Making the career leap: how to tailor your CV for Medical Sales
Today’s professionals have much more freedom to do what they want in their careers. People are working more flexibly than ever before, switching from previous jobs to whole new avenues of work with relative ease, and making the most of their transferrable skills to do so. With an increasing number of professionals making the change to completely different lines of work, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be doing the same.
With that in mind, many are turning their attention to a career in the booming industry of pharmaceuticals - specifically, that of medical ales.
With the global medicine market projected to grow at 3–6% CAGR through 2025, reaching a value of $1.6 trillion, there is an increased demand for medical products and devices- as well as the people to sell them. And for good reason: with a whole stack of job benefits, including a great salary, relative independence, and the chance to forge a successful career, many people are thinking of making the switch.
If you’re one of them, here are some pointers for crafting a CV that stands out and ensures you get the job you’ve always wanted.
Find out what people are looking for
The world of medical sales is constantly changing. With new drugs being brought onto the market all the time, new technologies pushing the boundaries of patient care and treatment, and evolving regulations, sometimes having great business acumen isn’t enough. Today’s medical sales representatives need to know how to sell, but they also need to provide the client with the insights and information, drawing on high levels of clinical knowledge and knowledge of the market, especially as many medical products often require sales representatives to provide a hands-on demonstration.If you have any experience of working in a clinical background, then use this experience and emphasise it in your job application. Do your research, and find out what companies are looking for before you choose the company you want to apply to - how much do they value clinical experience, and how much do they value sales skills? Once you know this, you can make an informed choice about where to apply.
Bring your skills to the forefront
It’s not just clinical experience that’s important, though: many companies value employees who have made the switch to medical sales from different areas simply for the transferrable skills that they possess, that their counterparts might not have picked up from their time in the pharmaceuticals industry.Make the most of this: use your CV to show off all the skills that you’ve picked up over the course of your previous career that show just how suitable you are for the role. Whether it’s leadership, communication skills, knowing how to sell well or experience in client support, don’t be afraid to highlight common themes between life as a medical sales representative and job responsibilities in your current role. After all, it’ll be these skills that will get you the job. If you’re worried, you can even include a summary at the top of your CV, explaining how your skillset has been useful across a diverse range of industries.
Simplify your previous roles
The main problem that comes with making the leap from a different profession is that your potential employers don’t have any experience of working within that industry. As a result, they might not understand what you did in your previous role- or even what your job title involves, as titles can often change between companies. This could act as a potential turn-off, especially if they have a huge variety of CVs to look though.Make the effort to simplify your job titles for clarity. If your role contains several sales components, but this isn’t reflected in your job title, then why not insert it, even if it’s just in brackets? Your CV should be built to sell you to any recruiter or employer, and if tweaking your job title- and including a thorough, skills-specific breakdown of your roles and responsibilities- do that, then so much the better.
Show off your success
You’re applying to be a salesperson. Sell yourself: any aspiring rep should be enthusiastic, driven and a passionate self-starter, so make sure that what you include in your CV backs that up, whether you’re emphasising your transferrable skills or explaining previous roles, and how they’ve equipped you for a career in medical sales. Don’t be afraid to show off your achievements and successes.Kick-start your new career with IQVIA
Want to start fresh as a medical sales representative? Hear first-hand how IQVIA’s Therapy Account Specialist David Upton made the switch to medical sales.
Erfahren Sie mehr über das Leben bei IQVIA
Did you know IQVIA has
70,000 + brave minds
from clinicians to data scientists each transforming healthcare in 100+ countries
Did you know IQVIA has
1,200 +
epidemiologists
and real world insight experts
Did you know IQVIA has
1,200 +
epidemiologists
and real world insight experts
Did you know IQVIA has
70,000 + brave minds
from clinicians to data scientists each transforming healthcare in 100+ countries
Salary:
Location:
Vienna
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Vienna
Description
Oncology Key Account Specialist – Oncology Immunotherapy - Austria m/w/dAs part of a new European team across multiple countries, IQVIA’s international talent acquisition team is recruiting for an Onc
Reference
R1421495
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Rhys HarringtonAuthor
Rhys HarringtonSalary:
Location:
Bremen
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Bremen
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1421569
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Sabrina SeitzAuthor
Sabrina SeitzSalary:
Location:
Erfurt
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Erfurt
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. Bei IQVIA Contract Sales & Medical Solutions unterstützen Sie unsere Ku
Reference
R1344285
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Michelle PflanzAuthor
Michelle PflanzSalary:
Location:
Jakarta
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Jakarta
Description
Sales Executive (Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya)Kami mencari seorang Sales Executive yang berpengalaman untuk bergabung dengan tim kami dalam mengembangkan aplikasi baru konsep SaaS di bidang farmasi. Sebag
Reference
R1374944
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Polly KwongAuthor
Polly KwongSalary:
Location:
Jakarta
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Jakarta
Description
Sales Executive (Semarang, Central Jawa)Kami mencari seorang Sales Executive yang berpengalaman untuk bergabung dengan tim kami dalam mengembangkan aplikasi baru konsep SaaS di bidang farmasi. Sebagai
Reference
R1379173
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Polly KwongAuthor
Polly KwongSalary:
Location:
Jakarta
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Nurse Advisors
Location
Jakarta
Description
Job Overview To Promote pharmaceutical products targeted to health professionals and potential clients according to the established guidelines by the company, contributing to the execution of establis
Reference
R1391435
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Polly KwongAuthor
Polly KwongSalary:
Location:
Augsburg
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Augsburg
Description
Für ein spannendes Projekt im Bereich COPD und HKL suchen wir Pharmaberater (m/w/d) zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt. In Gebiet: Regensburg, Ingolstadt, Augsburg, München, KemptenDas sind Deine Aufgaben:
Reference
R1420765
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anja BollianAuthor
Anja BollianSalary:
Location:
Hamburg
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Hamburg
