Would I be banned from MN if I applyed for this job!!

[lilymolly]

Firstly cant apply for it anyway as currently pregnant and due to take 12 months Mat Leave as of next March BUT............

I was offered the chance to apply for job selling SMA products to medical professionals.

I currently work in sales in Medical devices and hate current job and would like to sell to midwife/health visitors.

I am a pro breastfeeder and bf dd1 and plan to bf dc 2

Presuming this job involves selling follow on milk only, surely this does not mean I would be banned from mumsnet

I am going to get flamed are'nt I

[nell12]

[tissy]

wellllll....

if you're only "selling" to professionals you won't be able to give them any "as good as breast milk" crap, because they'd know it's not true. Anyway, as a pro-breastfeeder you would be entirely accurate in your approach, wouldn't you?Do SMA do other products that aren't milk-related?

[lilymolly]

Not sure if they sell other stuff but presume yes.

I am bit gutted really as its come about a year to early- would love to have worked doing something like this

[stripeymama]

What SMA products?

[WilfSell]

You wouldn't be banned but you would have to wear sackcloth and ashes. And be shunned.

And stoned.

And then we'd set hunkermunker on you.

Seriously though, do you want us to make you feel better. Cos I don't think we can

Up to you.

[lilymolly]

Just looked at website- lookslike its consumer baby milk and specialised baby milk prescribed by health professional

[lilymolly]

oh no- cant apply for it any way cos of pregnancy- and tbh would def have applyed for it regardless but just got me thinking what mums net would think

[fishie]

tissy alas health professionals often know fuck all about bf.

lilymolly i don't know anything much about selling stuff to medical professionals but since follow on was only created to allow formula companies to promote it then i can't think it is a super ethical career choice

[DontNeedAnything]

Well TBH I couldn't care less.

But I think the market for follow on milk will be limited. I expect it would be mostly the stuff for premmies and neonates that the healthcare profession has a market for.

Any special dietry requirements milk is likely to have been prescribed pre-6m...so again you would be selling to the pre-follow-on "market"

[DontNeedAnything]

You weren't on The Apprentice were you...there was someone on there who sold medical devices

[theSuburbanDryad]

You might get banned for spelling "applied" wrong...

[tissy]

fishie,I am one, and whilst I agree that some can be in the dark about the mechanics of bf, not one that I know would claim that formula was as good or better.

my point is that lilymolly would not be pushing formula to the end consumer, but to people who's role is one removed. If they are ill-informed, it would not be her fault. In fact, a pro-breastfeeder is a GOOD person to be selling formula, I would say.

Now if she were planning to join Nestle, I'd never "talk" to her again......

[lilymolly]

No was not on the apprentice

how do you spell applied?

After reading the website info- i suspect it prob is selling first stage milk to health professonals and other prescription milks.

Surely if I emphasise that BF is the BEST choice, and that SMA is a second when BF is not suitable then this will be ok

[zazen]

I mix fed my DD, due to complications with post section and mastitis etc... if it weren't for the odd bottle of formula my DD would have been a different baby. Finding the right formula was a long process as we had no information from midwives or health visitors.

I think you sound very suited to this job, passionate, committed and informed.

Unless of course you want to sell heroin.

Formula isn't Class A drugs folks!!

[lilymolly]

Def was not on apprentice

How do you spell applied?

Job would prob sell first stage milk and prescription milk.

Presuming I am pro bf and offer sma as a second choice then surely thats not too bad eh?????

[lilymolly]

ignore last post- posted twice by accident

I would presume that selling the SMA milk would be not selling it over breast milk but rather selling it over amptimil or heinz for example.

[fishie]

i had difficulty establishing bf. EVERY health professional i encountered (midwives, hospital bf adviser, gp, hv) was unable to help and suggested i use formula.

to think that having a job as a sales rep for a formula company will enable a bit of bf support on the side is a bit naive.

[welliemum]

I think I'm with tissy, in that if someone has to do this, a breastfeeder would be a good choice, for balance.

But knowing the way formula companies behave, I wouldn't myself be confortable working for them tbh.

[lilymolly]

Oh all blue chip companies behave badly- have to work for someone and pay mortgage

[fishie]

you could work for a charity as a fundraiser. i bet you have loads of transferrable skills.

[lilymolly]

funny you should say that fishie

I am a trustee and secretary of local Riding for Disabled group and I am responsable for fundraising

That was one of my other options

[fishie]

i'm a fundraiser

it is fun although a bit scary sometimes what with responsibility for keeping things afloat.

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

Only if you were willing to commit industrial espionage to benefit the "cause"......

[fishie]

sorry that sounded horribly pious. i meant sometimes it is stressful but generally it is rewarding. the pay isn't too bad either.

[overthemill]

i know someone who applied for a job and got it when 6 months pregnant and started it at 8 months taking full mat leave at 8 and a half months