Day 2

I never thought I would have to tell my 6-year-old about my job loss. Unfortunately, the topic came up about our summer vacation and I had to explain to him why we were not going on vacation this summer. He was devastated. Not about my job loss, mind you, but about not going on vacation. It made me glad in a way. His teacher used the term "tender-hearted" one time to describe him and it suited him well. So, I was glad he did not realize the impact of the news. Fortunately, he was able to accept the alternative option I suggested: a stay-cation. He really just wanted to go fishing with his dad, so I told him we could go to the Community Park and fish there. He said we would have to clean the house up real nice like at the hotel and make pretend sliding keys for room and make the bed just like at the hotel. Guess we got a project out of the conversation, so it didn't turn out as badly as I thought it would. 

I am still trying to close out on all the projects I have been working on and transferring the information to my manager. I also need to start informing my customers. 

It was a dilemma for me deciding whether to inform my customer of the change or not. I struggled with it a bit, but since the news was so public (I already had people contacting me about it), I felt I had to inform them even at the risk of losing on some of these open projects. I have always believed in communicating to my customers information they needed to make the right decision which would benefit them in the short and long term. I would not wish for my customers to think that I have, in any way, deceived them by not revealing the fact that I was leaving. For those main reasons and various others, I have chose to inform them early. 

I still believe in our company and what we have to offer. I still hope for the best for my company. I believe everyone at our company who has worked there and still works there believe in it, too. 

Though the future remains uncertain, I am sure about one thing: I need a job and I need it fast. Everyone I talked to so far has asked about how long I have with severance package and such. I know financially we will be all right. I have saved for a rainy day. Guess it's time to pull out the plan. What I worry most about is my marketability. The longer I am out of employment, the harder it is to find employment. That said, I know I have something to offer, so I won't sell myself short. However, I still think it would be in my best interest is find a job quickly. Before long, the news will have subsided and I will become one among thousands of others seeking employment. 

So, what are my prospects? Here's the statistics, which I plan to publicize on this blog in an attempt to determine how well networking works for job seekers as the days pass:

LinkedIn: 1 prospect

Facebook: 2 positions - both out of state

Direct Contact: 1 prospect

Recruiters: 3 positions - all out of state

I once knew a man who was unemployed and made a rigorous schedule for himself to find a job everyday. He woke up everyday and dressed for work as if it was any other working day. He made finding a job a job. I admire that discipline and will take up this strategy. I am not unemployed. My new job is to find my next career path. 

Another nice one that I don't qualify for in Arizona

Regional Sales Director - MS Southwest
Genzyme Corporation

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Location:
Arizona, AZ
Posted Date:
6/1/2012
Position Type:
FULL
Job Code:
29522
Salary:
Required Education:
Bachelors Degree
Areas of Expertise Desired:
Sales,


Job Description

One of the world's leading biotechnology companies, Genzyme is dedicated to making a major positive impact on the lives of people with serious diseases. Since its founding in 1981, the company has introduced breakthrough treatments that have provided new hope for patients. The company's areas of focus are rare genetic diseases, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and endocrinology. Genzyme is a Sanofi company. Genzyme's press releases and other company information are available at www.genzyme.com.

Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, rare diseases, consumer healthcare, emerging markets and animal health.

Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).
Regional Sales Director, Multiple Sclerosis

Job Description:
In this field based, Regional Sales Director position, you will be responsible for successfully hiring and leading a team through a successful product launch promoting a new Multiple Sclerosis treatment. Within a highly competitive marketplace, you will be called upon to successfully lead and motivate your Team to execute the National sales strategy, supporting the initiatives set forth in the launch plan.

