MedPharmSales.com Blog

I am a licensed Respiratory therapist with 2 years clinical experience in the field (both as a student and an employee) looking to move into medical device sales. I have an extensive medical background, exceptional people and professional skills and have run my own business for 12 years. I am extremely organized and looking for new challenges. How do I make the move from working in the hospital to sales? Am I a good candidate for what I’m wanting to do?

NEHSG — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:44:25 +0000

Not easy, but not impossible either. Without seeing your resume I don’t know if you have the strongly preferred 4 year degree or just a 2 year associate respiratory therapy degree. Do you have any OUTSIDE sales experience at all? When you had your own business what kind of sales role were you performing?

Most likely scenario would be to try and get a “clinical specialist” position, which is sales support, and not where you are actually responsible for your own territory, accounts, and quota. Ventilator and pulse oximeter companies (who we do recruit for) hire respiratory therapists in this capacity. Clinical specialist positions are easier to get without strong outside sales experience and definitely promotable to an outside sales rep position after 12-24 months.

I have a Masters in Psychology/Counseling and co-owned a home renovation business as well as worked as a successful real estate agent for the last 5 yrs. Would Pharmaceuticals be a good fit for me?

NEHSG — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:37:42 +0000

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.

I have a year and a half documented sales success in b2b sales and a year of pharmaceutical success finishing in top 5% in both industries. How do I transition into medical device sales?

NEHSG — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:32:12 +0000

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.

I currently am employed by Sysco Foods and have been considering the move into Pharmaceutical sales. First of all, I have a track record of successes over my 7 year tenure with positive sales. I have closed many deals with businesses to achieve these goals. I have also recently completed my Bachelor degree this past December. My question is would I be a candidate to be considered if I was to send you my resume?

NEHSG — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:25:46 +0000

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.

Would an experienced financial services sales professional be considered for a medical device opening? My positions have been wholesaling, POS, “asking for the order” positions with quotas and high commission structures.

NEHSG — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:16:15 +0000

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….

Can an Air Force officer with a six year career in Aviation and a strong record of above average performance and communication skills be considered for an entry level medical sales career?

NEHSG — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 01:48:37 +0000

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.

I am a recent college graduate with 2 years of sales experience, with an EMT-I certification as well. What would be the best way to start a career in the medical sales field?

NEHSG — Tue, 24 May 2011 18:54:15 +0000

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.

I am a former RN. Do I have a chance to be a medical or pharmaceutical rep?

NEHSG — Sun, 15 May 2011 17:12:39 +0000

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.

What is the best way to make a slight career move into marketing from a sales role?

NEHSG — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:23:53 +0000

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.

How does a domestic engineer/stay at home mom (2 yrs) who was once a highly decorated & very successful cardiovascular pharmaceutical sales rep (3.5 yrs) & b2b rep (copier sales 1 yr) who was a college athlete with a health/kinesiology background get back out in the professional world? I coach club volleyball part-time & volunteer at the hospital…I even started my own non-profit (earned over $50K in donations in less than 6 months & have over 8,000 followers on Facebook). Please help!

NEHSG — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 10:26:19 +0000

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.