Career Coaching To Land a Medical Sales Job – Why You Need It
Are you a strong candidate but you’re just not getting enough interviews? Or the right interviews? It’s a common problem. Job searches are always tough, but our current unemployment numbers mean that you have even more competition than before.
The job search is a numbers game, which means that if you apply for enough positions and talk to enough people, you’ll land a job–eventually. But how much time do you have?
Watch the video and I’ll tell you about what my particular brand of career coaching can offer you: not career counseling, but true candidate coaching that teaches you the practical skills of how to present yourself in the very best light, and more importantly, how to get yourself in front of a large number of exactly the kind of hiring managers you need, in exactly the geographical location you’re interested in.
Get more information about custom career consulting and job search training.
Career Coaching: Do Men See It Differently Than Women?
You know what I’ve noticed lately? Most of my career-coaching clients are men. Out of the last 26 career coaching/interview coaching/job search advice sessions I’ve conducted, 19 clients were male, and 7 were female. I know that doesn’t represent the gender ratio within the medical sales field, so what gives?
Do females invest in their careers less than males? Do females prefer to seek help from male advisors rather than female ones? Do men have less of an issue than most people would believe about accepting career help from a female advisor?
I’ve written before about the lack of female medical sales managers (and I believe there are too few women leaders in all business and political sectors), but this is a different issue—or is it? I previously said that women were less likely (for various reasons) to play politics and participate in the networking necessary for climbing the ladder, and that women don’t support each other in the workplace all that well—yet. But maybe another reason is that they aren’t investing in their careers by seeking mentors, sharpening skill sets, or hiring a career coach in order to put themselves in the best possible position for advancement.
Does the stereotypical image of a female candidate accepting a lower salary or unwilling to ask for a raise extend to the idea that she won’t invest in herself as a candidate? Are women simply less competitive than men—which means they don’t go after every advantage they can get?
Is it that women rely more on conventional methods of skill-building (classes, certifications, etc.) instead of slightly out-of-the-box ideas like interview coaching? Does it seem riskier to them? Men are notorious for being more willing to take risks in all areas of their lives, so maybe that explains their seemingly increased willingness to try something new.
Here’s what I think: If women really are less confident in the workplace, it makes sense that they should seek out someone to interact with to build their candidate skill set and confidence. If women can’t find a mentor the “traditional” way, hiring a career coach who climbed the medical sales corporate ladder as a female and can speak from personal experience in the trenches sounds like just the ticket. And if women value their careers, they should be willing to invest in themselves, sharpen their skills, take a few risks, and step on up to success.
Career coaching works to eliminate any flaws you’re unwittingly bringing to the hiring process, and polishes your job searching and interviewing skills to a shine. If you’re a better candidate, you’re going to get a better job, and you’re going to do it much faster…which translates into a better work environment, a better paycheck, and a better life.
Check out how career coaching can transform you into a powerhouse candidate and help you land the job of your dreams!
What to Wear to the Medical Sales Job Interview: What Hiring Managers REALLY Expect
Are you wavering over what to wear to your next medical sales job interview? Your attire is another piece of the puzzle for your interviewer, and along with your interview preparation and presence, has a huge impact on whether or not you end up with the job offer.
Recently, PHC Consulting conducted a survey of current hiring managers within medical sales, laboratory sales, medical device sales, surgical sales, and other health care sales areas to determine what kind of job interview attire is appropriate for the medical sales interview and what makes the best (and the worst) impression on hiring managers. Which details make the difference?
Here are the results:
If you’d like to have one-on-one coaching or counseling about your next interview, check out this information on medical sales interview coaching. Constructive critique from an expert will make the difference in your job search.
Interview Coaching for Medical Sales Interviews
The medical sales arena is the top tier of sales positions in the workforce. Because the area is so varied, exciting, and lucrative, many, many candidates are vying for those jobs. So, if you want to land a job in medical sales, you’re going to have to bring your “A” game.
Every point-of-contact with a medical sales hiring manager (or the HR department) is a make-or-break one. Each one is a “weeding” opportunity for them: your resume, your cover letter, your online presence, your phone interview, and your first interview. They’re looking for a reason to throw your name out and narrow down the field to make their jobs easier.
In response to that, the smart candidate will prepare, refine their job search and interview techniques, and give it all they’ve got. But there’s one other trick you could have up your sleeve: your own personal interview coach.
Why an interview coach? Well, the best-of-the-best are competing for these jobs. Think of it like the Olympics (the job interview competition). Yes, Olympic athletes have talent, but what else do they have? They have excellent coaches who fine-tune their skills and get from them that extra few seconds that make the difference between a really talented athlete and an Olympic champion.
