Job Seekers: Here’s Your “Video Guide to Getting Hired”

Here are links to 22 videos designed to guide you through the job search and interview process and give you your best chance for success. I’ve put them in order for you here, so that you can build your knowledge as you go and see how it all fits together.

About Medical Sales

If you’re new to medical sales, or thinking about transitioning from one area to another, you need some general information. What are the different areas available? How is, say, laboratory sales different from medical device sales different from pharmaceutical sales? If these are your questions, these are the videos for you:

1. Introduction to PHC Consulting
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/05/29/introduction-to-phc-consulting-video/ - PHC Consulting is a nationally-known recruiting firm, in business for 10 years. We have a LOT of experience available to guide you through the hiring process and place you with some of the most prominent, high-growth healthcare companies in the country.

2. Explaining Medical Sales Part I
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/11/10/explaining-medical-sales-part-i/ - Medical sales can be generally categorized into consumable sales and capital sales, and I explain the difference.

3. Explaining Medical Sales Part II
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/11/12/explaining-medical-sales-part-ii/ - What kinds of personalities best fit different types of sales?

4. Explaining Medical Sales Part III
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/11/14/explaining-medical-sales-part-iii/ - Sales processes differ greatly between capital and consumable sales. Which process will you like best?

5. How to get into medical sales
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2009/03/25/how-to-get-into-medical-sales-healthcare-sales-or-pharmaceutical-sales/ - General overview. It’s a must-see for the person trying to break into medical sales.

6. Getting into medical sales
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/07/07/getting-into-medical-sales-heres-how-to-get-hired/ - How job shadowing, otherwise known as a “ride-along” or a preceptorship, can make the difference for you as a candidate.

Networking

Networking is a critical skill for you to master. Building a great network through social media, or just old-fashioned talking to people, will benefit you in countless ways in your job search and throughout your career. I can’t emphasize enough just how important this is.

7. Easy networking tips
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/09/12/what-is-a-brag-book-and-how-can-it-help-your-interview-success/ - How to utilize your current contacts, get more contacts, and one big tip.

8. How to Work a Tradeshow
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/10/24/how-to-work-a-tradeshow/ - Tradeshows (anything industry-specific) are a great way to get to know the players in your field. There are ways to make these shows work for you in your job search.

9. Shine up your LinkedIn profile
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2009/06/01/linkedin-tip-shine-up-your-profile/ - LinkedIn is tremendously popular, and one of the most effective social media sites for business.

Resumes

10. 7 resume tips
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/06/09/7-tips-for-a-great-resume/ - A resume overview…objectives, bullet points, appropriate length, keywords, and more.

11. Keywords in your resume
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2009/06/03/keywords-in-your-medical-sales-resume/ - You MUST have quality keywords in your resume to be picked up by ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), even if you don’t have specific experience.

12. You must have numbers on your resume
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2009/06/10/sales-resume-tips-you-must-have-numbers-s-on-your-resume/ - When a sales rep has a resume with very few #s on it, I wonder….do they not understand that their job is to ring the cash register? Here’s what kinds of numbers to include.

13. Resumes that don’t make the cut
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2009/06/10/peggys-video-about-your-resume-for-medical-sales/ - I go through a 12-inch stack of resumes and tell you why they don’t make the cut. Learn which mistakes to avoid.

References

14. Check your own references
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2009/06/05/references/ - Here’s the scoop on references–what (who) makes a powerful reference, how to get them to work for you, and how to “test” them before you need them.

You need an edge

15. Explaining brag books
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/09/12/what-is-a-brag-book-and-how-can-it-help-your-interview-success/ - Brag books demonstrate initiative, professionalism, organization, your understanding of sales and marketing, and sets you apart from your competition–it’s the difference between “good” and “great.”

16. How to use your brag book
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/09/15/job-interview-skills-tip-how-to-use-your-brag-book/ - Hiring managers will look at how you use your brag book. That’s their indication for how you’ll use product brochures, PowerPoint presentations, or other media with your future customers. Lots of sales reps don’t use these kinds of tools well, so if you can, you’ll stand out.

17. 30/60/90-day plans
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/06/09/306090-day-plans-for-interviews-get-hired/ - Do you really want to knock it out of the park? Bring a 30/60/90-day plan. They take a little work, but presenting a detailed plan is a guaranteed impressive attention-getter.

Interviews

18. Behavioral interviews
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/08/01/job-interview-tip-how-to-handle-behavioral-interviews/ - Chances are very good that you’ll find yourself answering behavioral questions in your interview. Know what kinds of questions to expect, and what kinds of answers interviewers are looking for. One hint: In sales, quantify your examples whenever possible.

19. Panel interviews
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/07/15/interview-skill-how-to-handle-the-money-question/ - Panel interviews can the most stressful for the candidate of all interview types since they seem impersonal and more judgmental. Here are some tips to get through it successfully.

20. Asking questions in the interview
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2009/08/20/job-interviews-how-you-can-benefit-by-asking-questions/ - Asking questions in the interview sets a candidate apart. Learn which questions are going to be the most effective for you.

21. How to handle the money question
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/07/15/interview-skill-how-to-handle-the-money-question/ - How to navigate your way through one of the most stressful aspects of the hiring process: Salary negotiations.

22. Closing the interview
http://www.phcconsulting.com/WordPress/2008/08/06/tips-for-closing-the-interview/ - No sales manager is going to hire someone who can’t handle a closing process, and the closing process for an interview is no different than the closing process for a sale. You have to just do it.

I hope these videos make you a better candidate. I also do custom career coaching for jobseekers who decide they need more help. Either way, Good Luck.

Peggy McKee