I grew up in a small town in South Carolina with a huge family. I recently graduated from Clemson University with a degree in graphic communications with no clue what was to come. I am energetic and knew I would pursue a career that would help other people everyday and have room for advancement.
Why were you interested in pursuing medical sales as a career?
Growing up with family in the healthcare profession, I knew it was always a possibility that I could end up in the medical field but I had no idea how. Upon graduation, many people told me I should look into medical sales, but I had no experience. I found the Medical Sales College after asking a friend how she got into the field and she had nothing but praise for the program, so I applied that night.
How did you learn about Medical Sales College?
Referred by a graduate
What ultimately made you decide to attend?
Having a mutual connection to the college ended up being the ultimate God-wink for me. I found connections right away, but one interviewer has known my best friend's mother for years. It felt like everything fell perfectly into place and I knew after speaking to him that this was where I was supposed to be.
Please describe your training experience at Medical Sales College.
I had no background in the medical field, no biology degree, no previous work as an EMT- I was a blank slate. MSC taught me everything I needed to know. We dove head first into certifications and the basic knowledge of the OR. It was all new to me. We learned textbook information, but also got hands-on experience in labs with actual equipment from companies we would all soon work for. Giving presentations, role-playing sales calls, and reciting the entire total knee arthroplasty is why I believe in this program. They want you to experience everything, so you make the right decision when it comes time for you to choose who to work with.
Describe your experience with Dynamic Consultative Sales training.
The DCS week was full of role-playing which I think was super important in this field because it IS uncomfortable and you have to put yourself in front of professionals and gauge their attitude and act accordingly. This week was one of the most influential weeks of my life, because I learned so much about myself and that some people are not going to like my energy and that is okay. You have to play to your strengths and read the other person.
Describe your Career Development training experience.
Career Development week is why I am writing this testimony. I got a job. I answered the question "Tell Me About Yourself" and someone liked what I had to say, enough to hire me! Scott was a delight and he taught me a lot about myself as well. I felt confident I would get a job fast, but not just any job... the job that is perfect for me.
Being a recent college graduate, how did MSC help you to prepare to enter the professional workforce?
I absolutely would not be here without MSC. I honestly was too naive about the industry and needed to be taught the lifestyle, how to talk, how to act, and how to be a successful rep. I think Medical Sales College covers all bases and I couldn't stress it enough to people thinking about being in this field. I am also so glad I could dive deeper into each specialty to really decide what I wanted to do.
What made you choose to invest in more education by attending MSC after just recently graduating college?
I think it boils down to taking a beginners sales position for a company that has nothing to do with the medical field or investing in your future and building the foundation for medical sales.
What is the most valuable piece of information that you learned while attending MSC which ultimately helped you land your position?
Anyone can click a button and apply to a job. You have to push for what you want and talk to as many people as you can and if they don’t respond, keep reaching out. I think that was so important to me because I never thought about it like that.
How did placement services help accelerate your entry into the medical device sales industry?
I needed to schedule calls with professors and he was so quick to make that happen and just be available. I know it seems so simple, but I knew without a doubt I could call or email him at any time and he would be there for me and we have never even spoke. He was the third person I called about the job after my immediate family if that tells you anything.
Why should someone attend Medical Sales College?
The only reason someone would NOT attend MSC is if they had no interest in pursuing the medical device industry. I think it could benefit everyone, just learning their stories and how they got here and what is possible in this industry.
How long did you try to get into the industry before attending MSC? What was that experience like?
I didn't try for very long. I became interested, but did not want to jump into anything without knowing everything I possibly could about it. I knew if I would've gotten into the industry, I would've been set up for failure.
Please briefly explain your job interview process with your hiring company.
I was put through an introductory interview with my (now) boss, another more formal interview more geared towards my research and knowledge of the company's products, then I shadowed a rep in the field for a day, and lastly I interviewed with the VP of Sales.