourself in a semi-social situation? Can you focus with multiple distractions? (Are you gross… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on August 27, 2008 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Sales Candidates: Don’t bury the BS on your resume…

A Bachelor of Science degree (major in Chemistry, Biology, Molecular, etc.) is not necessary, but it is helpful in medical sales, clinical diagnostics sales, laboratory sales, DNA products sales, sales of medical or surgical supplies, medical device sales, pharmaceutical sales, or any healthcare sales. So don’t bury it at the bottom of your resume where I have to search for it. Candidates who don’t have a BS try to hide that fact in various ways, but if you have yours, display it proudly. (But… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on August 25, 2008 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Cafepharma: the good, the bad, and the ugly

A lot of people want to know what I think about CafePharma. Here goes: I think that it’s a great source of relevant headlines for those of us in medical and healthcare sales, pharmaceutical sales, laboratory sales, clinical diagnostics sales, DNA sales, medical supplies sales, medical equipment sales, imaging sales, and pathology sales. However, beware of the chat room. There can be a lot of negative information from people who have their own specific axe to grind. No company is as bad as they… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on July 30, 2008 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Medical Sales - lots of travel, what to do with Fido?

So, the other day I was talking to someone I thought would be a great candidate for laboratory sales–high-energy, great people skills, knowledgeable, everything. She was interested in the opportunity, too. Her only concern: with all the traveling involved, what does she do with her dog? My answer: doggie day care. Many dogs don’t do well when left alone, even with a dog door. Doggie day care facilities dogs them with socialization skills, so they’re a happier dog when you pick them up and you… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on July 28, 2008 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Quick Tip: Job Interview Thank You Letters

E-mail thank you letters after job interviews in medical sales, healthcare sales, biotech sales, medical equipment sales, DNA products sales, clinical diagnostics sales, laboratory products sales, medical supplies sales, or pharmaceutical sales are perfectly acceptable. But what do you do if you happened to leave without getting an e-mail address?

Google them: *@thecompany.com. For instance, *@phcconsulting.com would get you mine, and everyone else who works here.

Added by Peggy McKee on July 23, 2008 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Job interview tip: Don’t forget the thank you letter

Don’t underestimate how important thank you letters are in the job interview process. Everybody “knows” they’re critical, but unbelievably, not everyone writes them. Thank you letters accomplish several things:

1) They get your name in front of the hiring manager one more time.

2) They are your last chance to package yourself as the best, most qualified person for the job.

3) They are polite, and manners count.

4) They help you land the… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on July 21, 2008 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Job Search Tip: Keep a Brag Book

If you’re looking for a job in medical sales, clinical diagnostics sales, laboratory sales, DNA sales, medical supplies or equipment sales, pharmaceutical sales, or biotechnology sales, marketing, or tech support (or you will be soon), it would help you tremendously to have a brag book.

A brag book is a list of your accomplishments (stories for behavioral interviews, right here), new skills and training, stack rankings, performance reviews, e-mails or letters from satisfied… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on July 18, 2008 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Interview Skill: How to Handle the Money Question

Salary negotiations can be the most stressful part of the entire interview process in medical sales, laboratory sales, clinical diagnostics sales, biotech sales, molecular products sales, cellular products sales, medical device sales, pathology sales, imaging sales, or pharmaceutical sales.

The video below is designed to help you navigate your way through.

So: How do you answer questions in the interviewing process that have to do with your… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on July 15, 2008 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Job search tip: Choose your references wisely

Recently, I had a candidate who was going to get an offer–it was all over but the references. And that’s where it all went wrong. We began calling to check (yes, we really do that) and two days later, only one was done. It wasn’t even a matter of them trashing my candidate…they just wouldn’t return our calls.

If your references don’t even think enough of you to call back, it doesn’t reflect well on you. It cost my candidate a job.

Choose your references wisely. The best… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on July 14, 2008 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Job interview advice from across the pond

Hey, look! I’m being watched in Ireland! (My videos, anyway.)

Paul Mullen, a career coach in Ireland, has highlighted my online videos as offering excellent advice (I have to agree…). Turns out, Paul offers some excellent advice, himself. His Measureability website offers psychometric testing (ability and personality assessments) and career coaching. It includes a career blog, with a post I like on Reasons for Interview Failure. He also has a Careers and Jobs blog focused on jobs in… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on July 9, 2008 at 6:00pm — No Comments