Virtual Sales has a growing presence in the healthcare and medical solutions industry, especially since the pandemic. Virtual Sales is set to be the new normal, even as we’ve emerged on the other side of COVID.
According to the RAIN Group Center for Sales Research, there has been a 163% increase in the number of sellers operating virtually from pre-pandemic to today, showing how opportunities in these roles are only growing.
At IQVIA, our Virtual Sales Representatives are self-motivated, results-driven professionals, but what does a virtual Sales Rep do daily and how do you get into these kinds of roles?
What is a Virtual Sales Representative?
The primary objective of a Virtual Sales Representative is to meet established sales goals by delivering real value to customers through differentiated products and services.
Virtual Sales Reps target and manage their territory strategically while operating within an assigned budget, they’re fantastic team players with high degrees of customer focus.
When it comes to medical sales and solutions, Virtual Sales Reps engage with healthcare professionals to promote and sell medical devices or pharmaceuticals, they build relationships, provide product education, address customer inquiries, and close sales.
Below, we’ll expand further on their daily tasks.
Day-to-day tasks
No two days are the same when you’re a Virtual Sales Representative, we’ve broken down just a few things you can expect when you start down this career path with IQVIA:
- Conduct all sales activities in line with guidelines and policies while generating sales in line with your assigned Territory quota.
- Provide timely updates to the Project Manager on any ongoing business activities, competitive conditions, and industry trends that you’re aware of.
- Classify customer clinical needs, goals, and constraints related to patient care.
- Determine where therapies can assist in providing a comprehensive healthcare solution.
- Identify key referral networks.
- Conduct outbound calls while identifying, contacting, and introducing virtual sales presentations to customer target audiences.
Virtual Sales Rep skills
As a Virtual Sales Representative, you’ll need a diverse set of skills so that you can engage effectively with clients and drive sales in a remote environment.
Here are a few that will set you up for success in this role:
- Good organizational and planning skills.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Strong communication skills including verbal, written, interpersonal, and active listening
- Persuasion, influence, and decision-making skills.
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Customer-focused selling skills.
- Demonstrated computer skills.
How do you become an online sales representative?
If you’re interested in this career path, you could begin by obtaining a relevant degree in the sector you wish to enter, in the US, we require a 4 year degree which can be in any subject matter. For IQVIA sales jobs, some degree examples include but are not limited to, healthcare, biological/biomedical sciences, business, or marketing.
The next step from there would be to gain some firsthand sales experience, ideally within healthcare, medical sales, or medical devices, then you can really focus on developing the skills we mentioned above.
Make sure to familiarise yourself with medical products and technology during this career route, this will definitely help you as you look to specialize later on.
After you feel confident you’ve developed your skills and knowledge, apply for positions in virtual sales so you can demonstrate to your employer that you’re suited to work in a remote setting.
Continuous learning and networking across the industry will also help to enhance your opportunities.
Take your career in Virtual Sales to new heights with IQVIA
Now you know what it takes to become a Virtual Sales Representative, you can join us in driving healthcare forward.
We’re always pushing the boundaries of human and data science at IQVIA so we can make the biggest impact possible.
Working with us is an opportunity to help our clients find expert solutions for patients through medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
Browse our available positions today or look into our articles for more career advice. And, if you’re planning on working remotely full-time, make sure to read our tips on achieving work-life balance in Pharma Sales Rep jobs.
