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From thermometers to MRI scanners, medical devices play a key role in diagnosing or treating patients and can differ greatly in both use and intricacy. Medical device manufacturers are constantly developing new machinery / medical equipment and rely on sales personnel to present these to the health care industry. Medical device sales or science recruitment agencies will specialise in placing suitably qualified marketing or sales personnel into the medical device sales vacancies of their clients.
Working Environment and Salary
Medical device sales professionals will find much of their work to be office or home based, however time spent travelling to meet clients can see working hours exceed 50 per week. Salaries will depend much on a candidate's experience but new entrants and graduates can typically expect earnings of £18K-£25K per annum. Medical device sales representatives with five years of experience in the field can earn a salary of £30K+, whereas senior managers can command anywhere upwards of £40K. Many medical device sales staff can also receive company benefits such as health insurance or a pension, while some may be able to boost their salary with performance-related pay.
The majority of medical device sales workers will be responsible for a geographical location and this means that job opportunities are available across the UK. Promotion can see candidates move into more prominent locations or product areas, however initial jobs tend to be found in large pharmaceutical organisations in cities such as London, Manchester and Liverpool.
Qualifications and Skills
Candidates are expected to have some scientific knowledge and so graduates from medicine, life sciences and pharmacy courses are looked upon most favourably. Due to the sales aspect of the role, qualifications in business related vocations can also prove to be beneficial. Work experience within medical sales is also seen as desirable by employers, with time spent shadowing senior personnel or working within a hospital setting deemed most relevant.
A candidate looking to enter a medical device sales job role needs to be outgoing, confident and possess excellent communication skills. Successful industry professionals are also thought to be commercially aware, flexible and competent networkers. A medical device sales recruitment agency will specialise in placing candidates with these necessary qualities into permanent, temporary and contract vacancies. Many recruiters will also offer expert headhunting services to supply the most in demand professionals to their clients.