Who can help me get a job in medical device sales or pharmaceutical sales?Suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Question

I have over 20 years of selling experience but not in the medical device or pharmaceutical sales industry. I have sent out numerous resumes through search engines, local newspapers, company websites and career fairs but can't even get my foot through the door! I am concentrating my job search to these fields. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and have a very merry holiday season!

Answer 1

First and foremost, it is not impossible. I made the move from industrial sales to pharmaceutical (big pharma via little pharma) six years back now. It does and can happen. In fact, I've seen people of all ages hired in the last few years.

However, to be frank, why pharma? Many of us are trying to get so we'd be happy to make the vacancy. The game of pharma just aint that sweet these days.

Medzilla.com is a great resource for finding openings. But often, recruiters aren't going to work with people without industry experience. If you have b2b experience hype it in your resume and contact recruiters directly, or hr at various company websites.

Med device sales is different than pharma. It is more hands-on and measurable, whereas pharma sales is much more intangible as only information and sales presentations are passed on, but no product.

Look, lots of device companies are looking for people with strong b2b without pharma experience because selling is selling, just a different widget. Pharma is selling without the widget.

I got my first job, and subsequently current pharma position by applying to newspaper ads. Now, it's all web driven. I knew a salesman for a tobacco company who would take his lunch break everyday and stand in parking lots of hospitals and large practices to pass his resume on to reps.

Most tossed it as many of us are extremely arrogant. He eventually got a position and is one of his company's top reps.

Do some research first. What does the future hold for this industry; I have no idea. It won't, though, look like it does now in a few more years.

I guess to best answer your question is to pass on the best resources. Below:

www.monster.com
www.cafepharma.com
www.medzilla.com

Soul search, my friend. And good luck!

Answer 2

look into www.rxstrat.com