The Changing Face of Talent in Pharma and MedTech  

A major part of my role involves daily conversations with senior leaders, discussing how hiring decisions can shape the future of a business and how the right people can make an extraordinary impact.

While every discussion is different, one consistent theme has emerged in recent months: the market is changing. Senior leaders across the healthcare industry recognise that success now depends on fresh skills, forward-thinking attitudes, and the ability to adapt.

Experience remains invaluable, of course, but it’s no longer enough on its own. Our industry needs to evolve - and that means embracing new perspectives and investing in the next generation of talent.

Transformation Across the Industry

Our industry is in the midst of rapid transformation, fuelled by innovation, new regulatory frameworks, digital disruption, and shifting patient expectations.

These changes are reshaping traditional hiring models. Companies that once prioritised experienced professionals are now open to welcoming new-to-industry talent. However, many face challenges:

• They may lack the infrastructure to develop talent quickly.
• They may not know where to find high-potential graduates ready to make an impact.

Yet, there’s a shared understanding - the future of the industry relies on fresh perspectives and leaders who can drive progress.

How Our Graduate Accelerator Programme Makes a Difference

This is exactly where our Graduate Accelerator Programme (GAP) steps in.

Our university and industry supported programme offers far more than a recruitment solution. It helps clients attract, develop, and retain exceptional graduates - rapidly and effectively. Delivered on an outsourced basis, the programme provides the tools and support organisations need to nurture new talent while ensuring these hires deliver measurable business impact from the outset.

The results speak for themselves. Our clients see not only stronger performance metrics but also a renewed sense of energy and optimism across their teams.

Real Results, Real Impact

Earlier this week, I met with a client who recently began their GAP journey with us. It was truly humbling to hear their overwhelmingly positive feedback on how the GAP programme and our graduate solution have already made a tangible impact. Moments like these make me, and the entire Evolve team, immensely proud of the work we’ve done in creating a genuinely forward-thinking solution.

It’s not just about filling roles; it’s about creating momentum. The enthusiasm, innovation, and attitude these graduates bring have a ripple effect throughout their organisation. Seeing that transformation firsthand is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.

Investing in the Future

Helping clients build talent pipelines that truly work - while accelerating ambitious graduates into meaningful careers - lies at the heart of what we do at Evolve.

Because when businesses invest in people with fresh perspectives, they’re not just hiring for today - they’re building the future of the industry.

Andy Anderson - Commercial Director - Evolve

As a recruitment agency, particularly since Covid, one of our most growth areas has been placing graduates in within the industry. As the market evolves, we’ve seen a huge upturn in demand for these candidates along with a desire for companies to invest in those individuals in the long term, creating stable and rewarding career pathways. We believe our success can be attributed to several key factors that set us apart. In this article, we’ll explore these factors and explain why Evolve has been at the forefront of this sector.

Specialised knowledge and expertise

Graduate recruitment is always challenging. Assessing skills and future potential often means the need for organisations to partner with a specialist recruiter to provide robust recruitment strategies and a great candidate pool. Our team have highly experienced recruitment consultants who purely specialise in placing graduates in their respective industries. With an in-depth knowledge of the job market, industry trends, and the skills and qualifications that employers are looking for in graduates, this expertise allows us to provide our clients with tailored solutions and guidance throughout the recruitment process.

Proactive candidate sourcing

We don't rely solely on job boards and applications to find the right candidates. Instead, we take a proactive approach to candidate sourcing by using our extensive network and industry connections to identify and engage with the most promising candidates. This enables us to present our clients with a high-quality pool of candidates who may not be actively looking for a job but are open to new opportunities.

Candidate screening and assessment

We understand that placing a graduate in a role requires more than just matching them to a job description. It involves assessing their skills, personality, and cultural fit to ensure that they are the right fit for the role and the company. We use a range of screening and assessment tools to evaluate candidates thoroughly and ensure that they meet our clients' requirements.

Strong employer relationships

We have built strong relationships with employers across various industries, which enables us to gain insight into their recruitment needs and preferences. This knowledge allows us to provide candidates with a clear understanding of what employers are looking for and helps us match candidates to the right roles and companies. Our strong relationships with employers also enable us to negotiate favorable terms and conditions for our candidates, such as competitive salaries, benefits, and training opportunities.

Post-placement support

Our commitment to our candidates does not end once they are placed in a role. We provide ongoing support and guidance to ensure that our candidates are happy and fulfilled in their roles. We regularly check in with our candidates and employers to ensure that the placement is working out well and address any issues or concerns that may arise. This post-placement support has resulted in high levels of candidate satisfaction and loyalty, which, in turn, has led to referrals and repeat business.

