Dear Cindy – I Want a Pharmaceutical Sales Job

What certifications/qualifications might most pharmaceutical companies look at for a starting sales rep position? I currently have a BBA and four years of experience in retail sales with a good sales record. I have looked at many job postings for pharmaceutical sales rep positions, and all require different science qualifications/certifications. Would it be advantageous for me to get medical terminology, pharmacy technician, or RN training? Or what would give me an increased chance of working in the sales area?

Sincerely,

JS

It's true that pharmaceutical and medical product companies prefer to hire people with a science or healthcare background to sell their products. Often they'll hire fresh science graduates and train them in sales.

Many people, however, would argue that getting the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and/or basic science background is the easy thing – the harder skill is the ability to sell. Of course, there are differences between retail sales (except, perhaps, in the case of large-ticket items, such as vehicles) and medical or pharmaceutical sales. The latter require more in the way of negotiation and ongoing relationship-building than standard retail sales. (If you don't work in this type of sales, a first step for you could be to seek positions in sales of large ticket items.) Certainly, in cover letters to employers, or in interviews, you have to sell your soft skills related to this type of sales, including high energy, strong verbal skills, and the ability to establish rapport easily.

Of course, if an employer is being a stickler about having the healthcare or science background, courses are a definite option. A good option for you, since you've expressed a particular interest in pharmaceuticals, would be do a pharmacy technician course – they're brief; would give you good, basic information about pharmaceuticals; would introduce you to one of your two main customers, pharmacists; could provide you with experience also useful in medical sales; and would even allow you to work on the side if you ever were between jobs or wanted extra income.

Check out jobs in medical/pharmaceutical sales on MedHunters.