| It's rough out there: tens of thousands of pharma sales | | | | was a good working relationship, that you did a |
| reps have gotten laid off in the last 2 years, and | | | | fantastic job, and that it would be a great reference |
| pharma layoffs are only getting worse. With so many | | | | for you, then it's worth trying one more time to get it. |
| people laid off, there are thousands of pharma reps | | | | How? Just ask. It won't always work, but it will work |
| flooding the job market in medical, healthcare, and | | | | sometimes. Call your former manager, the one you've |
| pharmaceutical sales, and many pharmaceutical | | | | worked side-by-side with for however many years |
| companies are telling the former sales managers of | | | | you were there, and play the personal card. Say, |
| these reps that they aren't allowed to give a | | | | "Rocky, I'm one check-mark away from getting a job |
| reference-even if it was a company-wide layoff and | | | | offer for the job of a lifetime. You and I both know |
| the rep was great. Company policy restricts them to | | | | that I was laid off, and you know that I was a player |
| name, rank, and serial number only: what the candidate | | | | for you, and that I contributed to your organization, and |
| did, how long he worked there, and why he exited the | | | | you gave me "exceeds expectations" on all my |
| company. That's not a job-winning reference for any | | | | reviews. You tried to help me not be laid off with |
| candidate. | | | | everyone else, and I know you appreciated the work I |
| References are a critical component of your job | | | | did for you. I know that the company says you can't, |
| interview process. A great reference can push the | | | | but you need to consider that this is a fantastic |
| hiring manager into hiring you, if he was on the fence, | | | | opportunity for me. I put my heart and soul into working |
| and a bad one can definitely keep you from getting | | | | for you, and I want to do that for this company, but |
| the job. Whether it's company policy or not, the end | | | | they need to hear you say what I did for you. And I |
| result is you don't have a good reference that's going | | | | know if you ever needed a reference, it wouldn't |
| to help the hiring manager feel good about making you | | | | matter who said I couldn't do that...I would. So I need |
| the offer. | | | | you to do that for me, Rocky. Will you?" |
| A lot of candidates just accept this situation because, | | | | You know what? We're all people here. We're not the |
| "Hey, it's company policy...what can you do?" But that's | | | | company. We worked for the company, and if you did |
| just not OK. If you've worked hard for someone and | | | | a great job, you deserve a reference. If you run into a |
| done a great job, they ought to give you a great | | | | brick wall in getting one, it's worth asking one more |
| reference, no matter what the company says. | | | | time. |
| And there is something you can do. If you know that it | | | | |