Pharmaceutical companies employ Medical Sales Representatives to market, distribute or sell their products to doctors, hospital administers or pharmacists. This jobs involves being on the road for extended periods of time. Having the ability to interact with people and manage your time is essential in this position.
Medical Sales Representatives will also need to be very patient, as they spend a lot of time waiting on their clients to become available to meet with them. Their companies often provide them with company cars, laptops, cellular phones, and other necessary benefits. The salary of a person who works in Medical Sales can be extremely rewarding and lucrative.
A Medical Sales Representatives usually performs many of the following tasks:
• Setting up appointments to visit pharmacists and doctors
• Conducting presentations on their products
• Organising their budgets
• Giving feedback to drug chemists
• Attending regional meetings and workshops
• Going to product training sessions

• Being self motivated and persuasive
• Being able to negotiate and listen well
• Have an engaging and outgoing personality
• Being able to work on own initiative
• Driven and confident
• Being able to relate to people from diverse backgrounds
• Being able to meet targets or objectives
• Being professional at every level
• Being able to communicate in the written and spoken form
• Managing stressful situations
• Networking and organisation

ABPI code of practice is an integral area to have training in as a Medical Sales Representative. Employers consider these representatives an asset if they possess degrees in subjects of the Life Science and medical areas. These may include:
•    Biology
•    Nursing
•    Paramedics training
•    Premed training
•    Laboratory technician
Other acceptable degree areas include sales, marketing or business. Certifications may include diplomas, associate and Bachelors or Masters Degrees. Medical Sales Representatives will also be required to be monitored by the Prescription Medicine Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) and successfully pass all examinations given by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry after being in the job for the first two years. These representatives must stay knowledgeable about new products as well.