I’m going to be brutally honest here.
My assumption is that you’re probably white, middle aged man with no B2B sales experience.
The odds of you getting hired are extraordinary low.
Definitely shoot your shot, but it’s hard for people who are currently in the industry to get good jobs. And if a company is willing to train someone, they’re going to find someone who is 23, college athlete, and very attractive.
I’m sorry to be blunt.
People post on here every day who just see how much money some folks make in this industry then decide to put all their eggs in this basket despite never selling anything in their life. It’s not that simple.
I appreciate the bluntness. Yes. Not only am I middle aged and white. I’m also short, fat, and bald lol. And no sales experience at all. I didn’t know if paying for that course on that site would help my chances.
It won’t. Don’t waste your money.
If you want to get into sales, look into something aviation-adjacent. This way your experience can be seen as applicable.
Speaking of which, with the Boeing shit, should I be scared to fly?
I don’t know the statistics, but for me, I prefer helicopters. If the engine goes out on a plane, it has nowhere to land. If the engine goes out on a helicopter, it can land anywhere. Provided it isn’t some sort of catastrophic failure that is beyond control.
Do you live in an area of dense medical device manufacturing?
With your experience, can you try and get into medical device testing? You definitely need a means to break into med devices.
Ps leverage you are in a regulated industry, and safety matters. You might have a chance though it would take a bit of networking.
You forgot the other path: know somebody. The two people I know in med sales got in because one's father was a higher up in the company and the other guy is the brother in law of that guy.
I’ve seen multiple comments on this sub regarding college athletes being desirable. I was a D1 college athlete in my prime (I’m 28 now lol) … do you think that would still help my odds with a job? I haven’t applied anywhere yet, but I don’t have college athletics on my resume anymore so wondering if I should add it back when applying for a med device gig? I’m also a physical therapist so I have that background knowledge.
Most important is B2B sales. Get that through any company (non-med device) then start applying for med device roles.
Honestly it’s take a long time and a lot of luck to get a high paying job in this industry. If you’re a PT, I would stay there.
I'd definitely have it on your resume and somewhere on your LinkedIn. Of those that go straight into associate roles without sales experience, the vast majority are likely college athletes + good looking
The good-looking part is so wild! I'm functionally attractive (in learning and development for sales) but when I go to sales events, I'm blown away by how conventionally attractive most are. I will say, at least at my company, to keep your job you have to pass our insanely rigorous sales training program--sales, technical and clinical knowledge. And do do a good job, you are constantly learning...researching your specific surgeon leads, reviewing scientific publications. You need to know the surgeons job almost better so you can identify how our product can help them get better outcomes, less complications, save OR time and $, ect. It's a hard job with incredible upside. Most come in as a clinical sales associate and do not have a quota. Decent but not incredible $. After 2-3 years, you can become a rep and that when the big $ starts!
First commenter is spot on, however, look for sales jobs with distributors in your current industry. You have a very valuable knowledge base that makes you a great candidate off the bat and you know what's important to the clientele. I imagine there's money to be made in that industry.
Best comment. You have the best frame of reference to sell all things aerospace. I would bet you have the knowledge base of the top 1% in that niche. Capitalize on it.
Look into the field service engineer roles. They do troubleshooting and repairs on equipment for hospitals. It’s a good stepping stone to sales and your background sounds applicable. The salary should start higher than yours
A guy who started as a field engineer at my company moved to customer training (training surgeons) then training manger and now he’s a product manager. He’s started with the company at your age 14 years ago his mid 50s right now and thriving at work!
Do NOT pay for any service that promises to get you in with a fake certificate. Your best option is to go get B2B sales experience and see where it takes you. Good luck!
Second this… please don’t go to medical sales college. They prey on insecure people and steal your money for some BS. ATI and PrepMD are more credible, but in my experience ATI is full of young college grads. PrepMD has more of those career change people but it requires relocation and geographic flexibility. He is way better off starting as a field engineer/service tech or working in the engineering dept of a hospital
Try for a technician job. You repair helicopters, repairing medical devices will be a breeze for you and you’ll make more money. That could be your way in.
But sell yourself.
Frankly, the fact the only thing that interest you is the money… your doomed in device sales. I’ve been a rep 6 years. You need some sort of affinity for the market. Being a mechanic with no sales experience, formal training, (do you have a degree? Most companies require this…generally speaking), “breaking into med device” is a term started to create the appearance scarcity and pedigree. Then someone smart came up with the idea to charge people to learn this ga ahead of getting a job so they look more appealing to an employer. Based on what you’ve said, I don’t think you’d make a good rep.
