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© 2011 Normyle/Erstling All Rights Reserved.
Unfortunately, that is not a background that would transition easily to Pharm or Medical sales, especially through a recruiter.
Most Pharm/Medical sales reps get their start with 2-3 years of outside sales at a top Business-Business company known for their formal sales training and quantitative rankings of their sales force. We have several such companies listed on our website in the section called “QUALIFICATIONS,” but they include: ADP, Pitney Bowes, Xerox, Boise, Canon Copiers, Cintas, Paychex, Standard Register, Lanier, Moore-Wallace, Gallo, Ricoh, etc… These companies typically hire recent college grads without previous outside sales experience and provide excellent sales training.
Pharm or Medical companies sometimes do make exceptions, but not when utilizing a recruiter. You could try applying directly to companies and networking with those you know in the industry.
© 2011 Normyle/Erstling All Rights Reserved.
You should be able to transition into Medical sales. Just need the right company having the right territory available. While many Medical Device hiring managers would prefer hiring a current B-B rep, there are many that would hire a Pharm rep IF they have only been with 1 Pharm company and had strong prior B-B experience. Find appropriate recruiters for your career goals and network with those you might know who are in Medical sales.
© 2011 Normyle/Erstling All Rights Reserved.
Probably! Would have to see your resume, but, in general, we typically look for candidates who are currently doing OUTSIDE sales to businesses and who only have one or possibly two jobs after graduating college. Again, need BS or BA and 1 or 2 jobs doing outside sales for 1-5 years. Too many years are not good either! Entry level Med/Pharm sales positions are best fit for those with less than 5-6 years.
© 2011 Normyle/Erstling All Rights Reserved.
Generally speaking, financial service sales is NOT a good background for recruiters. Our entry level positions typically need candidates who are selling to businesses, not individuals or consumers. Best background to get into Med/Pharm sales is one or two prior jobs and current selling for 18-30 months to businesses. Must be knocking on doors and not selling by phone. Typical companies/ backgrounds we have success with would be: ADP, Cintas, Ricoh, Xerox, Pitney Bowes, Canon Copiers, etc….
© 2011 Normyle/Erstling All Rights Reserved.
It’s possible, but not easy/likely. Most Hiring managers are looking for proven sales performers. That being said, military backgrounds are well received these days, but preferably with prior outside sales experience. There are a couple of national firms that just recruit/place JMO’s (Junior Military Officers). Your best bet would be to work with them if you do not have the outside sales background that most recruiters need.
© 2011 Normyle/Erstling All Rights Reserved.
That depends on how strong your sales experience is. If you have 2 years of OUTSIDE sales with one large well known B-B company, then a recruiting firm such as ours can definitely help you gain access to opportunities that you otherwise would never know about and be able to help prepare you for the very competitive hiring process. It is very difficult to get into Medical sales, but if you have the right background, a recruiter can definitely help. Need 2 years at a well known B-B company like ADP, Cintas, Ricoh, Pitney Bowes, Xerox, etc.…
If you don’t have the strong outside B-B sales background, then your best bet is to simply apply directly to Medical companies and network like crazy with anyone you know in the industry. You are always better off going through a recruiter, if possible, rather than sending your resume as one of thousands that Medical companies receive daily. Recruiters typically only refer 3 to 5 of the best candidates for any position and then help them get the job throughout the process.
© 2011 Normyle/Erstling All Rights Reserved.
That depends. Many nurses have gone into Medical Device or Pharm sales. It certainly helps if you have a BSN and some kind of outside sales experience. Not sure what you mean by “former RN?” If you have recently worked on the ICU/CCU floor of a hospital, you would also might be a candidate for a Clinical Specialist position where you would be supporting the sales staff and in-servicing your company’s products. But again, BSN’s who are currently still working in a hospital are preferred. If you have been totally out of the work force for a few years and have no outside sales experience, your chances are much less.
© 2011 Normyle/Erstling All Rights Reserved.
The best way is always to get promoted/transferred within your current company. Make it known within your company that you would now like to be considered for marketing positions. Typically candidates who just received their MBA are considered, at least at the larger companies. Some employers will also recruit directly out of MBA programs at the better schools for marketing.
Recruiters will not be likely to be able to help you because we generally have to look for candidates who currently have that background/experience.
© 2011 Normyle/Erstling All Rights Reserved.
Good question, one we hear fairly frequently. The answer is apply directly, but more importantly, Network, Network, Network… Contact all your old colleagues and friends who are still in the industry. Have them hand deliver your resume to their manager and sing your praises as to what a great rep you were! Unfortunately, I doubt that recruiters will be able to help you in today’s market. With approximately 40,000 pharm reps currently on the market, only current (or VERY recently layed off) reps are being sought after by most recruiters. Hiring managers always feel that the still-employed pharm reps are the best, most desireable candidates and, when paying a recruiter to find and refer 2-5 candidates, they only want the best current reps.
© 2011 Normyle/Erstling All Rights Reserved.
Not aware of any. Don’t think there are any career fairs specifically for the Medical sales industry. There used to be several for the Pharm sales industry, but no longer due to the Pharm industry laying off 40-50,000 reps over the past 3-4 years.
Best bets are to: 1. Network with all your contacts in the Medical sales industry. 2. Contact recruiters who specialize in Medical sales. 3. Go to Medical device conventions and shows (find on Google) that are held around the country for specific segments of the industry, i.e. Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Plastic Surgery/Aesthetics, Orthopedics, Cardiology, etc…. They are not at all career fairs, but they can be a good place to network and make some connections.
© 2011 Normyle/Erstling All Rights Reserved.