How does that translate into your job search? A great interview coach will
- take into account your individual history and talents and show you how to shape them into job-winners for you.
- customize your resume and 30/60/90-day plan.
- help you construct compelling, individualized answers to standard interview questions so that you’ll stand out in a big way.
- help you figure out what makes you unique in the job market.
- help you improve your closing skills so that you can ask for the job (a critical skill).
- show you how to negotiate your job offer.
The real beauty of individualized interview coaching is that it’s customized. It’s whatever you need it to be. You’ll discuss that with your coach, who can also point out things you weren’t even aware of.
What are the biggest things to keep in mind? Find a coach who’s an expert in your field, who knows what the hiring managers in it are looking for, and who is excited to be on your team. Make sure you’re comfortable working with your coach, too.
It’s difficult to get a job in medical sales, but it’s not impossible. Find a coach who can help you reach your goals.
I offer interview coaching for medical sales candidates, but you don’t have to work with me. Find someone you’re comfortable with and make the investment in yourself. It will be worth it.
What to Look for In a Great Medical Sales Interview Coach
Today’s job search is unlike any we’ve seen before. Competition is especially fierce for medical sales jobs in this economy, and candidates get weeded out quickly. If you’ve landed the interview, you need to bring your best game right off the bat and knock the socks off the hiring manager. One of the most effective ways to become an all-star candidate is to hire an interview coach. Individualized coaching takes your personal work history and talents into account and customizes solutions for you.
How do you find a great interview coach? Look for someone who specializes in medical and health care sales with lots of experience. Look for testimonials from other clients, and take advantage of the consultation that they (should) offer. If you find someone with the right credentials that you feel you can work with comfortably, you’re good to go.
What should you look for? A really great interview coach will get to the bottom of your problem as quickly as possible. They won’t want to waste your time or money, and will be interested in helping you land the job you want. They’ll want to help you identify your goals and pinpoint the areas you need to improve.
You’ll probably get some homework to do on your own, like books to read or specific changes to make to your resume. It’s great if they can help you arrange a job-shadowing experience, and help you incorporate the keywords you’ll gain from that experience into your new resume. And they should help you role-play interview questions.
But the best thing about interview coaching is that it’s personalized. A great coach won’t have a standard plan they make everyone adhere to—they’ll customize the plan to what you need to be a winning candidate, whether you’re in medical devices, laboratory sales, pharmaceuticals, or hospital or surgical equipment.
A good coach won’t make you crazy promises, but he or she will want you to succeed as badly as you do, and will give you the tools, training, and expertise to make it happen.
I offer medical sales interview coaching, but you don’t have to work with me. Research what you can expect from a medical sales interview coach, and make your decision. It’s an investment in yourself and your career that will pay off for you.
Medical Sales Job Interview and Preparation Coaching
Did you ever wish you had the “inside track” at your medical sales job interview? Or that you knew exactly how to explain that slightly difficult/embarrassing/sensitive situation in your job history? Or even the very best way to explain who you are and what you do in a compelling, “hire me” kind of way? Maybe you’re getting interviews, but you know that something’s not going quite right because you’re not getting called back for the second one.
What’s your solution?
Hire an interview coach.
Interview coaching is an unexpected alternative for many health care sales candidates. There are so many articles you can find online about job interview preparation (including all the medical sales job tips on this blog) that it can seem just as easy (and cheaper) to just do it yourself.
But, an interview coach can take you beyond what you can accomplish yourself—providing an expert, unbiased insight addressing your individual situation, examining your job history and personality to help you devise the best way to position yourself in the interview, and even role-playing interview questions with you. It’s important that you get one who knows your field and that you’re comfortable working with….but once you do, you’re set. It is an investment, but it’s one that will pay off as soon as you land the job you’ve been chasing.
Maybe you’re not having too many problems but you realize you could be just a little bit better. It’s gaining that extra edge that turns a competitor into a champion. Pro athletes know that—that’s why they hire coaches, too.
Interview coaching can help you with confidence and presence, communication skills, your wording and emphasis in your answers to typical job interview questions. You’ll learn to customize your answers to fit your individual situation and stand out from the “standard” answers everyone else gives. Coaching can also help you master the all-important closing (asking for the job) at the end of the interview.
Don’t spin your wheels trying to handle this difficult job market on your own. Get smart, and get a coach who can help you get on the road to success!
You can check out what I offer as a career coach here: http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/career-coaching/. I’m not saying you have to hire me, but you can get more ideas on what an interview coach can help you with. I’ve helped many candidates land great jobs faster than they could have imagined with just a little career coaching help, and I really believe it’s a great solution for every candidate. Best of luck.