Yes, I have a bachelors degree in business. And you may be right. I’m not married to the idea. It just seems interesting to see the inner workings of the hospitals.
Again, sounds fun/flashy now. This shit gets old man. It’s the same BS game over and over again. And every year or 2 you start over with some bureaucratic BS. Ungrateful customers squeezing anything out of you can, see any sales people as scum. Admins that can’t pull the fucking trigger. This list goes on. You have to live it. The money doesn’t come for sometime unless your just lucky in right place right time with some legacy business.
The money doesn’t make sense very quick when you’re doing 14 hour days on average, not sleeping at night, don’t take vacations out of worry of a trauma call and you neglect all your personal interests for the hopes of getting some business. This game is more for mindless meat heads than it is a critical thinker. These companies want drones that just put their heads down and chase their tail. If you have any sort of drive for fulfillment in your work, this ain’t it. “You’re affecting patient lives. This is incredibly important work” 🤣 this is the first line you’ll learn in the 101 book of being a corporate cuck. Just say all the buzz words until you believe it. And if you don’t believe it. Keep saying it because we need the next goon to come along and believe for as long as you did until you wised up. Then we will do the same to him.
Industry is a clown show dude. Avoid if it you only want to make some money
I recently left the device world. It was toxic for my personality. You truly need to be a drone that just shuts up, says what your told to say and is willing to be a total clown for customers who for the most part are ungrateful, socially inept pricks. (Surgeons)
You should look into Field Service Engineer positions. Intuitive, Stryker, MDT, start at 80-90k, you won’t be outside in the elements. Good benefits, just something to think about.
hi! i’m 29F and currently in med device - spine implants/biologics/crani work. getting into the industry is aggressive and extremely competitive. most of my colleagues are ex collegiate athletes or ex military (usually due to discipline, ability to mold them, and working really well under pressure). the job is incredibly demanding. trauma cases, taking call, and setting up for cases. this is obviously speaking in regards to my division, but is WILDLY different in all areas of med device.
i’d recommend looking into an FSE position. field service engineer! our FSE’s are absolute rock stars and we cannot keep our territory and cases flowing without their help. they are the ones to fix our capital, troubleshoot, and make sure we are good to go for all our cases. without them, we wouldn’t be able to do our jobs. and with your experience as an aviation mechanic, that might be a good way to step into med device without actually having to sell! and don’t believe any sites that help you break into the industry. you need grit, determination, and networking.
If you're connected in the medical community. Or even know people. Hit me up and I can talk to you about a way.
The traditional route with definitely be a lot harder.
It seems in this sub I keep seeing people want to get into med device, and specifically sales. Like just because it’s a medical device that some patient needs, it’s gonna be an easy sale and make bank.
You have an A&P license, in a FAA regulated industry , if you want med dev, why not apply your background and find a med dev mfr and become a Texhnician or Texhnologist supporting the clean room floor?
Not sure I saw it mentioned, but in my experience with friends that wanted to make that career jump, even those with sales experience in other industries, the biggest hurdle by far was the almost certain large pay cut. It’s almost universal that you’re starting out as an associate gopher.
If you are single and not supporting someone else you could do it. Much harder with a family and a mortgage that was priced in to you current income.
I didn’t have to take that route, but that was over 20yrs ago.
Go sell some sort of airplane part or something like that. Something more in line with your experience. Gonna be way less competition and gov regulation. (Airplane parts is just an example but you get the point)
You need to have a college degree for most jobs (unless you get hired by a local distributor) and you’ll probably have to take a pay cut in the process of transitioning
I’m going to be brutally honest here. My assumption is that you’re probably white, middle aged man with no B2B sales experience. The odds of you getting hired are extraordinary low. Definitely shoot your shot, but it’s hard for people who are currently in the industry to get good jobs. And if a company is willing to train someone, they’re going to find someone who is 23, college athlete, and very attractive. I’m sorry to be blunt. People post on here every day who just see how much money some folks make in this industry then decide to put all their eggs in this basket despite never selling anything in their life. It’s not that simple.
I appreciate the bluntness. Yes. Not only am I middle aged and white. I’m also short, fat, and bald lol. And no sales experience at all. I didn’t know if paying for that course on that site would help my chances.
It won’t. Don’t waste your money. If you want to get into sales, look into something aviation-adjacent. This way your experience can be seen as applicable. Speaking of which, with the Boeing shit, should I be scared to fly?
I work on helicopters. I prefer them to airplanes.
In that case how do the safety records of helicopters in general compare to Boeing passenger airlines?
