Student Testimonials
Tell me a little about your background.
I had ten years of medical sales experience in pharmaceuticals. The industry was downsizing so I started looking for other opportunities. Unfortunately, this experience wasn?t helpful in my job search because medical device companies didn?t care about that experience.
Why were you interested in pursuing medical sales as a career?
For me, it was personal. I have a background in military and I have seen friends who have lost limbs and had injuries. My own husband had to fight his way back from an injury and we didn?t know if he was going to be able to continue his military career. I was especially drawn to the Sports Medicine sector as a result. I know that I didn?t want to go in to Trauma/Reconstruction because I am a mother and needed more predictability.
How did you learn about Medical Sales College?
I had actually heard about the College in a few different ways. Since I was in pharmaceuticals, I searched the online forums that had information about the School and it sparked my interest. I also had heard about the School through recruiters and a former colleague who had known someone who went through the program.
What ultimately made you decide to attend?
Hiring Mangers in the industry did not care about my Pharma experience. I need to prove to them that this career change wasn?t just a whim for me. Recruiters asked me if I had training, but I didn?t.
What is the most valuable piece of information that you learned while attending MSC which ultimately helped you land your position?
Everything! My profiles specific to ConMed were really helpful as well as the practiced sales calls. The research that we learned how to do was very helpful too, from finding studies, to learning about procedures.
Why should someone attend Medical Sales College?
Anyone who wants to get in to this industry should go to MSC. If any of my former Pharma reps called me to get in to this industry I would give them the number of MSC. You guys have got it going on and I hope that you expand across the country.
How long did you try to get into the industry before attending MSC? What was that experience like?
I submitted resumes and didn?t hear anything back. I remember submitting one to the company I work for now and they wouldn?t even look at me at the time.
Did you have any fears about attending the School? What were they?
Everyone has fears of the unknown. It was a large amount of money to spend and it is hard to know what you are getting in to because the industry appears ambiguous. For example, what is a 1099 position? It all comes together however and the School provides you with the confidence and knowledge to succeed.
Explain what your interview process was like.
It was brutal. I had several interviews with their recruiter, Hiring Manager, Area Manager and VP of Sales. At one point they asked me what my favorite ConMed product was and why. Ten days after I graduated however, I had a job. My boss said to me at one point during the hiring process: ?Sharon, I didn?t hire you because you went to MSC, I chose you because you showed me that by going to MSC how hungry you were to be in the industry and what kind of salesman you would be as a result.?