Beginning A New Training With A Diagnostic Pharmaceutical Company

Tomorrow, March 3rd 2008 I'll be beginning a new training with a diagnostic pharmaceutical company. I believe that it would be somewhat different from my previous pharmaceutical training and I expect it to be more 'hands-on' kind of training.

But for 3 days, I might be wrong.

So, how to best approach a training? I have a few tips that had proven to work most of the time for many of my training. I think it's worth considering if you're starting on a training yourself.

Here are the tips:

1. Take a look at the schedule.

Know what to expect throughout the whole training. If you need to prepare anything, you already know beforehand what to bring along and what to expect.

2. Record them down.

Pen and papers are just one way to keep a record. Don't limit yourself. The purpose of recording things down is to help recall process and learning. So, knowing your learning style will help you determine your best recording system: visual, auditory or kinesthetic (hands-on) and you'll learn faster that way.

3. Test yourself.

Don't wait until the real 'out on the field' day to put what you've learned to test. Recently, many Pharma companies requires a field visit with senior rep for new recruits just so that they know what to expect from the job.

4. Active participation.

The best thing to do to get the most out of your training is to actively participate in the training process. Sit in the front row, volunteer to answer questions and work in group are just some ideas to get you kicking.

5. Don't go beyond a point that you don't understand.

If at any given moment when you don't understand a point, a concept or a fact, stop and ask question. If you continue, the lesson that follows might not make much sense to you. That's another point to actively participate in the training.

6. Schedule your own re-visit.

Most of the time, a training ends when it ends. You know best that the true value of the training comes after that so it makes sense to re-visit the training. In my previous company this is called 'sustaining'. Many reps hate the trainer who runs this but the true value shine long after the training ends ;)

Now, if you'll be beginning a new training with a diagnostic pharmaceutical company, I believe these 6 tips can guide you to your training success.