A good job, but times are changing for pharmaceutical sales including AstraZeneca
Pros
Good, well paid position for sales representatives that have an interest in medicine and health issues. Training can be intensive - as it is important to have a thorough knowledge of your medicine, disease state and the competition. You will feel confident - once trained to face your customers (physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists etc..). Astrazeneca has produced many good, competitive products over the years.
Cons
Many changes in the pharmaceutical industry are changing the way companies do business, including the way they market their products. Your direct manager dictates the atmosphere you will work under - most are good people. Your product(s) might be of excellant quality, but it can be difficult to sell your product(s) if they are not picked up and included under insurance formulary plans. Upper management can be frustrating: a bit out of touch with reality in the field. Sales goals for representatives can be unrealistic and might thus be unattainable. Perhaps this is part of the downsizing plan. Most of the pharmaceutical industry (including AstraZeneca) is moving toward reducing their ranks. AstraZeneca is currently going through planned phases of downsizing that will take several years. One cannot feel confident in having a lasting career with AstarZeneca due to the lack of job security. Having past success does not insure your job during downsize campaigns.