Job Responsibilities:
- Recruit, hire and train an accomplished team of MS Specialty Sales Representatives
- Responsible for the oversight of all aspects of sales, managed markets pull through, local speaker/thought leader development, promotional programming, and budget management for your region
- Develop regional business plans based on national sales goals, expectations and available resources, including Regional and Territory strategies and tactics, as well as resource allocation
- Be an expert in the clinical data, which affects current product promotion, disease state and market trends
- Spend the majority of your time in the field with Specialty Sales Representatives in order to support individual development, as well as provide coaching, direction and feedback
- Plan, design and implement territory alignment based on maximum ROI
- Establish positive working relationships with all key customer segments (internal and external).
- Communicate and collaborate with other Regional Sales Directors, Key Accounts field team, brand marketing, payer marketing, managed markets field teams, medical affairs and field teams, senior management and all other departments necessary in order to facilitate achievement of sales objectives
- 60% travel
- This position is based in the Southwest region, encompassing Phoenix, AZ, Tucson, AZ, Las Vegas, NV and Albuquerque, NM.
Requirements

Basic Qualifications:
- BA/BS Degree Required, preferably in life science or business. MBA a plus.
- Minimum 10+ years' experience in the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry
- 5-7+ years pharmaceutical/biotech sales experience, including specialty sales, with demonstrated successful sales results
- Minimum of 3-5 years Field Management experience or equivalent leadership experience, with documented sales achievements
- Ability to travel to meetings/trainings/programs as necessary - additional travel may be required within the assigned territory
- Valid driver's license
- Must reside within the geographic area of the assigned territory

Preferred Qualifications:
- MS Experience strongly preferred
- Strong understanding of the reimbursement landscape and expertise with Managed Markets pull-through highly desirable
- Sales launch experience strongly preferred
- Demonstrated Leadership Experience
- Excellent clinical skills and knowledge
- Team Oriented
- Excellent general business manager
- Creative problem solver

Anyone interested in a Director of Managed Markets Marketing?

I am not qualify for this, but thought someone might be interested in this. It looks promising. 

Director of Managed Markets Marketing - Small Specialty Southwest Pharma
Parkwood International - Phoenix, AZ
See original job posting at Parkwood International »

Marketing Director, Managed Markets: My client, located in the SOUTHWEST, is a small specialty pharmaceutical company that is the leading independent specialty pharma company in the US focusing primarily on the treatment of dermatological and aesthetic conditions. I am currently seeking a Director of Marketing – Managed Markets for a newly created role. As an employee of this company, you will be rewarded with a competitive comp package, great benefits, and a dynamic, extremely fast-paced culture. This is a roll up your sleeves get your hands dirty kind of company with high expectations. The company is looking for folks that have the right experience, are passionate about pharmaceutical marketing, and are driven to make a difference. Culture is one that encourages, and even demands, you bring creative ideas to the table, you work hard, but also play hard. It is a very results-driven organization, where if you are the right fit, you will have the opportunity to elevate yourself to your fullest potential. TITLE: Director of Marketing, Managed Markets REPORTS TO: VP Managed Markets SALARY: Dependent on experience, plus 25% bonus RELO: Yes RESPONSIBILITIES : The Marketing Director, Managed Markets, reporting to the VP, Managed Markets will be responsible to support development of managed markets access, contracting & pull-through strategies & tactical programs for the dermatology portfolio across the Managed Markets sales channels. Specific Responsibilities include: Design, develop and implement managed markets marketing strategies aligned with the dermatology brand strategies to assist the National Account Managers with a Value Proposition message to maintain and improve access with payers. Assess present managed care marketing strategies and tactical programs to assure goals of product access/reimbursement, protection and market share growth including, but not limited to secondary strategies for core promoted products and new licensing opportunities. Develop formulary access and pull-through tactic programs, conversion programs and targeted marketing programs by payer and also by specific geography. Developing Managed Markets and Field Sales materials for POA meetings and TM training and use in a variety of customer related activities. Support/develop annual marketing plans with full accountability for the full promotional mix for managed markets. Work with Managed Markets leadership to ensure strategic alignment with sales activity. Ensure delivery of brand financial goals through detailed analysis and understanding of short-term brand performances, with special emphasis on marketing program effectiveness and drivers of the business model. Develop required payer market research & competitive intelligence projects in partnership with market research department. Qualifications: 10+ years of pharmaceutical sales & marketing experience, of which 5 should be in the managed care environment as National Account Manager/Managed Markets Marketing Manager. Bachelor's degree required, MBA preferred Competencies: Business Acumen – Candidate will possess outstanding overall business acumen as it relates to the Pharmaceutical industry. This will include market knowledge, product knowledge, financial and negotiating skills, managed markets and account access. It’s expected that the individual be able to gauge the financial impact accounts have on the company portfolio and make recommendations to improve access based on contracting and pull-through strategies. Account Planning and Execution – Candidate will possess excellent organizational skills in order to develop, manage and execute account plans with the top 10 - 15 accounts in their respective geographic regions. These account plans will involve execution items with key personnel throughout the account. Customer Relationships – Candidates will possess or be able to establish excellent business relationships with key C-Suite and administrative roles within each account. Communication and Collaboration – Candidates will possess excellent communication skills that will be used to keep Managed Markets, Marketing and Sales leadership fully informed of account activities concerning company’s products and their net effect on the national, regional and territory level trends. Personal Behavior - Candidate will possess and demonstrate the following behaviors: Leadership, Initiative, and Innovation. Does this sound like the right opportunity for you? If so, AND you meet the minimum requirements stated, please forward your resume in WORD format to: sherri@parkwoodintl.com . Due to number of responses, only those candidates that most closely match my client's requirements will be contacted. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE! I WORK BY APPT ONLY. If this is close, but not an exact fit, I do specialize exclusively in pharmaceutical sales operations, sales training, marketing, business development, market research, etc. You can view my other openings via www.parkwoodintl.com , click on 'Opportunities', then click on 'Pharma/Biotech'. You may want to bookmark my site as I update it regularly. If interested in an opportunity, apply via my website or email your resume directly to: sherri@parkwoodintl.com

