Where can I get information online about things to know or questions
to ask yourself prior to entering medical sales?  For
example, this website is along the lines of what I am looking for:

http://www.thingamajob.com/business/articles/alfe/020522_sales_faqs.shtml

However, that site does not cover the medical industry, which is what
I am looking for.  Web only will suffice.

Hi pape-ga,

It's exciting to be researching a new career.  I'm sure you're on the
right track by looking for as much information as possible.

One site to start out with is Monster Healthcare/A Pitch for Medical
Sales Careers.  This site summarizes it all with a couple of
statements:  1)Medical sales requires "an entrepreneurial attitude,
people skills and communication" skills; 2) "This field has stiff
competition;" and "The Internet may play a larger role in medical
sales' future."

This site quotes an actual medical sales rep who says, among other
things, "the key to success in medical sales is good communication
skills."

It's a good start to ask yourself, do I have an "entrepreneurial
attitude?" I peeked at dictionary.com to be sure I knew the
characteristics of an entrepreneur.  The definition stated that an
entrepreneur is someone who "organizes, operates, and assumes the risk
for a business venture."

Naturally, you'll want to search your personality for competetiveness
and be sure you have good communication skills which probably can be
characterized as the gift for gab or what some call "people skills."

Monster Healthcare/A Pitch for Medical Sales Careers
http://healthcare.monster.com/articles/medsales/

A Q&A panel with Jane Williams, author of "Insider's Guide to the
World of Pharmaceutical Sales," and  Peter Boomer, Pharmaceutical
Sales Representative for Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals is found at a
website of the pharmaceutical industry, called Rx.  The panel asks
more nuts-and-boltsy type of questions, for example: "What is the most
effective way to accomplish securing an interview?" and " Do you have
to have a medical background to get into pharmaceutical sales...?"

Rx biotechnology and pharmaceutical careers, learning resources and
more!
http://www.hirerx.com/home/forum/archive/feb28_2002.asp

Finally there is a biographical article of a man who started in a
commission medical products sales job and ended up owning his own
medical products company. His story is written online from Repertoire
magazine.  This article gives an idea where an entrepreneurial spirit
can take you!

mdsi/Repertoire
http://www.medicaldistribution.com/rep/Rep_2002_March/Rep_32620029445830.htm

Good luck with your  career search.

alanna-ga

Search terms: "medical sales" Q&A
://www.google.com/search?q=%22medical+sales%22+Q%26A&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&start=10&sa=N

"medical sales" "right for you"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&q=%22medical+sales%22+%22right+for+you%22&btnG=Google+Search

"medical sales" "career choice"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22medical+sales%22+%22career+choice%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&start=10&sa=N

Thanks for the help, alanna.