When you’re on the hunt for a new biotech sales job, you want to choose the best opportunity with the right employer. But what makes a company a great place to work? And what qualities should you look for in an employer to keep you happy in the long-run?
We asked medical sales professionals to find out. The 2016 Best Places to Work in Medical Sales survey, conducted by my employer MedReps, ranked the top employers in biotech sales, and asked employees why these companies are so great.
Here’s a look at the best places to work in biotech sales, and what characteristics to look for in your job search to find the most satisfying opportunities in the field:
Strong products
The best biotech sales jobs are ones that allow you to work with exciting products. In fact, the 2016 Best Places to Work in Medical Sales survey found that 52 percent of respondents said a strong product line is the most important factor when evaluating top medical sales companies. An employer’s commitment to research and development was the next most important factor, listed by 30 percent of respondents.
Look for employers with products that are not only strong in the market, but that interest you. What is the value of the products and what difference do they make in the lives of patients and providers? In addition, look at the future of the job -- where is the company headed and what innovative products are they developing?
Check out the company’s research and development. For example, Gilead, which was ranked as the number one biotech sales employer, shares what’s in its pipeline right on its careers page. Look for employers who place a similar emphasis on research and development and biotech sales jobs that offer meaningful work.
Transparent culture and values
When evaluating biotech sales jobs, look at the culture and values of the organization. What would it be like to actually work there? While company culture is extremely important in finding the best position for you, it’s one of the most difficult qualities for job seekers to judge from the outside. After all, a survey of more than 10,000 professionals who recently changed jobs, published by LinkedIn in August 2015, found that 49 percent of respondents said the biggest obstacle in the job search is not knowing what working for an organization is actually like.
Look for employers who are transparent about their company culture and give you a good vibe. Amgen, ranked as the second best biotech sales employer in the 2016 Best Places to Work in Medical Sales survey, shares videos of their employees and company leaders who give an inside look at the company culture and values. In addition, the website outlines the core values, helping job seekers proactively determine if they fit with the company.
Do your research to find out as much as you can about the company culture. Connect with current employees and get the inside scoop on workplace values.
Focus on work-life balance
You want to be challenged at work, but you also want a healthy work-life balance, and the best biotech sales jobs offer just that. Work-life balance is becoming more important in every industry, and it’s no surprise that 62 percent of medical sales professionals said it was one of the most important values of a potential employer.
Look for biotech employers who value your time and allow you to pursue your interests outside of work. For example, Biogen, which rounded out the top three biotech sales employers in the 2016 Best Places to Work in Medical Sales survey, highlights the work life balance of its employees on its careers page. Employees discuss their hobbies outside the office, and how their jobs and interests work together in videos featured on the page.
The best biotech employers will share how they facilitate work-life balance and how the job will fit your professional and personal life.
The best biotech sales jobs and employers value their reps, have a strong culture, and offer meaningful work. It’s a tall order, but finding the right employer will ensure a fulfilling career in biotech sales.
