My career as a drug rep is now over

[jiacinto]

I got a letter from a company telling me that for the next stage in the interview process I had to fill out a survey online. I did and got rejected.

[Blue-Jay]

1. D'oh!

Sorry, m'man. Don't fret too much. There ARE good jobs out there, despite the current state of the economy. Make something happen.

[mac56]

2. Can you find out why?

Contact the HR department and find out what went wrong. This will help you for future applications. It's a good idea anyway to contact HR, to thank them for their time, ask them to keep you in mind for future openings, etc.

Don't let it get you down, Carlos. Better days ahead.

[VaLabor]

3. be proud

Big Pharma didn't like what you had to say!

I'd be proud.

:)

[chookie]

4. More details, please?

First of all, Carlos -- I am sorry that you are experiencing this problem, and I wish you the very best of luck in obtaining a good job soon. Although you and I disagree at times on specific points from time to time, I know you to be a person of intelligence and ethics, who would be an asset to any organization. Whoever gets you in their employ will be very fortunate, indeed.

May I inquire, however, what sort of survey it was, and the sorts of questions they asked you? I would be interested to know what they were trying to discern about you.

Personally, I am appalled by the pop psychology and sometimes invasively personal screening methods used by some employers. I wonder what the hell most of it has to do with how well you can do a job, and how much it has to do with having total control over you.

OBVIOUSLY this HR voodoo is bullshit, if a person of your character gets winnowed out of the applicants.

Maybe they determined that you were not sufficiently "weasel-ly" to hawk their wares. Maybe they were looking for some over-caffienated yuppie with no principles who had no moral problems with pushing Oxycontin and Viagra, and who didn't believe that Salvation can be found in The Purple Pill Called Nexium.

[Capn Sunshine]

5. I'm sure it's adjusted

to weed out anyone with character, integrity and honesty.

They expect you to lie to get the job.


My favorite "old time"(written) HR screening question

would you rather be a Forest Ranger or a Florist?

and

Y/N I would like to own a monkey farm.

These are actual questions.
Ever since then, I always wondered " WTF is a monkey farm?"

BTW I always ask the monkey farm question of potential new hires. Just to watch the look on their faces.

[jiacinto]

9. Well

It was asking questions about motivation, if I can work alone, what types of work I like doing?

[Droopy]

6. Hang in there, jiacinto

I'm sure it's only a matter of time until the right job comes around. What is you area of expertise, btw? I know you've got an advanced degree. Seems like somebody like you ought to be a desireable employee.

[jus_the_facts]

7. I'm sure it was the....what sex are you question....male or female......

...since you're not a barbie doll female...well from my experience working at a hospital before....those are the only kind of *pushers* I ever saw in those jobs....sad but true! x(

Better luck next time! :hi:

[phaseolus]

8. From what I've seen, drug reps are hired on looks

Seems to be the major criterion. There are always two or three skulkin' around the waiting room whenever I'm at the doctors' office. I have *never* seen one who was older than 32 or so. Never seen one who wasn't much better looking than average, either. Or bald.

So, if you look anything like me & you've had human contact with the company, you're outta luck.

[kcwayne]

10. Not true

I play golf with a guy who is balding, 45, dorky looking, and an absolute total pain in the ass motor mouth that will never STFU. He is a highly functional but mentally unbalanced individual, and a Republican. But I repeat myself.

He is very knowledgable about various lines of cancer and AIDS drugs, and says that he is the leading sales rep for his company, and is always getting calls from head hunters to move to another company because is is so good (according to him). Most sales people that I know spend an awful lot of time self promoting, so I don't take everything he says at face value. But I know where he lives, what what kind of cars he drives, etc, and all apparent signs are that he makes a very good living.

[Clete]

11. Sometimes companies put people through the

process of hiring even though they don't have any jobs available. I have gotten calls sometimes a year later after being rejected with a new offer of an interview. I don't know why they waste people's time like this and I wish there was a law against it but it's possible this happened to you.