What is an ETC Medical Representative? Career Prospects of ETC Medical Representatives Today

The profession of a medical representative is gaining increasing attention today. However, it is also a field that demands a high level of specialization and in-depth knowledge. If you are interested in this field, we will help you explore the details of ETC medical representatives and their career prospects in the article below.

1. What is an ETC pharmacist?

ETC (Ethical drugs Pharmacist) pharmacists are highly qualified professionals working in the pharmaceutical industry, specializing in recommending prescription drugs and following instructions and supervision from doctors. They play an important role in meeting, discussing and convincing experts and doctors at hospitals, clinics, etc. to prescribe or use drugs for patients.

ETC pharmacists do not provide direct sales consultation to end consumers. They are the connection between suppliers and pharmacies, doctors with new information, treatment methods, etc. in the medical field.

2. What does an ETC pharmacy representative do?

The daily work of an ETC pharmaceutical representative depends on the pharmaceutical business they work for. To better understand this job, we need to consider the type of product, pharmaceutical or medical solution that the business provides. Based on that, the pharmacist's duties may change.

However, in general, pharmacists perform the following basic tasks:

• Research on medical products and solutions provided by businesses.

• Introduce new products, services, and medical solutions to distribution points such as pharmacies and clinics in assigned areas.

• Regularly monitor the market and identify potential distributor groups for the business.

• Monitor and research competitors to develop effective business plans and connections.

• Find ways to build and maintain network relationships with customers.

• Make sales plans and connection plans for each stage, following the business's development strategy.

• Search for information about new markets and expand your business presence.

• Timely notification of promotions and incentives to distributors.

• Support distributors in customer care to increase sales.

• Conduct market surveys on specific drug distribution and the overall pharmaceutical and medical market.

• Prepare periodic reports as requested by direct management.

A pharmacist is a person who works in the medical and pharmaceutical industry

3. The Difference Between OTC and ETC Medical Representatives

To understand the difference between OTC and ETC medical representatives, we need to distinguish the concepts and job characteristics of these two positions.

What is an OTC Medical Representative?

An OTC (Over The Counter) Medical Representative refers to individuals who specialize in introducing and advising on the use of medications that do not require a prescription from a doctor. OTC Medical Representatives often interact extensively with pharmacies and drugstore counters. Their primary task is to promote pharmaceutical products along with various promotional programs.

What is an ETC Medical Representative?

On the other hand, an ETC (Ethical drugs - prescription drugs) Medical Representative belongs to a distinct group of medical representatives compared to OTC Medical Representatives. Their main task is to introduce and provide information about medications and pharmaceutical products prescribed by doctors and designated for specific use. ETC Medical Representatives typically work in hospitals, healthcare centers, or medical clinics.

Differences between OTC and ETC pharmacists

Based on this concept, you definitely understand the difference between OTC Pharmacist and ETC Pharmacist. Specifically, these two positions have the following important differences:

4. Skills of an ETC Medical Representative

So, what requirements and criteria do you need to meet to attain the position of an ETC Medical Representative? If you are seeking opportunities in this field, take a look at some of the conditions and recruitment criteria for Medical Representatives below:

Communication Skills

For individuals working as medical representatives, frequent interactions with pharmacists and distribution agents are common. Therefore, excellent communication skills become more important than ever. Having excellent communication skills helps them establish relationships, exchange information, and interact better with partners such as agents and pharmacists.

Skills to build and develop relationships

The task of connecting and marketing products with distributors is important for pharmaceutical representatives. Therefore, they need to practice to increase their construction skills and be able to develop better and more effective relationships. This skill is gathered from different skill groups such as:

• Listening skills and synthesizing information.

• Skills to express emotions, create empathy and partnership.

• The skill of expressing response tactfully and authentically.

• Synchronization and collaboration skills.

• Skills to criticize and praise properly.

Customer persuasion skills

For ETC Pharmacy Representatives, the ability to persuade is an indispensable skill. When they introduce any medical product or solution, there are always questions and curiosity from customers. Additionally, customers often compare your products with other competitors.

Therefore, possessing excellent persuasion abilities is crucial to meeting these challenges. To persuade customers more effectively, you need to have in-depth knowledge of the products and solutions that the business provides. Thanks to this, you can present information convincingly and satisfactorily to persuade customers.

Information searching skills

As people working in the field of drug brokerage, you need to have acumen and the ability to quickly grasp information. An obvious example is when a new pharmacy appears in the area, they need to gather information immediately so they can recommend products before their competitors. In addition, thanks to their network of relationships with drug distributors, they can take advantage of information about potential customers provided by old customers through referrals or from word-of-mouth marketing activities.

Skills to finish the pharmacy course

During the process of consulting customers, pharmacists often have to conduct many pharmaceutical demonstrations. Therefore, closing skills are important. Regardless of whether or not the customer chooses to purchase your product or solution at the end of the demonstration, you should follow these steps:

• Introduce yourself and the company you represent once again.

• Provide your phone number and contact address so customers can contact you when needed.

• Ask for permission to retrieve your customers' personal information so we can send them future promotions and offers.

Perseverance and patience

Finding and convincing customers is not an easy journey, requiring pharmacists to have patience and perseverance in their work. Their mission is not simply to sell products, but also includes marketing and advertising of products. Sometimes, an initial consultation may not result in a sale, but through patience and persuasion, the customer will take note and consider choosing the product when the need arises.

Pharmacists need to have good communication skills

5. Benefits of becoming an ETC pharmaceutical representative

Based on the experience of many people in the ETC pharmacy profession, this job offers many opportunities for personal development and brings significant benefits as follows:

• Improve skills, expand many relationships: It helps you expand social relationships and relationships in the industry, which can be convenient for career advancement.

• Accumulate a lot of valuable knowledge: This job provides opportunities to interact, learn and work with leading doctors and experts in the medical field. At the same time, it helps improve important skills such as presentation, persuasion, criticism, thinking, judgment and business agility.

• High income level: Compared to other jobs in the same field, the ETC pharmacy profession has the ability to improve your monthly income.

• Flexible and proactive with your time: You have the ability to be flexible and self-manage your working time, without being bound by time.

6. Difficulties in the profession

Every issue has its two sides. Besides the benefits of pursuing a career as an ETC pharmacy representative, you also have to accept a series of difficulties and challenges, including:

• Fierce competition: This field is competitive, and maintaining a stable position can be at the risk of being fired at any time if you do not maintain your efforts and put in the effort.

• Large workload and expertise: ETC pharmacists often face a large workload and require extensive professional knowledge, which can sometimes cause pressure and stress.

• Frequent travel: Frequently traveling to different locations is an inevitable part of a career as an ETC pharmacy representative, which can create challenges for your personal and family life.

• Variation in workload: Workload may be unevenly distributed, with periods of heavy work, while at other times you may have almost no work at all.

7. Where to find a job as a pharmaceutical representative?

Currently, you can quickly access jobs and recruitment information for the pharmaceutical representative industry through the following channels:

• Directly: You can apply directly to pharmaceutical companies at the human resources department. However, you will have to wait a long time to receive a response.

• Business recruitment channels: You can access official recruitment channels such as websites and fanpages of businesses to update recruitment news and submit applications. However, it will take you a lot of time to find the right position according to your wishes.

• Recruitment websites: This is a popular job search channel today and is chosen by many people. You can access the platform of Navigos Search - the leading reputable and professional mid- and senior-level human resources recruitment company today to quickly access recruitment information related to pharmaceutical representative positions. ETC with attractive income. 

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