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1420730
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anja BollianAuthor
Anja BollianSalary:
Location:
Münster
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Münster
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1420733
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anja BollianAuthor
Anja BollianSalary:
Location:
Hannover
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Hannover
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1420729
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anja BollianAuthor
Anja BollianSalary:
Location:
Vienna
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Vienna
Description
Oncology Key Account Specialist – Oncology Immunotherapy - Austria m/w/dAs part of a new European team across multiple countries, IQVIA’s international talent acquisition team is recruiting for an Onc
Reference
R1421495
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Rhys HarringtonAuthor
Rhys HarringtonSalary:
Location:
Bremen
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Bremen
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1421569
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Sabrina SeitzAuthor
Sabrina SeitzSalary:
Location:
Erfurt
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Erfurt
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. Bei IQVIA Contract Sales & Medical Solutions unterstützen Sie unsere Ku
Reference
R1344285
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Michelle PflanzAuthor
Michelle PflanzSalary:
Location:
Jakarta
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Jakarta
Description
Sales Executive (Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya)Kami mencari seorang Sales Executive yang berpengalaman untuk bergabung dengan tim kami dalam mengembangkan aplikasi baru konsep SaaS di bidang farmasi. Sebag
Reference
R1374944
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Polly KwongAuthor
Polly KwongSalary:
Location:
Jakarta
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Jakarta
Description
Sales Executive (Semarang, Central Jawa)Kami mencari seorang Sales Executive yang berpengalaman untuk bergabung dengan tim kami dalam mengembangkan aplikasi baru konsep SaaS di bidang farmasi. Sebagai
Reference
R1379173
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Polly KwongAuthor
Polly KwongSalary:
Location:
Jakarta
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Nurse Advisors
Location
Jakarta
Description
Job Overview To Promote pharmaceutical products targeted to health professionals and potential clients according to the established guidelines by the company, contributing to the execution of establis
Reference
R1391435
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Polly KwongAuthor
Polly KwongSalary:
Location:
Augsburg
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Augsburg
Description
Für ein spannendes Projekt im Bereich COPD und HKL suchen wir Pharmaberater (m/w/d) zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt. In Gebiet: Regensburg, Ingolstadt, Augsburg, München, KemptenDas sind Deine Aufgaben:
Reference
R1420765
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anja BollianAuthor
Anja BollianSalary:
Location:
Hamburg
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Hamburg
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1420730
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anja BollianAuthor
Anja BollianSalary:
Location:
Münster
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Münster
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1420733
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anja BollianAuthor
Anja BollianSalary:
Location:
Hannover
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Hannover
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1420729
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anja BollianAuthor
Anja BollianIQVIA has been behind my development to become a MSL. The contracts that I have worked on have allowed me to push clinical projects with a recent opportunity to manage a pilot scheme integrating e-detailing into an established field based team. The result was an increase in sales.
Jodie Edwards
Since joining IQVIA I have had unrivalled support and development from my manager to enable me to aspire to move into secondary care. I feel like my career is strongly supported by my manager in order to maximise my potential.
Brendan Maccaoilte
Salary:
Location:
Vienna
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Vienna
Description
Oncology Key Account Specialist – Oncology Immunotherapy - Austria m/w/dAs part of a new European team across multiple countries, IQVIA’s international talent acquisition team is recruiting for an Onc
Reference
R1421495
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Rhys HarringtonAuthor
Rhys HarringtonSalary:
Location:
Bremen
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Bremen
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1421569
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Sabrina SeitzAuthor
Sabrina SeitzSalary:
Location:
Erfurt
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Erfurt
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. Bei IQVIA Contract Sales & Medical Solutions unterstützen Sie unsere Ku
Reference
R1344285
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Michelle PflanzAuthor
Michelle PflanzSalary:
Location:
Jakarta
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Jakarta
Description
Sales Executive (Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya)Kami mencari seorang Sales Executive yang berpengalaman untuk bergabung dengan tim kami dalam mengembangkan aplikasi baru konsep SaaS di bidang farmasi. Sebag
Reference
R1374944
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Polly KwongAuthor
Polly KwongSalary:
Location:
Jakarta
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Jakarta
Description
Sales Executive (Semarang, Central Jawa)Kami mencari seorang Sales Executive yang berpengalaman untuk bergabung dengan tim kami dalam mengembangkan aplikasi baru konsep SaaS di bidang farmasi. Sebagai
Reference
R1379173
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Polly KwongAuthor
Polly KwongSalary:
Location:
Jakarta
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Nurse Advisors
Location
Jakarta
Description
Job Overview To Promote pharmaceutical products targeted to health professionals and potential clients according to the established guidelines by the company, contributing to the execution of establis
Reference
R1391435
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Polly KwongAuthor
Polly KwongSalary:
Location:
Augsburg
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Augsburg
Description
Für ein spannendes Projekt im Bereich COPD und HKL suchen wir Pharmaberater (m/w/d) zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt. In Gebiet: Regensburg, Ingolstadt, Augsburg, München, KemptenDas sind Deine Aufgaben:
Reference
R1420765
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anja BollianAuthor
Anja BollianSalary:
Location:
Hamburg
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Hamburg
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1420730
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anja BollianAuthor
Anja BollianSalary:
Location:
Münster
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Münster
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1420733
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anja BollianAuthor
Anja BollianSalary:
Location:
Hannover
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Hannover
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1420729
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anja BollianAuthor
Anja Bollian