In conclusion, our success in placing graduates can be attributed to our specialised knowledge and expertise, proactive candidate sourcing, candidate screening and assessment, strong employer relationships, and post-placement support. These factors have enabled us to provide high-quality recruitment solutions that meet the needs of both our clients and candidates. We are committed to continuing to provide excellent service and solutions to our clients and candidates and look forward to helping more graduates achieve their career goals.

For more details on Evolve’s next-generation graduate solutions, click here or contact Andy Anderson on 0113 457 0777.

In today's rapidly changing healthcare landscape, organisations need to think outside the box when it comes to talent acquisition. One often-overlooked source of great talent is graduate entrepreneurs. These individuals have a unique set of skills and experiences that can be a valuable asset in a medical sales role. Here’s some benefits of recruiting graduate entrepreneurs.

Adaptability

Graduate entrepreneurs have typically gained experience in adapting to new environments and situations quickly. This can be particularly valuable in a medical sales role where there may be constant changes and challenges. They’re comfortable with taking on new projects, working with different teams, and dealing with changing business environments. This adaptability can help them stay ahead of the curve and make the necessary changes to improve sales performance.

Creativity and Innovation

Entrepreneurs are often creative problem solvers who can bring fresh ideas and innovation to the sales process. They may be able to approach challenges in unique ways that can lead to new sales opportunities. Their experience of developing new products, services, and businesses can bring a new perspective and a willingness to experiment, which can help businesses to differentiate themselves from the competition.

Ambition and Drive

Graduate entrepreneurs are typically highly ambitious and have a strong drive to succeed. They’re often willing to put in extra effort to achieve their goals, which can lead to increased sales and revenue for the organisation. They possess a relentless work ethic and strive to achieve excellence in everything they do. This drive and ambition can be a real asset in a medical sales role where success is often measured in terms of meeting sales targets and generating revenue.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Entrepreneurs are typically risk-takers who are comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity. This can be beneficial in a sales role where there may be ups and downs in the market or changes in the organisation's strategy. They possess an entrepreneurial spirit and are not afraid to take calculated risks to achieve their goals. This resilience can help them weather the storms and emerge stronger and more successful than before.

In conclusion, graduate entrepreneurs can be an excellent source of talent for medical sales. They bring a unique set of skills and experiences that can help businesses adapt to changing market conditions, develop innovative sales strategies, and achieve ambitious sales targets. By tapping into this talent pool, organisations can build high-performing sales teams that can drive revenue growth and deliver sustainable business success

For more details on Evolve’s graduate solutions, visit Evolve or contact Andy Anderson on 0113 457 0777.

Sectors within the Medical Sales industry

• Pharmaceuticals
• Medical Devices / Medical Technology
• Healthcare
• Life Sciences

What does the role of a Medical Sales Representative involve?

• Medical Sales roles are predominantly field based and you will be responsible for a specific territory. This means that there is usually lots of travel involved
• Arrange appointments with customers both face to face and virtually
• Promote and sell your company’s products to key customers in the NHS or private sector
• Educate and train customers on the products you are selling by doing presentations and demonstrations
• Build strong relationships with customers and key stakeholders
• Provide after-sales services
• Meet and exceed sales targets
• Organise and attend medical conferences when required

How to get into Medical Sales

Graduate training programmes – Evolve has a dedicated Graduate Recruitment programme to help recent graduates start their career in medical sales industry

Apprenticeships / Internships

University courses

• Scientific: Biomedical Science, Biological Science, Pharmacology & Pharmaceutical Science, Biology, Medical Engineering, Biochemistry, Sports Science, and any other science related subjects
• Non-Scientific: Business Studies, Marketing

Skills and Knowledge required

• Full driving licence is essential, as the majority of medical sales positions are field based which involves travelling to visit customers face to face
• In-depth research into the Medical Sales industry, learning about key customers and the structure of the NHS
• Shadowing experience of a Medical Sales Representative is highly advantageous
• Excellent communication skills – verbal, written and listening
• Experience in a customer-facing environment
• Good customer service skills
• Ability to work well in a team and on your own
• Commitment, persistence, and determination
• Ability to accept criticism and overcome rejection
• Ambition and a desire to succeed

Progression opportunities

With experience and a good track record in sales, you could progress into a senior sales role or management, or even move into a marketing position.

Here at Evolve, we have a dedicated Graduate recruitment team that works closely alongside recent graduates with a keen ambition to step into medical sales, providing excellent tips into research, CV writing and interview techniques.

Contact the Graduate recruitment team to discuss!

With an increasing number of Graduates looking to secure positions within the medical sales sector; our Commercial Director, Colin Prentice, speaks with our Graduate Recruitment Manager, Lauren Ward about the Evolve Graduate Programme. 

Our programme offers Graduates the chance to develop their skills and competencies to assist them in securing a career in the medical sales sector.

We offer tailored recruitment solutions for organisations looking to attract, hire and retain graduate talent in the competitive medical sales sector.

Find out more in the video below!..