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Electronics and Medical Electronics Salesperson

What They Do

Insider Info

Think how often you use your computer, stereo and microwave. Now think about the equipment in hospitals -- a wide variety of electronic equipment can do everything from test your blood to take an X-ray.

"If something is beeping next to you in a hospital room, it's the electronics in it doing that," says Jon Pierce, a salesperson and electronic engineer with a medical electronics company.

The electronic age has created glowing opportunities for salespeople with the right medical-technical knowledge. "Your average person couldn't do this," says Clark Courtney, who works for a U.S.-based manufacturer of test systems for electronic, medical and military applications.

"Most people in our business come from a technical background of some sort," agrees Heather Phillips, who works for a medical electronics company.

Training aside, electronics salespeople have many of the same responsibilities as other sales professionals. They sell products to existing clients and scramble to find new clients.

They estimate equipment costs and prepare and administer sales contracts. They develop reports and proposals and deliver presentations.

Many sales professionals in electronics and medical electronics also have to estimate the cost of installation and maintenance of new equipment.

Increasingly, those in electronics sales have to contribute ideas to product design to meet a buyer's specific needs. "Part of what our company does is sell our expertise in medical design. We need to be able to talk about technical things," says Pierce.

Electronics salespeople work for computer companies, engineering firms and hydroelectric companies, as well as firms selling telecommunication equipment and medical instrumentation. In smaller companies, sales and marketing are combined. These salespeople have to prepare many of the long-term strategies and promotions traditionally left to marketing personnel.

At a Glance

Sell and market electronics and medical electronics equipment

  • You could work for computer companies, engineering firms or hydroelectric companies
  • You may have to contribute ideas to product design
  • You'll need at least a college certificate in electronics

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support