What are medical sales recruiters looking for?
Is now a good time to look for a job in the pharmaceutical market?
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the pharmaceutical market has expanded at an annual rate of 5.8% since 2017. And most markets around the globe saw a spike in 2021, despite the challenges that Covid-19 presented.
The industry has proven itself to be resilient and will only continue to create more job opportunities as a result of automation, a growing pharmacovigilance market and unprecedented levels of competition.
Charting a successful career within this busy workspace, especially in medical sales, is all about being innovative, productive, and able to stand your ground in an environment where there can be fierce competition for the best jobs and the best clients.
Here’s what medical sales recruiters are looking for and what you should be doing to catch their attention.
An optimised CV
It's often cited that recruiters spend on average 5-7 seconds looking at your CV. While we know first-hand that many hiring managers will take more consideration when reviewing applications, the key message here is that you need to make your CV attention-grabbing. Apart from weeding out the basic errors - such as spelling and grammar mistakes, a generic personal statement or clunky formatting - you need to make sure that you've fine-tuned your Medical Sales CV so it's easy to read and clear that you're qualified.
Recruiters and hiring managers are increasingly using CV-scanning software, meaning you need to make yours ATS-friendly. But what do we actually mean by this? It means you need to follow some SEO best practices:
- Use relevant keywords such as medical sales, representative, medical device, and pharmaceutical
- Avoid specialist templates as these get scrambled
- Avoid graphics that will be unreadable
- Don't put your information in the header as this can cause it to get lost
- Include as many skills listed on job descriptions that are relevant to you
Dedication
Have you put the effort into showing that you’re serious about a role in Medical Sales? You need to show that you have skills that relate to the job you’re applying for, as well as relevant experience. List any qualifications in areas related to the job - for instance, an undergraduate degree in pharmacology is definitely important, you also need to build up a skill set that will allow you to thrive in the diverse world of medical sales.
Whether you’re just starting out, or switching up your career path, gaining work experience with a Medical Sales Representative, or in a sales job, can be a valuable way of showing a recruiter or employer how serious you are. Plus, you'll get an understanding of what the work is really like and which medical sales career path is right for you.
Sales skills
Essentially, applying for a job in medical sales involves being able to sell your products, in addition to knowing how to handle the paperwork and having extensive knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry. Given that 80% of any sales output will only be generated by 20% of the workforce, you can be sure that the hiring team will be assessing whether you're in that top percentile. To stand out, get some additional experience, whether it’s by shadowing sales representatives or attending a sales course in your spare time. It'll go a long way in helping you get noticed and hired.
An active approach
One of the defining traits of a Medical Sales Rep is the ability to be proactive and track down leads or clients by themselves. This applies to job hunting, too. Get in touch with recruiters or employers by email and ask if they have any vacancies expected to open up in the near future. Even if they don’t, they’ll likely remember you later when one does come up.
Since around 86% of people use social media for job searching, it's vital to make the most of social platforms and nurture your network. Follow industry-leading experts and establish yourself as a thought leader, engage with content that companies are posting and reach out to recruiters to let them know you're exploring your options.
Grow your Medical Sales career with IQVIA
Getting a job in the medical sales industry can prove challenging. But with the right approach, and by investing time into the right areas, you’ll be able to distinguish yourself from the crowd and convince recruiters and employers alike that you’re the ideal candidate.
At IQVIA, we take the time to support our Medical Sales Reps and match them to the best jobs in the field. Have a look at our Medical Sales Representative careers here , or if you’re curious to find out more about forging a career in medical sales, then why not check out our advice on how you can improve your medical sales skills.
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
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
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:
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:
Düsseldorf
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Düsseldorf
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1420727
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:
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:
Düsseldorf
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Düsseldorf
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1420727
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:
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:
Düsseldorf
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Sales
Location
Düsseldorf
Description
IQVIA ist ein führender, globaler Anbieter von zukunftsweisender Analytik, Technologielösungen und klinischer Auftragsforschung. IQVIA unterstützt Life Science Unternehmen, Verbände, Institutionen, Ko
Reference
R1420727
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Anja BollianAuthor
Anja Bollian