Pharmaceutical sales: Background check passed + job offer taken away???

[SpeedRacer69]

Hey Guys and gals,

Not necessarily the right place to post it, but just wanted some insight to this. I know there are a couple of pharmaceutical sales reps on this forum.

Anyways, I've been interviewing for a couple of pharmaceutical sales jobs throughout the year (since april) and was turned down 3 times so far... All three companies I had gone to the very last step of the interview process, but they ALWAYS decided to go with the individual that already had pharmaceutical sales experience (I have 5+ sales/mgmt experience+ 4 yr degree fro accredited University, but no pharm sales experience).

Until a most recent company I have been interviewing for, after going through 4 interviews told me that I was the final candidate and that they had picked me to move onto the hiring process.

They run my background check and 2 1/2 weeks later I receive a voicemail from the district manager who would of been my boss, had told me that my background had gone through, everything was green and positive, I represented myself really well during the interview and did a good job but they decided not to move me forward into the hiring process for reasons they could not discuss with me. I have really good credit 750+, no criminal background what so ever, 4 year degree, everything so it wasn't my background and I don't think they would lie about it. I called him back asking why and was in disbelief that a company would run my background and decide not to move me forward and he said he could not discuss that with me? I told him it would be fair to let me know since I had invested a month and a half into the interview but he did not budge to tell me. Anyone know why they would decide to tell me that I was being potentially hired, run my background check, and change their mind? I am assuming they had a transfer from another state/city and decided it would not be professional of them to let me know the truth. I am really disappointed and just needed some advice. I know it's going to take 50 no's before someone finally says yes to hire me but just wanted some input and feedback. Thanks

[miiipilot]

Are you 100% positive on your references? Any doubt?

[Blake]

just be an illegal pharmaceutical salesman. no application needed and tax-free income.

[mdmaxxx]

Racism

[xerox445]

What is your physical appearance? No homo, but every drug rep I know is always a very attractive person, female or male, always in excellent physical shape. They also all dress very well, its obvious they have a significant investment in attire.

Could this be the issue they "cant talk about"?

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by xerox445

What is your physical appearance? No homo, but every drug rep I know is always a very attractive person, female or male, always in excellent physical shape. They also all dress very well, its obvious they have a significant investment in attire.

Could this be the issue they "cant talk about"?

My money is on appearance.
If they talked about it, you could sue them.

[matthewk]

Originally Posted by xerox445

What is your physical appearance? No homo, but every drug rep I know is always a very attractive person, female or male, always in excellent physical shape. They also all dress very well, its obvious they have a significant investment in attire.

Could this be the issue they "cant talk about"?

Yeah, this. I work (exec. management) in the pharma industry.

Have they ever taken a picture of you? Like for your visitors badge or anything? Assume the picture get's printed and stapled to the top of your resume.

[matthewk]

Originally Posted by MPBK

My money is on appearance.
If they talked about it, you could sue them.

2nd.

[Augenbrauezug]

Originally Posted by xerox445

What is your physical appearance? No homo, but every drug rep I know is always a very attractive person, female or male, always in excellent physical shape. They also all dress very well, its obvious they have a significant investment in attire.

Could this be the issue they "cant talk about"?

Why would they drag him through the interview process and BG check if they had already decided his appearance wasn't in line with their company image?

Sounds more probable that they had another candidate at the last minute who was more experienced.

[d_v_o_1]

agreed

[doubleIN]

they might have a "diversity initiative" in their hiring practices where they are being pressured to hire more minorities. this could be a possibility if their sales force is like 99% white and they have been sued or want to avoid being sued on the grounds of something involving racial discrimination. they can't tell you "it's because you're white we can't hire you", because then you might turn around and sue them for reverse discrimination. this stuff happens all the time in the corporate world.

if you think it's something about your background check, you could try paying for a background check on yourself and seeing what they come up with

[infinitekidM2C]

sounds fun to be a pharmacist

[xerox445]

Originally Posted by infinitekid2002

sounds fun to be a pharmacist

lol this guy.

[boymonkey]

Maybe they looked into your private life and internet activity? Do you have party pics on fb?

[SpeedRacer69]

I don't think it has anything to do with appearance. I take care of myself and am very well groomed. Asian, 5'8 160 lbs. It may have been the minority thing though, my references were all contacted beforehand so that was not the issue and they would not lie about my background check. They would of told me straight out "because of this occurance, we were unable to move you forward blah blah..." Pretty bummed out Telling me I got it, then changing their mind last minute.

[infinitekidM2C]

Lots of competition out there bro...keep plugging away..this is how a lot of non-experienced folks feel with their fresh degree.

[xerox445]

Originally Posted by SpeedRacer69

I don't think it has anything to do with appearance. I take care of myself and am very well groomed. Asian, 5'8 160 lbs. It may have been the minority thing though, my references were all contacted beforehand so that was not the issue and they would not lie about my background check. They would of told me straight out "because of this occurance, we were unable to move you forward blah blah..." Pretty bummed out Telling me I got it, then changing their mind last minute.

Do you have a accent?

The only other thing that comes to mind, is that last minute, someone that knows someone in the company needed a job, or someone else applied that had a reference that knows someone in the company.

[SpeedRacer69]

no accent, english is my first language as I was born here. It's cool i'll just keep my head up and keep interviewing!

[xerox445]

Yeah man, you sound like a great candidate. GL you will land something soon.

[Augenbrauezug]

Originally Posted by doubleIN

they might have a "diversity initiative" in their hiring practices where they are being pressured to hire more minorities. this could be a possibility if their sales force is like 99% white and they have been sued or want to avoid being sued on the grounds of something involving racial discrimination. they can't tell you "it's because you're white we can't hire you", because then you might turn around and sue them for reverse discrimination. this stuff happens all the time in the corporate world.

if you think it's something about your background check, you could try paying for a background check on yourself and seeing what they come up with

It's still just called discrimination.

Holy shit, that is a real term. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_discrimination Let me just put my foot in my mouth...

[qclik]

It is called affirmative action, maybe they have quota to fill with people of other ethics and sex. Otherwise he could just tell u the reason; someone is more qualify than u shows up or the position is no longer needed.

[michaelthepsycho]

Originally Posted by SpeedRacer69

I don't think it has anything to do with appearance. I take care of myself and am very well groomed. Asian, 5'8 160 lbs. It may have been the minority thing though, my references were all contacted beforehand so that was not the issue and they would not lie about my background check. They would of told me straight out "because of this occurance, we were unable to move you forward blah blah..." Pretty bummed out Telling me I got it, then changing their mind last minute.

There's your problem.