Nicole Sigurdson

I obtained my Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Cincinnati. I always knew that I wanted to work in healthcare, but I also grew a love for business throughout my time in school. My junior year of college was when I decided to go into medical device sales, but right after graduating college, I struggled to find a medical device job without any sales experience. I started my sales career as a Travel Nurse Recruiter after graduating, but then stumbled upon Medical Sales College and I knew if I really wanted to get into devices, that this was my best shot.

Medical device sales is a very challenging, but rewarding career. I knew I wanted a career where I would never have the same day twice, and that would push me beyond my limits. I love healthcare and the competition of sales, so this career is the perfect fit for me. I know that I can make a difference in a patient's life, and that is what motivates me every day.

Google.

I was a recent college graduate with only 6 months of sales experience. I knew it was a long shot to get into medical device sales since I did not have any personal connections. I tried to apply to jobs for about 3 months and didn't have any luck. I wanted to make myself the best applicant possible and learn the industry, so I knew I needed to go to MSC.

The training is intense and you need to be prepared for long days. The training definitely shows you how much time and effort it takes to be successful in this industry. I learned anatomy, products, sales techniques, and heard stories from instructors about their experiences. The training made me extremely confident that this was the career I wanted and I learned how I can be successful within the industry.

The sales training is great for understanding the difference between a regular sales job and a medical device sales job. The device industry requires a different approach to selling, and it requires a lot of practice. I was able to leave MSC with confidence in my product presentation skills and also how to talk to surgeons.

I have known for a few years now that my goal was to be in medical device sales. I didn't have any luck applying after graduating college, and I knew I needed something to make me stand out from other applicants. I also wanted to be confident and more knowledgeable about the industry, so that I could hit the ground running in a job after graduating.

I tried for about 3 months. I did not land any interviews and was constantly told to get more sales experience before applying again.

I reached out to a lot of people on LinkedIn. Networking is extremely important in medical device sales. One of the device representatives that I reached out to asked me to have a quick call with him, and it went very well. He sent my resume to his regional manager and the recruiter that was in charge of the area I was interested in. I spoke to two different recruiters for about 30-45 minutes, and then I had a formal interview with the regional manager. He offered me the job less than 24 hours later. Since I was referred, the process only took about 1 week.

There are a couple of things I learned that helped me land my position.
1) You have to want the job more than anyone else does. You have to show you want it by proving to the hiring team in the interview you have dedication, enthusiasm, and work hard.
2) Understand this sales career is unlike any other. You will have to work long hours and be dedicated to your surgeons because healthcare is constantly changing and you have to keep up.
3) Practice, practice, practice. By this I mean practice your interview questions, your product presentations, and keep up with the industry. You will only get better by practicing every day, even though it may be grueling. Practicing over and over was what made me extremely confident in my interviews, and really impressed my recruiter and regional manager.