Medical sales jobs are still going strong

There are some industries where success has little to do with the state of the economy: Medical sales jobs and healthcare sales jobs are definitely among them.


1. The industry

The UK healthcare industry as a whole is worth billions of pounds and employs around 2 million people.

The National Health Service (NHS) is the largest employer, with a workforce of 1.3 million. A further 21% work in the private sector, 1.9% in the voluntary sector and the remainder in local authorities and other organisations.

The pharmaceutical industry employs around 70,000 people. It develops and produces drugs, equipment and products, and is a major provider of medical rep jobs and healthcare sales jobs.

Medical rep jobs play a crucial role in the industry, closing the gap between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals. They ensure clients are aware of, buy and use their company's pharmaceutical and medical products - whether in general practices, primary care trusts or hospitals.

In terms of jobs in medical sales, the top five leading international pharmaceutical companies in 2007 were Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis, AstraZeneca and Novartis (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry).


2. The current climate

While more people are now seeking new work, there is a string of industries where success has little to do with the state of the economy. Drugs companies in particular are where investors pile their money to wait out a recession.

Why? Because people need dentists, doctors and other healthcare professionals regardless of the state of the economy - just as they need the right drugs and equipment to make people better. Because when things go wrong they have to be fixed; it's not discretionary spending. Medical sales jobs and healthcare sales jobs are an integral and invaluable part of this process.

What's more, skill shortages in the public services sector will always fuel demand for high-calibre professionals - particularly in the drive to find new, more effective drugs to fight disease and in caring for an older population.


3. What medical sales jobs are out there?

The healthcare jobs market is awash with a wide variety of titles and terminology. Some of the most common are healthcare sales jobs, medical sales jobs, medical rep jobs, medical equipment sales, wound care sales jobs, laboratory sales jobs and theatre sales jobs.

While medical rep jobs mostly involve promoting prescription products, successful candidates could find themselves selling anything - from wound care products, surgical tools, implants or large medical devices into large NHS trusts, private hospitals, dentists or even veterinary surgeons.

Opportunities may also occur in related medical sales jobs fields, such as medical disposables and equipment. Additionally, some experienced healthcare sales jobs lead on to working as field trainers - training and developing juniors in healthcare jobs.

Since at least one-third of the pharmaceuticals produced in the UK are exported, there are also international medical sales jobs opportunities.


4. What do recruiters look for?

There are many jobs in medical sales to be found, across a very wide range of specialist areas and geographical locations. Competition for jobs in medical sales can be high, particularly with company mergers and the tightening of finances within the NHS. However, there are lots of ways to stand out from the crowd. Certain attributes that employers look for include:


* Individuals who can successfully work as part of a team (medical sales jobs will often involve sharing territory)

* Graduates or trainees, or individuals with nursing, marketing or ethical sales experience

* Candidates with a science degree (approximately 50% of the 9,000 medical sales reps in the UK have one; the other 50% are mainly graduates from other academic disciplines)

* Experience in selling to the medical market, or a medical background


At SalesTarget.co.uk, there are a huge range of healthcare jobs and medical sales jobs for you to explore, spanning all skills and sectors. Search by location or keyword to browse the latest roles, or upload your CV and let the top healthcare and medical sales employers come straight to you.

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