| Careers & Business |
| Pom-Poms and Prozac |
| by Aubrey Zich |
| Ex-cheerleaders peddling pills? And you thought the only job cheerleaders qualified for was “Miss Universe” and “Miss America.” |
So where do you think your high school head cheerleader is now? Fat and married to the captain of the football team with six kids? You wish. She is probably out selling prescriptions for big name drug manufactures - and making much more money then you will ever dream of making.
New York Times reports: Known for their athleticism, postage-stamp skirts and persuasive enthusiasm, cheerleaders have many qualities the drug industry looks for in its sales force. High kicks and the ability to spell “G-O T-E-A-M?” But many cheerleaders, and their proponents, say they bring attributes besides good looks to the job - so much so that their success has led to a recruiting pipeline that fuels the country's pharmaceutical sales force.
. . . "They don't ask what the major is," Mr. Williamson said. Proven cheerleading skills suffice. "Exaggerated motions, exaggerated smiles, exaggerated enthusiasm - they learn those things, and they can get people to do what they want." Gone are the good ol' days when honest drug companies bought the doctors expensive dinners and sent them to exotic resorts in the hopes of swaying them to prescribe their medication to their patients. Today it is all about sex appeal. So if you look like this guy and dream of working for a pharmaceutical company, you better be a chemist because you won’t get hired as a salesperson.
And what does that mean for the rest of us? Face it. That dream you once had of laughing at the head cheerleader at your 20 year high school reunion because now you are better off? Gone. Were you hoping to sweep her off her feet now that you are super-successful? Try again. Not only is she still more attractive than you, she now makes ten times what you earn. At least you can still laugh at the chess team. As for everything else, better luck next time, champ.
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