Most people get into medical sales one of three ways: an associate or entry-level sales role, a clinical specialist role that uses a clinical background, or a move from another sales job with a proven track record. Hiring managers want evidence you can sell, learn clinical material and handle a demanding field schedule. A sales title helps, but it is not the only proof.
Career changers break in every year: nurses and surgical techs bring clinical credibility, teachers bring presentation skills, veterans bring discipline, and B2B reps bring quota history. The guides below come from reps and recruiters who have hired and been hired, and they cover the full path: picking an entry point, building a resume and LinkedIn profile that get interviews, and avoiding the mistakes that keep strong candidates out.
Start here
All guides ›- 01A Day in the Life of an Associate Sales Rep (ASR) in Medical Device SalesKendy Elmore7 min read
- 02Why Clinical Specialist Is One of the Best Ways to Break Into Medical Device SalesMatt Abrams5 min read
- 03How to Break Into Medical Device Sales With No ExperienceThe Lobby Editorial4 min read
- 04The Catch-22 of Breaking Into Medical Sales, and How to Get Past ItThe Lobby Editorial4 min read
- 05How to Transition Into Medical Sales From Nursing or Another CareerThe Lobby Editorial4 min read
- 06From Teacher to Medical Sales Rep: 5 Reasons You're Already Qualified (And How to Prove It)Kendy Elmore6 min read
- 07From Surgical Tech to Medical Sales: How to Turn Your OR Experience Into a Sales CareerKendy Elmore6 min read
- 08From B2B Sales to Medical Sales: Why Hiring Managers Come Looking for YouKendy Elmore6 min read
- 09From Military to Medical Sales: Why Your Service Is an AssetKendy Elmore5 min read
- 10Great at the Job, Bad at the Search: A Medical Sales Job-Search PlaybookKendy Elmore6 min read
- 11How to Build a Medical Sales Resume That Gets InterviewsHilary Trader4 min read
- 12How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for Medical SalesThe Lobby Editorial5 min read
- 13What Medical Sales Recruiters Really Look ForHilary Trader4 min read
- 1410 Mistakes That Keep Great Candidates Out of Medical SalesHilary Trader4 min read
- 15The Best Associate Sales Rep Programs, and What Makes One GoodThe Lobby Editorial4 min read
- 16The Medical Device Companies Every New Rep Should KnowThe Lobby Editorial4 min read
- 17Confidence and Impostor Syndrome: A New Rep’s GuideThe Lobby Editorial5 min read
Frequently asked questions
Can you get into medical sales with no experience?
Yes. Associate sales rep programs, clinical specialist roles and entry-level territory roles hire people without medical sales experience. You still need proof you can sell and learn, which our breaking-in guide covers step by step.
How do nurses get into medical sales?
Many nurses enter through clinical specialist or clinical education roles, where their clinical credibility is the main qualification, then move into territory sales. Our nursing transition guide covers the path.
What is an associate sales rep (ASR)?
An ASR is an entry-level device sales role, often in orthopedics, where you support a senior rep, cover cases and learn the territory before taking your own. Our ASR day-in-the-life and ASR program guides explain how they work.