Tips for Writing a Professional Resume


1. Be concise and specific. Do not use long narratives or summary resumes.
Summarize your current position in 1 or 2 sentences. Be sure to mention what your current job responsibilities are, who you calling on (doctors, hospitals, nurses etc), and what type of product you sell (surgical disposables, supplies, pharmaceuticals etc.)
2. List your accomplishments in bullet form.
Be sure to include your current rankings if applicable, total territory dollar volume and geography of your territory.
3. List your positions in chronological order from most recent to past.
4. Include all of your dates of employment and college graduation date.
Employers look to see the progression in your career path and for any gaps between employment or short tenure at a position. If dates are missing they will assume you that you are trying to cover up a gap or a career misstep. In addition, always include your date of graduation from college. If you leave it off employers will think that 1) you actually never graduated from college or 2) you are trying to appear younger than you actually are.
5. Proofread your resume and check for typos or errors.
Remember your resume is the first impression you will make on a manager and your only chance to make it into an interview. If your resume has typos or errors managers may question your professionalism and you may not get an interview.
6. Always be truthful.
Almost all medical companies run background checks today as information has become readily available via the internet. Many employers are willing to overlook a missing college degree or a career misstep when candidates are truthful and confident in their own abilities and are able to articulate their circumstances surrounding these situations.


MEDICAL/ SURGICAL SALES RESUME EXAMPLE:


Joe Smith
1223 Lark Ave
Los Angeles, CA. 92701
213-555-1212 Home, 213-555-2222 Cell
joesmith@yahoo.com

Objective
A leadership position in a growing healthcare company that will utilize my experience in sales and sales management, as well my education in marketing and business administration.

Experience
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson Co.) January 1992 – Present
Division Sales Manager                                                January 1997 – Present

Responsibilities:
Provide leadership and direction to a $12 million dollar region with eight sales representatives selling an extensive line of minimally invasive surgical instruments to hospitals. Accountable for achieving divisional forecasted sales objectives, maintaining and growing base business, adoption of new technology as well as getting the sales representatives aligned around common goals and objectives that support the company vision and mission.

Accomplishments:
   • Turned around a sales division that was ranked last in the country - #42, and finished 2000
      #9 nationally.
   • Ranked #1 in the Western Region in National rankings, 2000
   • Forecast Achievement Award winner, 1999, 2000
   • Recognized as # 1 Sales Division in the Western Region, 1999
   • Member of the $2.5 million and $5 million sales clubs.
   • Guided sales team in achieving average sales growth in excess of 15% for 1998, 1999, and
      2000, leading the Western Region.
   • Directed the realignment and redeployment of the Golden Gate Sales Division in 1998.

Clinical Education Specialist                                       April 1995 - January 1997

Responsibilities:
Managed all professional education activities within the Pacific Northwest. Set strategies for the adoption of new minimally invasive procedures. Managed product release and introduction of new technologies.

Accomplishments:
   • Ranked Number 1 nationally in CES Group for UltraCision sales, 1996.
   • Conducted first two regional UltraCision training programs during 1996, resulting in $113,000
     of New Business.

Sales Representative                                                 January 1992 - April 1995

Responsibilities:
Aggressively pursue and capture market share from United States Surgical Corp. Promote the adoption of new minimally invasive surgical procedures through surgeon training

Accomplishments:
   • Sales Excellence Award Winner 1993
   • $500,000 Sales Club Award Winner 1993
   • Forecast Achievement Award winner 1993
   • $1,000,000 Sales Club Award Winner 1995
   • Converted over 10 Bay Area hospitals in three years

Allergan Optical, Irvine, CA                                     January 1990 – December 1991

Sales Representative

Responsibilities:
Promote and sell a complete line of disposable contact lenses to physician offices.

