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More info
- Sell medical equipment and medicines to healthcare providers
- You'll normally cover a specific area and will need to travel to clients to discuss sales with them
- You'll have sales targets to meet, and if successful you may receive commission or opportunities for promotion
As a medical sales representative, you'll normally sell products to clients in a set area of the UK known as a sales territory or 'patch'. You'll keep up to date with NHS developments and the latest clinical data and research, so you can discuss medical matters with health professionals in a knowledgeable way. You'll often specialise in a particular area, like oncology, diabetes or respiratory health.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Arranging appointments to see existing clients and 'cold call' new contacts
- Making presentations and persuading clients to use or buy your company's products
- Building strong relationships with medical staff
- Providing an after-sales service
- Planning work schedules
- Meeting sales targets
- Organising and attending medical conferences
- Checking competitors' products and prices
- Keeping records
- Reporting back to head office
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll work in an office or from home.
You'll need
For this role, you'll need excellent verbal communication skills, the ability to sell products and services, customer service skills, good initiative, to be able to work well with others, persistence and determination, the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure, and ambition and desire to succeed.
You can get into this career with a degree in biology, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, or medical engineering. It might be possible to succeed with a non-science degree. A business or marketing degree can be useful, for example.
You may be able to start by completing an advanced apprenticeship in sales, or a business-to-business sales professional degree apprenticeship.
Direct application for this role is possible, but employers will look for people with an understanding of medical sales, and experience in nursing, healthcare, sales, or marketing. If you do not have a science or healthcare background, you'll need sales experience and the ability to learn about medicines and therapies in detail. An A level or equivalent in biology, general science, or health and social care, may be an advantage for this.
There may also be graduate training schemes available with medical sales companies if you have a degree. A science degree is usually preferred, but employers will accept other subjects if you have A levels in science and a flair for sales.
You'll need a full UK or EU driving licence, held for at least 12 months. All medical sales representatives will need to take The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Medical Representatives Exam within 1 year of beginning employment and pass all units within 2 years.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience and a good track record in sales, you could progress into area or regional management, or into marketing, product or account management.