If you’re a recent or soon-to-be graduate of biomedical science, and have realised that a laboratory-based career may not be the right direction for you, you may be wondering what other career options are available where you can still make use of your hard-won qualification. 

Working in medical sales (or an allied role) could be a great choice to consider for biomedical science - and other life science degree graduates - who are looking for:

• A way of using their degree away from the laboratory setting.
• The opportunity to work in a meaningful job, engaging with healthcare professionals, selling products, devices, or medicines that could improve health outcomes for patients.
• A role with great training and ongoing professional development.
• The chance to work autonomously yet still be part of a cross-functional team.
• A position where you can track your progress, achieve targets, and be financially rewarded for your success.
• A variety of career paths longer term, depending on your aspirations. 

Here at IQVIA, we work with a wide range of companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and MedTech industries across many disciplines, and can support you on your journey to starting a career in medical sales. 

What types of Medical Sales positions are available?

Medical sales positions all centre around your capacity to build strong working relationships, understand customer’s needs – irrespective of who you are selling to - and offer products or services aligned with these requirements.

These are usually field-based roles where you will visit target customers face to face across your assigned territory (so a driver’s license is required), however, there are also fully home-based “e-detailing” roles where you engage remotely with customers – good broadband speeds and great IT skills are a must in this case.

There are many types of medical sales positions available for you to start a meaningful career in, and the following list is a starting point to help you begin deciding which may suit you best:

1. Pharmaceutical sales

Entry level roles in pharmaceutical sales usually involve selling prescription-only medicines (POM) or vaccines within primary care (GPs and practice nurses).

Positions may also be available in pharmacy sales selling over-the-counter (OTC) products to pharmacists.

2. Healthcare sales 

In these roles, there’s a wide variety of options depending on your interests and desired career route. 

You could end up working in wound care, nutrition, consumables, and more. Make sure to research the roles we have available and sign up for job alerts.

3. MedTech sales 

If the MedTech route appeals more to you after graduating, these are usually hospital-focused selling medical or surgical equipment/devices, often in the operating theatre or perioperative environment. 

From single-use disposable instruments to capital equipment (such as MRI scanners) costing many thousands of pounds, there’s a wide variety of roles available, which will vary by company according to their products.

Opportunities are also available for Clinical Specialists who support customers in the use of products but without the sales aspect if that appeals more to you.

4. Laboratory sales 

Laboratory sales involve selling reagents, and equipment (whether smaller items such as pipettes or larger ‘capital’ purchases such as mass spectrometers) to labs in education and industry. 

If you want to find out any more details about any of the above roles, browse our available jobs or research more about our recruitment process today.

Why medical sales could be your next career move after graduating 

Becoming a medical sales representative is often viewed as the gateway to a long-term career in the healthcare industry and is certainly an appealing career path if you’re looking for something outside of the lab.

Having first-hand experience of ‘carrying the bag’ (selling products in the field) is essential when progressing into more diverse senior-level roles, giving you time to find out more about the future career options on offer. 

Whatever you aspire to, consider applying to a company in the medical industry that prioritises moving healthcare forward, as we do at IQVIA. 

Discover what you can do with a medical science degree at IQVIA

Choosing your first entry-level job after graduation is an important step and can act as the springboard to beginning your career in the medical or pharmaceutical industry.

IQVIA is committed to stewarding you on this journey so that you land the job that best matches your skills and passions. Discover our opportunities in medical sales, and medical device sales today.