June Alumni Career Profile

---

Name:  Peter Thomas    Class Year:  1992 Major:  Business Administration      Current Employer:   Sciele Pharma Sales

---

Describe your career path since graduation.

My career started as a customer service representative at a Boston bank. I went back to school to earn a MBA degree. For the last 9 years I worked as a sales representative to a district manager and currently a region sales director in the pharmaceutical sales industry.

 

What is your current position and how long have you been with your employer? 

Region Sales Director and have been employed by Sciele for 5 years.

 

Describe the main responsibilities of your position. 

I am responsible for managing sales and a 83 person sales force for our cardiovascular products division in the Northeast Region which includes New England, NY, NJ, & PA. I work with district sales managers and sales representatives. Any one in sales is ultimately responsible for obtaining and exceeding the sales goals.

 

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

The people I work with!

 

What do you find most challenging about your job? 

Finding the right people to sell who are self-motivated, have a desire to succeed, and the work ethic to succeed.

 

Describe your typical work week.  (How many hours you work, your work environment, etc.) 

My job function is mainly the business side of sales and not the actual sales side. I work more closely with the seven sales managers to ensure that we meet and exceed company goals. My main function is to work for the sales team to ensure they have the tools and resources needed to succeed. My job is 50 - 60 hours a week. A typical representative work week is 40 - 50 hours and it definitely is not an 8 - 5 job.

 

What job search methods did you use to obtain your current position?  

Networking.

 

What advice could you give to students interested in your field? 

What you need to be successful in pharmaceutical sales is a work ethic and desire to succeed that drives you to continually improve. Sales is a constantly changing environment that has people just like you trying to get the sales from you. Anyone with a competitive desire, ability to learn in an ever changing environment, and a positive attitude can succeed in this industry. To give yourself the best chance to enter this industry, find some sort of sales position that gives you the opportunity to show what you can do. Even a summer job or part time position selling a product or service can open doors into this industry.

 

Last Modified: June 18, 2007