Medical sales jobs cover a vast array of roles dependent on client requirements. The most common first medical sales job is the position of trainee medical sales representative in Primary Care (General Practices). Trainee medical sales job requires you to promote pharmaceutical products to healthcare professionals, in primary care (GPs, Practice Nurses and related professionals). To ensure you have the required skills for your first medical sales job, you will be given thorough training on your products and also sales training, so you can interact effectively with your customers.

Ashfield In2Focus currently work with over 80 different pharmaceutical companies, so a medical sales job with us will offer you unique and varied opportunities. In order to continue your career in medical sales, you need to take the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) examination within one year of starting your medical sales career, and pass it within two years of starting. A scientific background will therefore be an advantage, however this is not essential and many people without higher-level scientific qualifications are extremely successful in medical sales jobs.

There are many other elements that help representatives succeed in their medical sales jobs. Working in designated territories, pharmaceutical sales representatives need a good working knowledge of their customers' environment and strong analytical skills to maximise the impact they can make. Being able to plan and organise is a prerequisite for success in medical sales jobs.

As the NHS continues to change, there are many variations on the Primary Care sales theme. Many companies have moved from a "share of voice" approach to sales to an account-management approach. As a result there is now a great deal of opportunity for career progression for representatives without having to leave the primary care environment. We have a career pathway for medical sales representatives, including Senior and Executive Medical Representative roles, and you could also look to develop into a Specialist or Key Accounts role. In addition, Field Trainer and Regional Business Manager roles are field-based and offer new and exciting challenges for people who can develop and demonstrate strong coaching and leadership skills.

If you wish to move into more specialist primary or secondary care (hospitals) medical sales jobs, you will need evidence to demonstrate that you are able to deliver exceptional results and exceed the objectives that have been set for you in your previous role/s. Working for Ashfield In2Focus also gives you many other career options. Pharmaceutical sales jobs require sound business acumen and excellent communication skills. These skills are valuable in many areas of business and could lead to opportunities in other areas of our business, usually based at our head office in Ashby de la Zouch.

Many pharmaceutical companies are now looking to outsource their medical sales positions to contract sales organisations and Ashfield In2Focus is the UK market leader in this field. Working for Ashfield In2Focus gives you a level of job security that other medical sales jobs cannot offer. You will also be joining a multinational organisation with offices in the US, UK and Ireland. Our parent company United Drug is still investing in contract sales so the opportunities for people looking for medical sales jobs continue to grow.

Why not take a look at our current primary care vacancies; we are confident that you will find something there for you. If not, please register to join our database to be notified of new positions on a weekly basis.