What Is a Medical Sales Rep?
Medical sales representatives serve as the point of communication between medical and pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals. They work for pharmaceutical or medical technology companies and are responsible for advancing the sales of those companies’ products.
A medical sales representative could be in charge of representing a particular new drug for cancer treatments or a new machine that would aide doctors in the performance of open heart surgery. A medical sales representative can work within any part of the medical industry and represent any type of product or drug.
Work environments can vary greatly depending on the type of product that a representative sells and to whom he or she is selling. A medical sales rep may meet with doctors or pharmacists after hours or over lunch. They may also make cold calls and set up appointments with new clients. They work to make new contacts within the health care field in order to promote the sale of their products.
How to Become a Medical Sales Rep
In order to become a medical sales representative, one must typically possess a bachelor’s degree in a health, medical, business or science related discipline. Many online universities offer degrees in medical transcription, which would provide an excellent back ground in the health care industry for future medical sales reps.
In order to qualify for most medical sales representative positions, candidates must have at least one year of sales or health care experience. This experience can be acquired through an internship during school within the healthcare or the sales sector. Another option is a part-time sales job during school, preferably within a health-related industry.
Candidates must possess an adequate background in the basics of sales, excellent communication skills, an understanding of the health care industry, and the ability to foster connections with others in order to be successful as a medical sales rep.
Medical Sales Rep Career Outlook & Salary
The job outlook for all types of sales representatives in the United States is projected to be stable for the next decade. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of sales representatives in wholesale and manufacturing is estimated to increase by 7% from 2008 to 2018. This is about as fast as the average growth rate for all occupations. Sales representatives in wholesale and manufacturing working specifically within the technical and scientific products industry will see a 10% growth from 2008 to 2018.
The salaries of medical sales reps can vary greatly depending on the products they sell and the level of responsibility required of their position. Payscale.com reports that medical sales representatives working in the United States make from $44,850 to $72,718 annually.
Sales representatives who have strong industry connections, extensive knowledge of the healthcare field and business savvy will see the highest salaries and the most potential for advancement within the field.
