Student Testimonials

Seth Simmons

Hometown: Jackson, MS

Class Speciality: Orthopaedic Reconstruction and Trauma

Company Placement: Smith & Nephew

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Tell me a little about your background.

I grew up in Jackson, MS and graduated from Ole Miss in May of 2018 with a Business Management degree and a minor in Chemistry.

Why were you interested in pursuing medical sales as a career?

I was pre-med for a number of years, but having experiences in a few sales positions pointed me towards a career in medical device sales.

How did you learn about Medical Sales College?

I learned about it when I was rejected for a medical device position, and later learned that the person that got the job was an MSC graduate when I recognized him in his online profile on their website.

What ultimately made you decide to attend?

After a few unsuccessful interviews and online application rejections, I knew that I would need to find another way to break into the industry that didn?t involve selling Xerox copiers for 3 years.

Please describe your training experience at Medical Sales College.

It was a very intense 8 weeks of classroom-style learning, as well as interactive ?hands-on? training, but we covered a vast variety of topics, including anatomy, technique, selling, and interview tips. Rick Prentiss, my instructor, was a crucial part of the whole experience, and was an excellent teacher and person.

Why should someone attend Medical Sales College?

If you really want to work in this field, and you have been struggling making connections or landing interviews, this could be a way for you to set yourself apart and get your foot in the door. That being said, it is still one of the most competitive fields out there, and that doesn?t mean it?ll be easy.

How long did you try to get into the industry before attending MSC? What was that experience like?

I began applying upon graduating from college in May 2018, and tried for 8 months before deciding to attend MSC.

Please briefly explain your job interview process with your hiring company.

My interview process was somewhat unorthodox, since I had been looking for an open position with this particular company/team for about 6 months, but nothing became available until I was finished with my training at MSC. I called my referral as soon as I got home, and had a face-to-face meeting set up within a week. I did a ride along with the local rep at a surgery center for a day, and was given some instrument sets to look at. We met one more time at a coffee shop, and at the end of the meeting, I received a verbal offer.

What do you know now that you wish you had known before entering the industry/attending Medical Sales College?

That this application and interview process is not passive by any means. It is your responsibility to actively stay on top of keeping in contact with your hiring managers and not letting them forget about you as a candidate. Additionally, I wish I had known that even with MSC training on your resume, it is not advisable to simply send in an online application for the job you want. It is a much more advantageous to network with employees/managers there and get a referral before you apply.

What was the most valuable thing you learned at Medical Sales College/What piece of training do you use the most in your day-to-day activities?

I would say the interview seminar with Scott Binder at the end of the course was very helpful for knowing what to expect for the most part in any given interviews you will go through upon leaving MSC.