KITList

First, my thanks to Pam for letting me know about this list: http://www.kitlist.org/. Sue Connelly founded this list in 1997 and it has grown to over 62,000 members.

Perhaps I am not searching by the right key words, but there does not seem to much listings for biotech jobs. Still, it was interesting to see what popped up in my area.

For anyone looking for jobs, this site is worth a visit.

Day One - The News

---Day One of Unemployment or Pending Unemployment---

I had a feeling something was up. I even blurred it out to my sister a few hours before the call that this was a possibility. Still, it was hard to hear it. Thinking back, I am not even sure I heard it but more like understood it without hearing the actual words said. I kept talking to my manager after that, but my mind went blank at that point.

This was my first time being part of a corporate lay-off. My husband would argue that I have been let go before, but I am not going to count that one summer job, washing laboratory dishes, as something I would necessarily have missed. I would also argue that I was only let go due to the politics of the lab and it had nothing to do with my work ethics. Nor will I count the receptionist job from long ago as I knew I were terrible at it. I always fumbled those call transfers. That firing, I believed, was justified. I would have quit if they didn't come to the conclusion that I was not a good fit for that position first. This layoff, however, is different and unique in that, with those positions, I could go out and find another job in a second while this position would require months to replace. Not only that, back then, I was young (in my pre-twenty), with no one else to care for except myself. Now, I have a family with young children to support. This layoff has a much higher impact on me than any other job loss in the past and potentially in the future, due purely to the timing of the economy, the job market, the type of career path I am in as well as my current living and financial situation.

Still, after a day of thinking about it and I do mean a whole day as I did not sleep a wink that first night, I remain optimistic that the future will be alright. I do not blame my company for having to make the cut, but wish that I could have done more. Perhaps that could have made a difference. There are many others affected by the lay-offs and I can not help but feel somewhat responsible due to the fact that if I could have sold more of my company services, it might have saved all of our jobs. Of course, one might say it might not have made a difference. In any case, I do not want to dwell on this for much longer as this would not help my current predicament. My focus, now, will be on finding employment as well as conserving my finance to last through this drought.

My first thought is health care for my children. COBRA has been ridiculously expensive in the past and I do not expect it to be any difference this time around either. So, what are my options? Buy my own insurance? Go for the state insurance? I don't know all of my options just yet, but that would be the first area to tackle.

Second thought, how long can we last on our savings? Being a worry-wort, I have been saving but it would be good to know exactly how long we can go on.

Third, would we have to move? Where would we move? Should we move to an area with better job prospects to ensure that future employment changes would not require yet another move. How would we move? Should I go first and leave the family behind? Could we pack up the entire family and go? What's about our home? My son's school? What's about my husband's grandmother? We moved her here to a nursing home from California. She will be one hundred years old comes August. We can not possibly move her. What's about my parents?  We suggested that they move out here when the housing prices went down.