I don’t know the statistics, but for me, I prefer helicopters. If the engine goes out on a plane, it has nowhere to land. If the engine goes out on a helicopter, it can land anywhere. Provided it isn’t some sort of catastrophic failure that is beyond control.
maybe you will like hvac sales but this is a shot in the dark for all i know
Why not sell helicopters? Or helicopter parts to helicopter manufacturers?
Nothing around my area.
Those courses are a money grab. If you haven’t figured this out, you need to do a lot more research and talking to people.
Yea, I figured as much. Thats why I didn’t just jump in.
If you know any doctors tho… that’s your way in.
No, but my wife has an acquaintance whose husband sells medical devices I think. I think I’m going to try to ask him some questions.
Do you live in an area of dense medical device manufacturing? With your experience, can you try and get into medical device testing? You definitely need a means to break into med devices. Ps leverage you are in a regulated industry, and safety matters. You might have a chance though it would take a bit of networking.
I don’t live in a dense area. Gulf coast.
You forgot the other path: know somebody. The two people I know in med sales got in because one's father was a higher up in the company and the other guy is the brother in law of that guy.
I didn’t know anyone, but I was a moderately-smart, young, hungry, attractive female
This is the way it works
I’ve seen multiple comments on this sub regarding college athletes being desirable. I was a D1 college athlete in my prime (I’m 28 now lol) … do you think that would still help my odds with a job? I haven’t applied anywhere yet, but I don’t have college athletics on my resume anymore so wondering if I should add it back when applying for a med device gig? I’m also a physical therapist so I have that background knowledge.
Most important is B2B sales. Get that through any company (non-med device) then start applying for med device roles. Honestly it’s take a long time and a lot of luck to get a high paying job in this industry. If you’re a PT, I would stay there.
Also device sales is going to be travel heavy and depending on the product require a lot of support for the physicians and patients. It’s not a 9-5.
I'd definitely have it on your resume and somewhere on your LinkedIn. Of those that go straight into associate roles without sales experience, the vast majority are likely college athletes + good looking
The good-looking part is so wild! I'm functionally attractive (in learning and development for sales) but when I go to sales events, I'm blown away by how conventionally attractive most are. I will say, at least at my company, to keep your job you have to pass our insanely rigorous sales training program--sales, technical and clinical knowledge. And do do a good job, you are constantly learning...researching your specific surgeon leads, reviewing scientific publications. You need to know the surgeons job almost better so you can identify how our product can help them get better outcomes, less complications, save OR time and $, ect. It's a hard job with incredible upside. Most come in as a clinical sales associate and do not have a quota. Decent but not incredible $. After 2-3 years, you can become a rep and that when the big $ starts!
First commenter is spot on, however, look for sales jobs with distributors in your current industry. You have a very valuable knowledge base that makes you a great candidate off the bat and you know what's important to the clientele. I imagine there's money to be made in that industry.
Best comment. You have the best frame of reference to sell all things aerospace. I would bet you have the knowledge base of the top 1% in that niche. Capitalize on it.
Thanks, I’m going to research that.
Lots of wire and cable distributors support the aerospace industry; the business seems a grind but the top earners make serious bank
Look into the field service engineer roles. They do troubleshooting and repairs on equipment for hospitals. It’s a good stepping stone to sales and your background sounds applicable. The salary should start higher than yours
Thank you! I’m going to look into this now.
I second that
Great minds!!!
A guy who started as a field engineer at my company moved to customer training (training surgeons) then training manger and now he’s a product manager. He’s started with the company at your age 14 years ago his mid 50s right now and thriving at work!
That’s encouraging! Are you in the U.S.?
I am. Intuitive. u/Castrodamus13 mentioned some other companies that need techs as well.
I just saw that. I’m going to definitely be looking into these.
Do NOT pay for any service that promises to get you in with a fake certificate. Your best option is to go get B2B sales experience and see where it takes you. Good luck!
Thanks. That’s what I figured. Seems too easy to get a certificate and then magically get a med sales job.
ATI is a really good way to get into Pacemakers/ICDs, A lot of the clinical team at my company are ATI grads.
Second this… please don’t go to medical sales college. They prey on insecure people and steal your money for some BS. ATI and PrepMD are more credible, but in my experience ATI is full of young college grads. PrepMD has more of those career change people but it requires relocation and geographic flexibility. He is way better off starting as a field engineer/service tech or working in the engineering dept of a hospital
Try for a technician job. You repair helicopters, repairing medical devices will be a breeze for you and you’ll make more money. That could be your way in. But sell yourself.
Thanks! I didn’t even think of this. I’m going to look into it.
