The top skills that a pharmacist can carry over to pharmaceutical sales

The healthcare industry offers pharmacists the opportunity to use their specialist skills in a variety of roles, including sales and marketing. What pharmacists may lack in sales experience, they make up for in expertise and scientific capacity. A pharmacist’s experience can give them a significant advantage in medical sales and provide them with the capacity to carve out a successful career. Thanks to the breakthroughs made in science and technology, the pharmaceutical industry is entering an exciting new era. Now is the perfect time to embark on a career in medical sales and we’ve listed the top skills that a pharmacist can carry over and how they can be beneficial.

Pharmaceutical knowledge

As a pharmacist, you’ll have spent years studying numerous drugs, with an understanding of the patients and how they will use the drugs. Your knowledge of the science behind the pharmaceutical products on the market gives you an advantage over medical reps who lack scientific expertise.

When you meet with clients, you can make up for your lack of sales expertise with your more insightful explanations and authoritative answers to their queries.

During an interview for a medical sales role, share an example of a time that you have had to teach a new colleague about pharmacy and the key information about prescription drugs. Articulate how you helped them understand the purpose of particular drugs and why they are useful to the patient. Your expertise will provide you with the perfect foundation to succeed as a medical sales rep and examples of putting it into practice offers a great opportunity to impress the recruiter.

Interpersonal skills

Great people skills are one of the key attributes of a successful pharmaceutical sales rep. As a pharmacist, much of your day is spent interacting with customers and medical professionals, and the skills built up during these meetings will benefit your pharma sales career.

Social interaction and building rapport with clients are crucial aspects of the sales pitch process and you’ll have to make a meaningful connection with your customer to reap the rewards. Although your medical sales training will provide you with techniques that help you improve your sales skills, your natural charisma and character will give you an edge.

Recruiters love to see that know how to connect with people, so let your authenticity shine through and show off your listening ability in your interviews.

Managing tasks efficiently

Great multitasking skills are important in almost every field, and in medical sales, it can be the difference between success and failure. As a pharmacist, you would have managed multiple customers’ demands, tended to the needs of doctors and fulfilled prescription orders on a daily basis. As a medical sales rep, you’ll balance answering clients’ questions, arranging client meetings, preparing sales pitches, assisting colleagues and much more.

Your experience as a pharmacist will help you manage your time when you’re facing some tight deadlines. When interviewing for a position in medical sales, ensure that you reference points in your career when you had to prioritise tasks and manage your workload to hit your goals.

Communication Skills

The ability to effectively communicate with clients and team members is a key skill for pharmaceutical sales reps. In addition to providing in-depth explanations about your products, you need to coordinate meetings, work closely with your peers, and interact with clients’ staff.

A pharmacist may have experience communicating with doctors and customers as well as having to provide clear and concise instructions to staff. In doing so, you will have built up excellent communication skills with experience in getting your message across in the most efficient way possible.

When interviewing for a pharma sales rep job, you can stand out from the crowd by highlighting times that you have had to overcome communication issues. This can include difficult customers, language barriers or even a technological issue.

Grow your career with IQVIA

If you’re interested in a role in pharmaceutical sales, then IQVIA can help. You’ll have the opportunity to work in tandem with international pharmaceutical companies and make a difference in people’s lives.

Start the search for a brand-new role with IQVIA and browse our latest medical sales rep jobs.