Peggy McKee's Blog (41)

Why am I a "smart recruiter"?

Because I understand that in order to play the games I like to play, drive the truck (yes - truck) I like to drive and live like I enjoying living - I must ring the cash register.

Yes - I have said it. It isn't about getting along or wanting the best for everyone!

It is about ringing the cash register.

Making the sale - sending the invoice and cashing the check.

I don't like to be told what to do - therefore - must be self employeed.

I like the finer… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on December 29, 2008 at 3:31pm — 1 Comment

Happy Birthday to ME!

December 10th, 3:35 pm (early and convenient timing - I would point out)

As you know, if you have read or listened to me much, I am a strong advocate of telling people what you need or how they can help. I know that if I understand what I can do for you (and it is within reason), I am going to do my best to try to help. I introduce people all the time (no, not just candidates and clients), I write articles for others, give helpful (I hope) critique to others about whatever they ask me to… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on December 10, 2008 at 3:30pm — 1 Comment

Why aren’t there female medical sales managers?

This question was posted on my LinkedIn page, along with these comments:

Person with question says:

My company is a perfect example of a large scale device organization with few women. Only 1 woman in an executive position and none in upper management. I have spoken with some women who say they were discouraged from pursuing management positions and have been passed over, for less qualified men.

My conclusion/response:

1. Fewer women in the sciences (narrows the… Continue

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

JMO separating from military uses the medical sales recruiter to land super job stateside…

Here’s a great article for you to see: Military Are Getting Short-Changed On the Job Front, Too, by Teena Rose. I met Teena on Twitter. She is the head of Resume to Referral, which provides resume-writing and career services for mid-level career to executive professionals. In her article, she talks about her husband’s career transition from the military to the private sector and the lessons he learned, which can be helpful for all of us–the main one being: don’t count on the military (read: one… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on December 4, 2008 at 9:30am — No Comments

10 Germiest Jobs In America…

The Dark Daily (Clinical Laboratory and Pathology News/Trends), which I read frequently, recently reported a study of the 10 Germiest Jobs In America, by “Dr. Germ,” AKA Charles P. Gerba, Ph.D., a microbiologist at the University of Arizona in Tuscon. Here’s the list:

1) Teacher, day care workers

2) Cashier, bank employee

3) Tech support, computer repair.

4) Doctor or nurse

5) Lab scientist

6) Police officer

7) Animal control officer

8) Janitor or… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on December 3, 2008 at 10:30am — No Comments

Top 5 pharma layoffs in 2008 -

Fierce Pharma outlines how 20,000 pharma folks were laid off from 5 companies in 2008.

I hate to point this out, but if big pharma can let all of those folks go without major issues continuing to do business, then those employees were not adding value (or very much of it).

As one marketeer put it to me: if you can’t show me where you made me $$, saved me $$ or saved me time - why do I employ you? Pharma sales reps with biology/chemistry or molecular degrees - send me your… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on December 2, 2008 at 10:30am — No Comments

“Read all about it!!!” for medical sales…

I found a great source of science headlines in one handy spot for everyone in medical sales, clinical diagnostics sales, laboratory sales, medical supplies sales, surgical supplies sales, DNA products sales, cellular/molecular products sales, imaging sales, pathology sales, histology sales, biotech sales, or pharmaceutical sales: it’s Sciencebase! It’s got a science blog, articles, links…it will help keep you updated on what’s happening in science news which will contribute to your job success.

Added by Peggy McKee on November 24, 2008 at 10:30am — No Comments

Are your job candidates taking other offers before you get through your hiring process?

Hiring Manager Alert: If you have a problem with candidates taking other positions during your interview and hiring process, it’s likely that you’ve gotten your candidates from job boards, newspaper ads, and so on…which means that it’s also likely that you’ve contacted them late in the job search cycle.

To avoid this problem, the solution is simple: work with a recruiter. A recruiter prescreens candidates for you, eliminating the waste of your time and productivity on a candidate who… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on November 19, 2008 at 11:30am — No Comments

Why You Need an Objective On Your Resume

I found a great video on YouTube by Susan Ireland, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Resume. In this video, Susan discusses why you need an objective on the top of your resume. I agree that it’s important for you to have a good one (see my post 7 Tips For a Great Resume). There are several reasons:

1. It lets the reader know what you want, instead of implying that you need help finding a spot. It’s a weak approach that won’t serve you well anywhere in the process,… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on November 17, 2008 at 6:30am — No Comments

Explaining Medical Sales — Part III

There are several things to think about when you are considering job opportunities in medical sales, whether you’re moving into it or moving around in it. In the first part of this series (Explaining Medical Sales - Part I) we talked about what’s involved in capital sales, and in the second part (Explaining Medical Sales - Part II) we covered consumable and service sales and what kinds of personalities best fit different sales jobs. In today’s video, I discuss specific aspects of sales jobs… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on November 14, 2008 at 9:30am — No Comments

Age Discrimination: McCain was too old!

