Medical Sales representatives are responsible for selling medicines, medical equipment, prescription drugs, and other products to hospital doctors, practice nurses, pharmacists, etc. In United Kingdom, these representatives have specific areas to sell their products. They specialise in particular sectors or products and can also make presentations to show their products.

A Medical Sales representative usually performs many of the following tasks:
• Organising conferences for doctors.
• Managing budgets.
• Arranging appointments with other professionals.
• Monitoring competitor activity.
• Developing strategies for sales.

• Having excellent communication skills.
• Being confident and patient.
• Having strong networking abilities.
• Having knowledge about business and commercial topics.
• Being able to meet or beat targets frequently.
• Being persuasive.
• Having good organisational and planning skills.
• Having competent problem solving abilities.
• Being flexible and creative.
• Having proper understanding of clinical data.

Some recommended backgrounds for Medical Sales representative jobs are degrees related to nursing, healthcare, sales, marketing, biology, biomedical sciences or biology. Most employers offer training schemes in case of absence of a science degree. Some companies require comprehensive sales experience and skills to learn about therapies and medicines. A good advantage for this type of jobs is to have A level in general science or biology as a minimum.

It is useful for applicants to see the list of pharmaceutical companies published by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry for more information.