How do I explain my technical skills in an interview?

Kickstarting or switching your career is only made easier by having solid technical skills under your belt.

Technical skills are expertise and specialised knowledge that you enhance throughout your career. These skills assist you in your day-to-day role and are required in just about every industry, including of course, in healthcare and medical sales.

What are examples of technical skills?

Within contract sales and medical solutions, countless technical skills can set you up for success. Below we’ve listed just a few that your interviewer could be looking for:

• Data analysis
• Product knowledge
• CRM proficiency 
• Content management systems
• Market analysis
• Compliance
• Project management tools
• Medical device implementation
• Basic software proficiency
• Account management
• Sales Skills
• Clinical trials experience

Now that we’ve clarified what technical skills are, we’ll expand on why they’re important and, most importantly, how you can showcase your skills to your interviewer.

Why technical skills are important at IQVIA

Technical skills are vital for roles within the pharmaceutical industry because they enable our professionals to understand and effectively communicate complex product information to stakeholders.

If you’re seeking a MedTech role, medical device and technology operations require a deep understanding of how they work and how to troubleshoot any issues to address customer concerns.

Technical skills allow our professionals across a variety of roles to tailor their approach to specific medical settings, ensuring that the products meet the needs of the end-users. 

Furthermore, technical skills in these contexts help navigate industry regulations and lead to stronger customer relationships and successful product implementation. 

How do I describe my technical skills in an interview?

So, you’re in the preparation stage for your upcoming interview, your application has stood out to the recruiters and talent acquisition teams, and you’re researching interview tips and guidance. But how do you sell your technical skills? 

1. Make sure you understand the role and its technical requirements

When it comes to understanding the role and its technical requirements there are a few things you can do.

First, we recommend saving any job you’ve applied for so you can easily reference the job description when you’re preparing for your interview. 

Reading carefully through the job requirements and description is one of the best ways to understand what technical skills you should draw attention to in the interview. 

By demonstrating you know exactly what the hiring manager is expecting, you’ll stand out in your interview and increase your chances of being offered the role.

As an example, let’s look at one of our Key Account Manager roles, the technical skills you can infer from the job description are:

• Knowledge of how the NHS operates, including pathways for commissioning healthcare services.
• Account management expertise.
• Resource optimisation,
• Familiarity with the financial aspects and funding within the healthcare system.
• Understanding how to apply National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines in practice is essential for compliance in the pharmaceutical industry. 

Drawing on this knowledge in your interview not only shows you thoroughly understand the role, it also shows you are qualified to fill the position.

2. Use the STAR Method

STAR stands for Situation Task Action Result, this method is commonly used to showcase your experience and background in an interview. 

Our interviews are a perfect time to utilise the STAR technique in your responses to really emphasise your skills, experience, and how you’ve overcome any challenges in your career so far. 

Where possible, look to reference back to the job description and any research you’ve done on the role and the company in your answer. Touching on specific, quantifiable metrics in these answers is a fantastic way to show your competence in the technical skills you’ve listed on your CV.

3. Prepare for technical questions

During your preparation phase, evaluate the types of questions you might be asked. 

Technical questions are designed to get a clear picture of your expertise and abilities so it is useful to anticipate the questions that might come up as well as practise your responses to common technical questions and scenarios.

We’ve got several articles that might further help you in your interview preparation:

1. How To Prepare For Clinical Pharmacist Interview Questions
2. 5 top medical sales interview questions
3. Five behavioural interview questions that you need to be prepared for in medical sales

Expand your technical skills at IQVIA

At IQVIA, we are constantly looking for passionate individuals to advance their careers with us.

Now you’re armed with knowledge on how to demonstrate your technical skills in an interview, make sure to explore our available roles today for a career where you can drive healthcare forward.