All these questions swirl in my head and will continue to do so until I can find employment. I hope that by writing these thoughts down, they will help me better formulate my strategy. I also hope that those who might be going through the same ordeal could gain a "friend" if nothing else, for I know job hunting can be quite lonely. Best of luck to all of you and in return, please wish me the same.

I will post relevant findings during my job search. I have done these before but less prominently as a job seeker. I am taking my own advice from my previous blogs and letting everyone know that I am actively seeking employment, so please do send me any leads. Certainly, if I can be of any help to you, please don't hesitate to ask. I would gladly review your resume and welcome any feedback on mine.

Again, best of luck to everyone and have a wonderful day.

Mindy

2012 Resume

MINDY T. LUCE                                                                                                             
623-688-2006 ●  mindyluce@gmail.com

Dynamic and energetic professional with a strong technical background and proven sales record.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

u  Complete Genomics: Build relationships and create opportunities with strategic customers in new territory.

u  Life Technologies: President's Club 2009 at 159% and Centurion Club 2008 at 132%.

u  GE Healthcare: President's Club 2005 at 130% and Centurion Club 2007.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Genomics Service Account Manager, September 2011 – Present

Complete Genomics, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Kansas

u  Generated service sales for whole genome sequencing to life sciences researchers as well as translational researchers in a new territory. Develop markets for genomic services at hospitals, universities and industries.

Account Manager, July 2008 - March 2011

Applied Biosystems, Part of Life Technologies, Arizona and New Mexico

u  qPCR's, flow cytometer, sample prep instrumentation and reagent sales to research and clinical labs in biopharma, biotechs, research institutes and government agencies.

Account Manager, October 2004 - July 2008

GE Healthcare Biosciences, Arizona, New Mexico and Los Angeles, California

u  Instrumentation and reagents sales - chromatography systems and imaging solutions with consumable reagents

Account Specialist, February 2004 - October 2004

Eurogentech, North America, Los Angeles, California

u  Penetrate key accounts such as Quest Diagnostics, Genentech and Amgen for oligos and real time PCR reagents in Western United States.

u  Generate and establish key business relationships and drive sales through creative solutions.

Major Account Sales Rep, August 2003 - February 2004

Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Los Angeles, California

u  Sold Konica digital copiers and other office equipment to major businesses.

u  Learned how to prospect, maintain relationships with customers and close sales.

Research Associate, February 1998 - August  2003

Various Employers, Los Angeles, California

u  Various positions at Cedars Sinai, Mannkind Research, UCLA and Meduski Research with a year performing computer engineering at Mosaic Industries.

u  Specialized in molecular biology and immunology applications using a wide array of laboratory instruments and techniques.

Computer Engineer, February 2000 - February  2001

Mosaic Industries, Newark, California

u  Develop an instrument to test carbon monoxide detectors. 

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration, emphasis in Marketing 2009                                         
ASU, Phoenix, Arizona

Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry ● UCLA, 2000                                                     
UCLA, Los Angeles, California

Preparation = Confidence = Success

- edited by Ben Mudrak

Many have said that confidence is the key to success. Well, preparation is the key to confidence; when you are prepared, you can be confident of your actions and your words. Therefore, the key to a successful face-to-face interview is preparation.

The Face-to-Face Interview

If you have received a request for a face-to-face interview, congratulations! This is an important step and is almost always the last step before an offer. The face-to-face interview will be your chance to show your potential new employer that everything they see on your resume is there, and more. This is also another chance for you to find out whether or not the position will be a right fit for you. So, don’t forget to interview your potential employer as well.

Preparing for the Interview

Just as you prepared for phone interview, do your research. Find out as much as you can about the company and the hiring manager. If you can get in touch with past or current employees with similar roles, this might help you better understand the company’s expectations as well as those of your hiring manager.

You should also look over your resume and be prepared to explain any gap in employment history, your job experience, or the reasons that you left previous positions. Remember that you only have, at most, one hour to impress and address any concerns. One trick is to write down all potential questions and your answers to them. Try not to memorize the answers, but have a general idea of what you will say so it will flow better in conversation.

