Medical sales representative

You would visit healthcare professionals to sell them the drugs, medicines and medical equipment your company make.

You would speak to GPs, hospital doctors, pharmacists and practice nurses to persuade them to buy your products. You’d travel around a particular area of the UK - sometimes known as a sales territory or 'patch' - to see your clients.

You would:

• Make appointments to see existing clients and potential new customers

• Present products to clients

• Persuade clients to buy your company’s products

• Provide an after-sales service

• Organise or attend medical conferences

• Keep records of sales and customers

• Report information to head office about customer needs

You’d have sales targets to meet so you’d need confidence, drive and self-motivation.

You’d need to keep up to date with the latest clinical data and research, so that you could discuss medical matters with health professionals in a knowledgeable way.

There will also be frequent changes in products and healthcare systems which you’d have to adapt.

You would specialise in a particular type of product or therapy area, for example oncology, diabetes or respiratory health.

• Chartered Institute of Marketing - Training and qualifications for people entering or working in the marketing profession