Not in years but in attitude, energy, and communication style.

Okay - I am sure that I am going to step on some toes here but….I think McCain lost the election because he is “old”. Why do I say this? His platform, knowledge, integrity, and experience were much stronger but he failed to deliver the message because he is uncomfortable with technology, publicity and this new age of communication that we are now in.

He had an opportunity to be on the O’Reilly show at the exact… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on November 14, 2008 at 7:30am — No Comments

Explaining Medical Sales–Part II

In my previous post (Explaining Medical Sales - Part I), I told you about the difference between capital sales and consumable sales, mainly concentrating on what kinds of products are involved in capital sales. In today’s video, we’ll talk about consumable and service sales as they relate to medical sales, laboratory sales, clinical diagnostics sales, medical equipment sales, pharmaceutical sales, imaging sales, medical device sales, hospital equipment sales, or biotechnology… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on November 12, 2008 at 5:30am — No Comments

Explaining Medical Sales: Part I

I receive several calls every week from people asking about the difference between sales opportunities in the medical sales field, and which personalities might fit best. So, to address these questions, here is the first part of a 3-part series explaining different types of medical sales.

There are two basic types of sales that occur in all areas of medical sales, which includes clinical diagnostics sales, laboratory sales, pharmaceutical sales, imaging sales, DNA products sales,… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on November 10, 2008 at 10:30am — No Comments

Using Assessment Tests As A Hiring Tool

Part of every sales manager’s job is to add to the team. Hire new talent. You think you know what you’re looking for: that “spark,” that intangible “it” factor, that “something about this candidate” that tells your intuition that this is the one. You do look at resumes and previous sales figures (if they have them), but you also look for personality, drive, determination, and people skills. Not exactly an exact science, is it? There’s lots of room for error. So how do you combat that… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on November 7, 2008 at 5:30pm — No Comments

And you thought our job market was bad…….

Legend has it that famed Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton placed the following ad in a London newspaper prior to one of his unsuccessful expeditions to find the South Pole:

"MEN WANTED FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY. SMALL WAGES, BITTER COLD, LONG MONTHS OF COMPLETE DARKNESS, CONSTANT DANGER, SAFE RETURN DOUBTFUL. HONOR AND RECOGNITION IN CASE OF SUCCESS."As the story goes Shackelton was overwhelmed with applicants.

Makes our job descriptions for medical sales seem pretty… Continue

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

Job Interview Tip: It’s a Conversation

There are so many dos and don’ts to remember when interviewing for a job in medical sales, pharmaceutical sales, laboratory sales, clinical diagnostics sales, DNA products sales, surgical supplies sales, or biotechnology sales that it can play havoc with your confidence. One way to lessen your nerves when navigating the job interview process is to think of it less as a test, and more as a conversation. They’re finding out about you…you’re finding out about them. Easier said than done, I know,… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on October 29, 2008 at 11:00am — 1 Comment

Job Search Tip: What can a recruiter do for you?

Since I’ve discussed with you before how to work with recruiter and the best ways for you to attract the attention of a recruiter, I thought I’d add one more thing, just so we’re all on the same page…for you to understand the role a recruiter plays in your job search, you need to understand that I work for the client company, not for you. That doesn’t mean working with a medical sales recruiter isn’t an asset for you in your search for a medical sales job, such as a biotech sales job, clinical… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on October 27, 2008 at 7:30am — No Comments

How to Work a Tradeshow

I had a candidate call me and ask for advice on how to work a tradeshow. He’s looking for a job, and exploring many avenues. He’s already ahead of the game by having a plan, but here’s my advice:

Before the show:

Send out an e-mail to all of your contacts, letting them know what’s going on, that you’ll be at the tradeshow, and that you’re looking for contacts and opportunities. Be specific in what you’re looking for…a sales/marketing/management job in medical sales,… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on October 24, 2008 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Interview Questions for Employers

I am pleased to present this article from Alan Murray, webmaster of http://www.interviewquestions.name/, where Alan provides a lot of great interview advice.

Interview Questions for Employers

If you are tasked to conduct a job interview for your company, one of the most important things that you should always keep in mind is the fact that the main purpose of the interview is to get to know the candidate better. You are there to ask and listen, not to talk. To be specific, eighty… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on October 23, 2008 at 11:30am — No Comments

Job Interview Tip: Turn off your cell phone!

Cell phones are an incredible convenience for all of us, but also a major source of irritation when people don’t remember their manners while using them in public places. One of the biggest blunders you can make? Answering your phone while in a job interview!! Seems obvious, I know, but believe me, it happens. If you answer your cell while in an interview for medical sales, pharmaceutical sales, laboratory sales, clinical diagnostics sales, medical supplies sales, pathology sales, imaging… Continue

Added by Peggy McKee on October 21, 2008 at 9:30am — No Comments