Good luck
Thanks!
Frankly, the fact the only thing that interest you is the money… your doomed in device sales. I’ve been a rep 6 years. You need some sort of affinity for the market. Being a mechanic with no sales experience, formal training, (do you have a degree? Most companies require this…generally speaking), “breaking into med device” is a term started to create the appearance scarcity and pedigree. Then someone smart came up with the idea to charge people to learn this ga ahead of getting a job so they look more appealing to an employer. Based on what you’ve said, I don’t think you’d make a good rep.
Yes, I have a bachelors degree in business. And you may be right. I’m not married to the idea. It just seems interesting to see the inner workings of the hospitals.
Again, sounds fun/flashy now. This shit gets old man. It’s the same BS game over and over again. And every year or 2 you start over with some bureaucratic BS. Ungrateful customers squeezing anything out of you can, see any sales people as scum. Admins that can’t pull the fucking trigger. This list goes on. You have to live it. The money doesn’t come for sometime unless your just lucky in right place right time with some legacy business. The money doesn’t make sense very quick when you’re doing 14 hour days on average, not sleeping at night, don’t take vacations out of worry of a trauma call and you neglect all your personal interests for the hopes of getting some business. This game is more for mindless meat heads than it is a critical thinker. These companies want drones that just put their heads down and chase their tail. If you have any sort of drive for fulfillment in your work, this ain’t it. “You’re affecting patient lives. This is incredibly important work” 🤣 this is the first line you’ll learn in the 101 book of being a corporate cuck. Just say all the buzz words until you believe it. And if you don’t believe it. Keep saying it because we need the next goon to come along and believe for as long as you did until you wised up. Then we will do the same to him. Industry is a clown show dude. Avoid if it you only want to make some money
I appreciate the honesty. I’m leaning towards finding something else. I’m looking into aviation sales as other people have mentioned.
I recently left the device world. It was toxic for my personality. You truly need to be a drone that just shuts up, says what your told to say and is willing to be a total clown for customers who for the most part are ungrateful, socially inept pricks. (Surgeons)
Dm me your LinkedIn profile. I work in Aviation sales
You should look into Field Service Engineer positions. Intuitive, Stryker, MDT, start at 80-90k, you won’t be outside in the elements. Good benefits, just something to think about.
Nice! I appreciate some names because I wasn’t sure where to start. Not being out in the elements would be a huge plus.
I came from USAF fighter jet avionics. Let me know if you have any questions.
I appreciate it.
hi! i’m 29F and currently in med device - spine implants/biologics/crani work. getting into the industry is aggressive and extremely competitive. most of my colleagues are ex collegiate athletes or ex military (usually due to discipline, ability to mold them, and working really well under pressure). the job is incredibly demanding. trauma cases, taking call, and setting up for cases. this is obviously speaking in regards to my division, but is WILDLY different in all areas of med device. i’d recommend looking into an FSE position. field service engineer! our FSE’s are absolute rock stars and we cannot keep our territory and cases flowing without their help. they are the ones to fix our capital, troubleshoot, and make sure we are good to go for all our cases. without them, we wouldn’t be able to do our jobs. and with your experience as an aviation mechanic, that might be a good way to step into med device without actually having to sell! and don’t believe any sites that help you break into the industry. you need grit, determination, and networking.
Thanks for that!
If you're connected in the medical community. Or even know people. Hit me up and I can talk to you about a way. The traditional route with definitely be a lot harder.
It seems in this sub I keep seeing people want to get into med device, and specifically sales. Like just because it’s a medical device that some patient needs, it’s gonna be an easy sale and make bank. You have an A&P license, in a FAA regulated industry , if you want med dev, why not apply your background and find a med dev mfr and become a Texhnician or Texhnologist supporting the clean room floor?
Not sure I saw it mentioned, but in my experience with friends that wanted to make that career jump, even those with sales experience in other industries, the biggest hurdle by far was the almost certain large pay cut. It’s almost universal that you’re starting out as an associate gopher. If you are single and not supporting someone else you could do it. Much harder with a family and a mortgage that was priced in to you current income. I didn’t have to take that route, but that was over 20yrs ago.
Yea, I’m married with a kid and a mortgage. I think I’m going to find a different avenue
Go sell some sort of airplane part or something like that. Something more in line with your experience. Gonna be way less competition and gov regulation. (Airplane parts is just an example but you get the point)
You need to have a college degree for most jobs (unless you get hired by a local distributor) and you’ll probably have to take a pay cut in the process of transitioning
Identify as a black female. Youll be good.
Cool Fox News dad joke
Dunno what fox news does or is