| Congratulations! If you’ve found this article, | | | | resume update as a reason to re-blitz as many |
| you are already ahead of much of your competition. | | | | recruiters as you can.When you get an interview |
| The medical device sales world is extremely | | | | opportunity, make sure you are prepared. It is simple, |
| competitive, because it is extremely lucrative. Device | | | | but there are many stories of otherwise great |
| reps are known to earn upwards of $500,000 a year | | | | candidates showing up without their resume, etc. |
| in some cases. While that may be the best of the | | | | Make sure you’ve researched the company, |
| best, the majority are still making $150,000 to | | | | competition and industry with great detail, and how |
| $250,000 a year. Therefore, these companies have | | | | these three all affect each other. Get beyond the |
| their choice of sales people. This article will provide | | | | standard questions, and be able to discuss the |
| some actionable items to help you land one of these | | | | business. One of the best places to get information |
| prime positions.It is true that you are going to need | | | | to allow you to do this is the investor section of the |
| sales experience to get in the door with one of | | | | company’s website. If they are a public |
| these companies. However, it is a common | | | | company, you can download annual reports, investor |
| misconception that you have to have sold copiers, | | | | conference calls, presentations, etc. Also, ask your |
| shipping services, or taken some other well-known | | | | interviewer to do a SWOT analysis (Strengths, |
| sales track. In addition, the idea that a pharmaceutical | | | | Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) of the |
| rep can’t get a device job is nonsense. What | | | | company. That should give you a plethora of |
| is important is putting whatever you have done in a | | | | information to talk about.When wrapping up the |
| very easy to understand format on your resume | | | | interview, be sure to close. Yes, it is cliché, |
| that shows you have closed sales and made money | | | | but it is required. You don’t even have to ask |
| for your company. For example:• Increased | | | | for the job. Ask if they see any red flags after |
| month to month territory sales by 23%.• | | | | talking with you. If so, address them, and then ask |
| Developed new customer sales program that has | | | | for the opportunity to move onto the next |
| created $130,000 in new revenue.These statements | | | | step.After you blow them away in your interview, |
| show that you bring bottom-line value to a company, | | | | follow up. Get online and find the interviewer’s |
| regardless of what industry you have been in.Next, | | | | home address, and overnight them a thank you |
| research the industry to get a solid understanding of | | | | letter or note. It shows that you are aggressive and |
| the major markets, companies, new technologies, | | | | resourceful. Make sure that you spell out why you |
| etc. This will help you with your detailed interview | | | | are the best person for the job, using the |
| questions later, as well as give you an idea of where | | | | information you learned in the interview/discussion to |
| you would like to focus.While researching the | | | | refer back to. Also, don’t forget to send an |
| industry, flood medical device recruiters with your | | | | email that same day, too, thanking them for their |
| resume. You can find them easily online. Attach your | | | | time.Finally, take any rejection and use it. Each time |
| resume as a Word document, and include a very | | | | you go through the process, you will get better in |
| brief introduction in the body of the email. Start with | | | | your preparation and interview skills. You will meet |
| a sentence such as:“My name is Bob, and I am | | | | more people that can give you insight and perhaps |
| a President’s Club achieving sales rep that has | | | | direct you to other opportunities. Eventually, you will |
| consistently grown revenue for my company. I am | | | | find yourself into the lucrative career of medical |
| looking for a medical device job in…”You | | | | device sales.Carter Dakin is a President's Club |
| will soon find which recruiters are more likely to call | | | | achieving medical device sales representative. He has |
| you with opportunities, and it is a good idea to keep | | | | successfully grown endoscopy, capital equipment and |
| in contact with them. However, it still helps to do a | | | | medical consumable businesses. |