Accomplishments:
   • Turned around sales territory ranked 125th out of 133 and finished 1990 ranked 15th
   • Sales Representative of the quarter, 4th quarter 1990

Education
University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA.
B.A. in Psychology, Concentration in Business, May 1990

Long Beach State University
MBA, Strategic Leadership, August 2000

 


PHARMACEUTICAL SALES RESUME EXAMPLE:

Karen Adams
111 Willow Ave
Chicago IL 60015
(630) 852-1254 Home, (630) 754-8889 Cell
kadams@hotmail.com

Career Objective
To obtain a career in a medical sales position that will utilize my experience and
education to offer performance based opportunities for advancement.

Professional Experience

PFIZER PHARMACEUTICALS                                          March 1997- Present
Division Manager                                                          July 1999 – Present

Responsibilities:
Manage a division of 12 physician office based sales representatives marketing Glucotrol XL for Type II Diabetes, Celebrex for Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis and Cardura for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Hypertension. Ongoing development of representatives in selling skills, territory management, product training and management development. Generate 81 million dollars in product sales.

Accomplishments:
   • 2001 101.36% Glucotrol XL goal attainment; Increased sales by 9%
   • 2000 101.53% Glucotrol XL goal attainment; Increased sales by 16%
   • 2000 102.70% Cardura goal attainment; Increased sales by 13%
   • 1999 100.95% Glucotrol XL goal attainment; Increased sales by 15%
   • 1999 108.70% Cardura goal attainment; Increased sales by 7%
   • Circle of Excellence award for Sales Goal Excellence 2000, 2001
   • Elected to Star’s Club 3 out of 4 years

Training & Development Manager                           January 1998 – July 1999

Responsibilities:
Conduct initial sales training for all new PDI/Pfizer Representatives covering disease states, product knowledge, competitive product knowledge and selling skills. Prepare developmental training initiatives for existing representatives. Field training work trips with representatives.

Accomplishments:
   • Successfully conducted 14 initial training classes totaling 435 representatives
   • Created a cardiovascular retraining module rolled out to the entire PDI/Pfizer sales force
   • Established a protocol which clearly defined goals and objectives for trainer field work trips
   • Presented PDI's training capabilities to Astra-Merck, which contributed to the signing of
     a large contract
   • Renegotiated training facility terms of agreement saving approximately $4,600 per training class

Medical Sales Representative                                 March 1997 – January 1998

Responsibilities:
Market Glucotrol XL and Cardrua to IM, FP, CVD, ENDO and URO physicians in a Chicago. territory. Prioritize and target physicians with respect to market share potential to ensure high sales impact. Customize sales presentations based on each physicians' patient population, specific needs and prescribing habits.

Accomplishments:
   • Attained 100% of 1997 bonus
   • Assisted in three 1997 training classes as Field Sales Trainer
   • Promoted to Training & Development Manager

Education
Bachelor of Arts in English, Wheaton University, IL 1997

 



BUSINESS TO BUSINESS/ ENTRY LEVEL SALES EXAMPLE:

Beth Johnson
12 Bluejay Court
Irvine, CA 92680
(949) 459-9865 Home, (949) 459-9898 Cell
Email: bettyjo@aol.com

Objective
To secure a position with a major pharmaceutical company offering performance based opportunities for advancement.

EMPLOYMENT

PITNEY BOWES - Major Account Executive                   September 1999- Present

As a Major Account Executive in the Mailing Systems Division, I maintained excellent customer relations, negotiated centralized purchasing agreements. I was responsible for finding a sales application, making sales presentations following up on product installation, and providing after sale customer satisfaction. I was responsible for over 150 Major Accounts with corporate headquarters in the Orange County area.

   • Rookie of the Year 1999
   • 110% to quota 1999
   • Attended Nat'l Sales Leadership Conference 2000
   • Promoted to senior sales position after 1 year

While in College:

SADDLEBACK MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER                       1989-1991

Emergency Department Technician
Responsible for a 5 bed fast track patient care area. Responsibilities included: triage, patient stabilization, first aid, splinting, phlebotomy, 12 lead EKG's, CPR and patient education.

Education
1989-1991   Bachelor of Arts in Business, University of Irvine CA