1. Where and when you learned about the pharmaceutical sales position—the letter
makes a logical and legitimate connection to the employer. Also, pharmaceutical
employers like to know where candidates learn about open positions to determine
the effectiveness of their advertising expenses.
2. You have experience and specific skills that directly relate to the pharmaceutical
employer needs.
3. You are interested in this pharmaceutical sales position because you want to
progress in your career rather than because of need (not presently working) or
greed (looking for more money). The career change is both industry and career-
centered rather than self-centered.
4. Your tone is professional, personal, positive, and fairly neutral. The paragraph
avoids making canned, self-serving, or flattering statements about yourself and
the pharmaceutical company. The interviewer is not impressed with your skills,
interests, and knowledge of the company. The reader’s initial response is to read
more about you which would also lead them to reviewing your resume.
If you send a cover letter and resume in response to a networking referral, the only
change in reference involves the first sentence. In this particular case, you may or may
not be responding to a specific job vacancy. A pharmaceutical employer may be
surveying existing applicants to see who is available to them. This happens frequently in
this industry as a pharmaceutical company may hire someone without ever advertising a
vacancy. In this type of cover letter, the emphasis is again on making a connection with
the pharmaceutical staffing person. The tone is a little more personal:
Bill Riley, who I believe spoke with you last Tuesday about my interest in
working for your company, suggested I contact you about my sales experience
and pharmacology training. He mentioned that you wanted to see my resume.
I have four years of successful sales experience which involved in over 1.3
million in revenue for my employer. I am interested in the challenges that the
pharmaceutical industry presents and would like to work for a pharmaceutical
firm like yours that values team performance and wishes to explore new markets.
This is the best type of referral you can receive - an intermediary has already introduced
you to a pharmaceutical employer who is requesting your resume. The referral has
already legitimized your candidacy and screened your qualifications based on their own
judgment and personal relationship with the pharmaceutical employer. If the referral is
highly respected by the employer you will have your “foot” in the door. At this point,
you will need to reinforce their judgment with a well-crafted cover letter, a resume and
then followed up with a personal phone call. In this particular case, you do not need to