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The Secret to Standing Out in Your Medical Sales Job Interview – Part V
If you’ve been in the job search very long for a position in medical sales, laboratory sales, medical device sales, surgical sales, pharmaceutical sales, or any other health care sales field, you know how competitive it is. But there are things you can do to make yourself stand out as a candidate…and that’s where this series comes in. Previously, we’ve covered:
Part 1 – Rethinking your job search
Part 2 – Using social media to help you land the job
Part 3 – Using the right tools to impress your interviewer
Part 4 – Job shadowing (a.k.a. medical sales field preceptorship)
Today’s post is part 5: Polish Your Interview Skills
You already know the basic rules for interviewing: dress appropriately (usually, that means conservatively), watch your body language, and prepare answers to typical interview questions. And they really are make-or-break issues.
But did you know how important it is to ask questions of your own?
Or that you must ask for the job before you leave?
These actions demonstrate your confidence and professionalism. They definitely help you stand out, because you’ve gone a step or two farther than most candidates who just answer what they’re asked.
Asking questions of your own shows that you’ve done your research, you think strategically, and you have great communication skills. Yes, you should ask about the company and the job, but you should also ask “What are you looking for in this position?” or even, “Tell me about your best employee.” That’s going to give you big clues to what the hiring manager wants to hear in your answers, and you can tailor them accordingly.
Asking for the job shows that you want it. Many candidates are afraid to be that bold, but you have to do it. If you don’t, hiring managers wonder if you really want the job, or if you have enough initiative to do it well. Simply ask, “What’s the next step?” or “Are you confident that I’m a person who can meet the challenges of this position?” You’ll uncover any doubts the hiring manager has about you so that you can deal with them right then and there. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by, because chances are you won’t get another one.
What else can you do?
- Check out one of my free one-hour training classes:
How to Land a Job in Medical Sales
How to Get a Better Job – Faster!
- Read all the articles on this blog, and go to the Medical Sales Recruiter’s YouTube Channel for videos to walk you through the whole interview process–including the all-important follow up.
- Invest in yourself by hiring an interview coach to role play interview questions with you. Sometimes it results in a big shift in strategy or style, and sometimes it’s just the small tweak you need to put you ahead of other candidates.
How Interview Coaching Can Help You Get a Medical Sales Job
Are you going to interviews, but not getting the offer? Or not even getting called back for a second interview?
Maybe there’s some issue you don’t have a great explanation for: a gap in your employment history, why you’re willing to take a pay cut in a new job, why you’ve been out of a job for so long, or something.
Maybe you don’t even know why–you think you’re doing a great job, but you’re not getting the call back.
It’s time for you to invest in interview coaching. Great interview coaching can help you with confidence, communication, presence, wording, emphasis, and other areas that are stopping you from getting the job offer you want and deserve. It focuses on your particular situation and your individual personality and style to give you the boost you need.
In this video, I’ll give you some examples of how I helped real candidates with roadblocks in their job searches that gave them a breakthrough and got them job offers. And we did it in less than an hour.
Use a 30/60/90-Day Action Plan for Non-Sales Job Interviews
If you’ve read this blog at all, you’ll know how important a 30/60/90-day plan is to your job interview success. In most cases, we’re talking about sales jobs in the medical sales arena. But I often get questions from people who aren’t in sales jobs and they want to know if that kind of plan can help them, too.
The answer is absolutely YES.
A 90-day plan is critical to bring to every job interview. It works for any marketing or technical support role in medical or health care companies–not just for the sales jobs.
Why?
Watch the video and I’ll tell you:
- How the 30/60/90-day plan demonstrates that you understand the job and can do it
- Why the 30/60/90-day plan makes you stand out from the pack and showcases your drive and initiative
- A hiring manager’s secret fear and why a 30/60/90-day plan makes him much more comfortable hiring you
I would never go into any job interview without a written plan outlining for the hiring manager how I would attack the job and be successful at it. It’s that important. I’ve worked with hiring managers for over 10 years now (and been one myself), and they never fail to be impressed with a candidate who can create a good, well-thought-out plan.
Want a shortcut to success? Check out the brand new 30/60/90-Day Action Plan for Non-Sales Jobs kit at Career Confidential.
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Ace Your Sales Interview If you are a sales professional, or want to become one, looking for a new job, you will face one of the toughest interview processes of any job seeker.
Now you can ace your interview with the 30 60 90 Day Sales Plan template with audio coaching. This simple tool will help you knock the socks off your interviewer and bury your competition. Over 30 minutes of concentrated instruction that jobseekers can use to get multiple offers from their next interview process.
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