Learn How to Get Into Pharmaceutical Sales and Medical Device Sales
A lot has changed in the past few years, many positions in pharmaceutical sales and medical device sales are now using technology as a way to call on physicians and some medical facilities.
How Pharmaceutical Sales Positions have changed during COVID?
Companies are now offering hybrid roles allowing sales representatives to work from home and travel as necessary. When the Covid pandemic first started many representatives were only able to access physicians through the use of Zoom and other video platforms as facilities would not allow them to visit onsite.
Pharmaceutical Sales Positions and Medical Sales Positions are on the Rise
Many representatives in medical and pharmaceutical sales found themselves laid-off at the end of 2019 or the beginning of 2020. However, as the situation starts to resolve, medical sales and pharmaceutical sales positions are surfacing once again on job sites like Indeed, MedReps, and Linkedin.
Tips to Become a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
We recently had a call from a career counselor who was assisting a college student that was interested in becoming a pharmaceutical sales representative. This individual knew from their research that they were interested in a medical sales role. They reached out to Global Edge Recruiting to see if we had any connections for internships.
Although we don’t typically recruit for intern positions, we did have this advice:
- Network – reach out to medical device and pharmaceutical sales representatives in your community possibly through Linkedin.
- Check locally to see if you have any medical or pharmaceutical companies producing medical products in your area that might be interested in having you intern or shadow a sales representative.
- Obtain a Bachelor’s degree and consider working on a Master’s degree.
- If you are not able to get a position with a medical company within a reasonable amount of time, consider applying to companies that sell to other businesses (Enterprise, ADP, Paychex for example). This is called business-to-business sales or B2B sales. Many of these companies have intern programs designed to get your sales career started off right!
- Keep a record of your sales accomplishments to show future employers that you know how to sell a product.
- Learn how to sell your skills and abilities during the interview process. Knowing how to “close” an interview and ask for the job is crucial.
- Make sure your resume sells you within a matter of seconds. Highlight your accomplishments.
- Stay motivated. Getting a job in pharmaceutical or medical device sales takes time. There will be competition during the interview process.
For more information visit the Career Center or visit these articles in our blog:
- How to get an Entry-Level Job in Pharmaceutical Sales
- How to Get a Job in Medical Sales without Experience
- How to Get a Job in Medical Sales
