How do I get that job!? Meds Sales in UK

Most pharma companies are currently downsizing their salesforces - so competition for the few opportunities is pretty tight and there will be a number of very good candidates for every role.

So my primary advice is to keep plugging away. Eventually you will get there.

Your strong medical/clinical background is a big plus - most pharma companies are moving down the road of having fewer, more medically competent salespeople able to engage with physicians more deeply. This is especially true of those companies whose portfolio is more focused on secondary rather than primary care.

Perhaps building up some sales experience outside pharma - even if it's only as a sales assistant in a retail outlet or charity shop might help. It might just give them that confidence that you can hack it in the world of sales.

Also worth doing is speaking to existing successful reps and managers in pharma. If nothing else, asking them to describe what makes them successful may give you the opportunity to find parallels in your own skill set - and it might help you frame your answers to interview questions in a slightly more salesy manner. There are also a couple of reasonable books on pharmaceutical sales - although you may already have read these.

Finally, have you looked into getting a job for a contract sales organisation rather than directly for a pharma company? This may be a route in that's lower risk for an employer as they're not so stuck with you if it turns out you can't really sell after all.

Best of luck,

Ian