Looks like you’re on the UK site. Choose another location to see content specific to your location

HomeBlog General Why degrees are so important to securing a job within medical device sales

Why degrees are so important to securing a job within medical device sales

27th June 2014

In the UK today degrees are becoming more and more common on a candidate’s CV and it is now becoming key to achieve the highest grades possible to try and differentiate yourself from other graduate level candidates.

In most of the careers you may consider, a degree is a huge advantage in securing a position and more specifically within medical device sales, a degree is seen as the norm by most employers.

Here are a few facts on graduates in the UK:

  • In 2013 there were 12 million graduates in the UK
  • In April to June 2013 graduates were more likely to be employed than those who left education with qualifications of a lower standard.
  • Six in every ten people who lived in Inner London were graduates
  • In 2013 those graduates that had an undergraduate degree in medicine or dentistry were the most likely to be employed and had the highest average gross annual pay.

University uptake has recently dipped slightly in the last couple of years due to the increase in course fees, however, the number of students still choosing to stay on at further education is much higher than that of 10 years ago.

Based on these statistics it is clear to see why employers are now “expecting” a degree calibre recruit. The main reasons employers like a graduate is because it is seen as less of a gamble when looking for entry level recruits as they can demonstrate some of the following:

Teamwork: Group assignments, after-hours clubs or joining university sports teams, all helping developing your ability to work as a team.

Leadership and initiative:  At university, you take responsibility for your own grades and you are in charge of your own time management when finishing assignments. You may also take responsibility when working on group projects, again developing team work and leadership skills.

Problem solving: The ability to analyse and solve complicated problems should come naturally to anyone who has studied maths or computer science at a level of higher education.

Written and verbal communication skills: Writing essays, taking part in tutorials and giving presentations as part of your course all build your ability to communicate clearly and professionally.

Decision making: Going straight into the workplace, where you’re accountable for the decisions you make, can come as a quite a shock for those who haven’t been through the buffer zone of higher education.

Self-reliance: It’s not until young people leave home and make their own way in the world that they become fully independent. Employers know that going into higher education gives young people the ideal opportunity to become more mature in a safe environment.

To summarise – Medical Sales is already a very competitive area to try and find a first time role even with a degree, as the current market is very candidate heavy. By not having a degree you are cutting down the small pool of available roles even further. Employers are looking for specific degree calibre candidates to try and ensure a certain level of ability and avoid risk. In an ideal world employers would be looking at candidates with a higher education specification, a PhD or MSc.

Placeholder Image

The Importance of a Personal Brand

Next article

Stay informed

Receive the latest industry news, Tips
and straight to your inbox.