• A medical sales representative must aggressively sell her products to hospitals.sales manager checking the sales image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com
  
  Getting a medical career does not require becoming a doctor, nurse or technician. Many jobs in sales offer the chance to learn about the industry in a different capacity. Working in a sales job in the medical industry has its perks -- the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median salary of roughly $20,000 higher in this field as opposed to non-scientific sales jobs. However, each job requires extensive knowledge of the medical product or service along with aggressive sales skills.
  
  

Pharmaceutical Sales Representives

• Pharmaceutical sales representatives convince hospitals and doctors to administer their company’s medication. These representatives pitch new medication to doctors with the hopes of these physicians prescribing the medication to their patients. The Bureau of Labor Statistics explains these sales representatives play a critical role in the quality assurance and control of the drug. These representatives must be trained on the medication’s side effects and benefits and be able to answer all questions a doctor may have regarding the administration of the drug.
  
  These sales reps have many tools by which to persuade doctors; free pens, notebooks, wall clocks and paperweights are some of the more innocuous items they issue. Many sales reps give gifts of high-cost items such as sports tickets and fancy dinners. The issuance of bribes and kickbacks, however, is illegal. To obtain a job as a pharmaceutical sales representative, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recommends a four-year degree, ideally in marketing with a science background. Upon hiring, candidates receive extensive training regarding the company’s product line. As of May 2008, the average salary of a salesperson in this field is $74,840. Chances to earn bonuses and commissions based on large sales are also possible.
  
  

Medical Equipment Representative

• Medical equipment sales representatives try convincing hospitals, doctors and pharmacists to buy their equipment. Such equipment may include heart defibrillators, stretchers and IV tubing. Some medical equipment representatives aggressively sell products like blood sugar monitors and catheters to senior citizens with the promise that the purchase is covered by Medicare.
  
  The PR Newswire reports that medical equipment sales representatives must achieve RMSR certification. According to the National Association of Medical Sales Representatives, the RMSR exam includes 150 questions testing a student’s knowledge of medical products and sales techniques. Most employers require at least a high school diploma and ideally, a degree in marketing or communications. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, as of May 2008, a median salary for a sales representative selling commercial and professional equipment of $70,140.
  
  

Elective Surgery Salesmarketer

• Many pharmacists are not allowed to advertise the cost of their service; however, cosmetic dentists and plastic surgery doctors are allowed to market their services. Thus, a marketing representative must assertively sell these products. A marketer for these doctors may try to upsell a bachelorette party group into getting not only botox but laser body sculpting as well. A marketer working for a cosmetic dentist attracts customers through the use of ads illustrating before and after effects and print banners in magazines. Though this position requires fewer aggressive sales tactics than a pharmaceutical or medical equipment representative, the same skill set is needed to do the job well: amicable personality, strong communication skills, knowledge of the product and industry, and a clean appearance.