Employers are simply trying to understand if you would be a good fit for their company, their culture and their mission, aside from determining your skill set, so don’t take offense if it feels like the Spanish Inquisition. One of the most common questions I have heard is “Why do you want this position?” Of course, the pay is the reason why everyone wants a job, so that’s a given. What they are really asking is “Besides the salary/money, what would motivate you to come to work every day and do an excellent job for us?” Understanding the company’s mission statement and the direction they are heading by perusing news articles can help you formulate a better answer. So, again, do your research.

If it is a technical position, be prepared to talk technical, so brush up on your lingo. You should be able to understand specific terminology, especially if you have mentioned familiarity with the field on your resume.

Most people enjoy a good story, so think of a couple of stories that would highlight some of your skill sets and keep them in mind as answers for those ‘how’ questions (like “How do you handle…?” or “How do you do…?”). If it is a position involving customer interaction, an example question might be “How have you handled irate customers?” If it’s an engineering position, you might be asked something like “How do you start new projects?” The company is simply trying to understand how you would handle certain situations. What better way to answer these questions than to provide real scenarios that you have experienced? Not only will these stories better highlight your skill set, but good stories stay in the interviewer’s memory longer after you leave the interview.

During the Interview

Having done all the preparation, you should walk into that interview room with confidence that you are ready for the interview. Of course, if you are like me, you will still be a little nervous. That’s alright. However, do not do the “show up and throw up” routine (that is, telling them everything about yourself and why you would be a good fit for the position before they even ask you one question). Stay calm. Always let them start first. They have certain objectives in mind before coming into the interview, so let them tell you what those are. You may find some interesting things that help you sell yourself. If you happen to run into one of these people who start off saying, “So, tell me about yourself,” give a brief introduction and why you would like to join their company. Then, turn the question around and ask him/her when he/she joined the company and why. This should help get the dialogue going and give you more insight about where he/she is coming from. More often than not, the interviewer will start asking you more specific questions after that.

Often, the interviewer will give you a chance to ask questions by asking if you have any questions for them. Take that chance, and ask questions that you have formulated during your preparation. Once you start asking the questions, you can continue the momentum and take control of the interview, leading it where you want it to go. Try to have more of a conversation than a question-and-answer session. Pause some between each topic to give yourself a chance to take in what they have just said.  

The next-to-last question you should ask so you can better understand your potential employer’s expectations is to ask your interviewer who the ideal candidate for the position would be. Their answer will also help you formulate how you present yourself. Once you understand the criteria, you can talk about yourself and, specifically, how your capabilities fit the description of their ideal candidate.

I called that the next-to-last question because the final question should be to ask for the job. Ask whether the interviewer thinks you would be the right fit for the job now that you have presented your case. If any objection is going to be raised, this would be the time, but at least you will be able to address it. If you leave without asking this critical question, you will be left wondering if there was a concern that you didn’t address during the interview.

After the Interview

A thank-you note is customary for after the interview. Nowadays, most people send a thank-you note by e-mail. There is nothing wrong with that, but I prefer a thank-you card. There is much to be said about a nicely written thank-you note. Instead of mailing the card, however, I would deliver it to the receptionist or someone within the company who can drop it off with the recipient for you. Stop off at a nearby coffee shop, take out your notes and jot down key things mentioned during the interview. Emphasize that you are interested in the position and want to be a part of their company. Of course, this plan will only work if you were being interviewed on site, which happens with most formal and final interviews. Sometimes, if you are being rushed to the airport, this may be difficult to do. However, a thank-you note should be brief. I only put down about 2 to 3 sentences, so you might be able to write the note in five minutes while waiting for the cab. If all else fails, send an e-mail. I don’t suggest using e-cards, as some companies have firewalls that block those sites, possibly preventing your message from going through.

Now, you just have to wait. At this point, you did the best you could, and it is now up to them. If you addressed all of their concerns, you should be in a good position. I know everyone will tell you to relax and not think about, but I honestly have never been able to do that. One of my former bosses told me once that the best thing to do is to apply for another job. That makes sense. Taking on another task will keep your mind off of that last interview and keep you from second-guessing yourself.

I wish all of you luck in your job hunts. We all need a little of luck on our side. In the meantime, please feel free to e-mail me with questions. If I can help in any way, I will.