Ashfield Healthcare 2024 graduate opportunities}

• Name: Hannah Mitchell
• Role: Medical Sales Representative
• University: University of Liverpool
• Degree: Pharmacology BSc

After graduating from University in July 2014, I began looking for a job within the Pharmaceutical Industry and was familiar with the role of a Medical Sales Representative. After hearing about Ashfield Healthcare, I researched the company and was really keen to pursue my career in this field. I sent my application off to Ashfield and they contacted me within three days, taking me through the recruitment process. Having gone through similar interviews before, I found the Ashfield recruitment team were the most helpful throughout this process and they gave me the amazing opportunity to work within a syndicated team for the company.

I have been given excellent training which has helped me to settle into my role in Liverpool and I have a great support network with my colleagues and management who guide me on a weekly and daily basis so I can be successful in the field. There are constant training and development programmes available at Ashfield which can help improve selling skills and increase knowledge of the NHS and these are available all year round. Being two months into this role, I have learnt that it requires constant determination, self-motivation, resilience and energy to be a success which is why I love it.

I can definitely see my career growing with Ashfield Healthcare as it is an amazing global company with so many opportunities for thriving graduates. With career development programmes currently in place, moving up in my career is not something of the distant future. There are great career prospects here at Ashfield and I am really excited to develop my skills and knowledge and grow with the company.

• Name: Emma Callan
• Role: Medical Sales Representative
• University: Edinburgh
• Degree: Medical Biology BSc

I still remember the day I realised Ashfield was the company I wanted to work for, I mean really wanted to work for. I’d done my research on Ashfield before applying and had already found out about the multitude of opportunities that could be offered and challenges to be relished yet it was the first day I visited head office that clinched it. Never had I felt such an atmosphere as I did walking into the restaurant on the way to my interview. It just had this buzz that was infectious. A few of the tables were occupied with groups of individuals all of whom were animatedly discussing issues and most importantly smiling! They were passionate, enthusiastic and obviously enjoying what they did. That I could tell all this through my haze of nerves makes it all the more amazing. That was when I realised I didn’t just want to work at Ashfield. I wanted to become part of the team and get to know and grow with these people. That’s why accepted their offer as a medical sales representative when it was something I never imagined I would do and part of why 10 months later I’m still here.

This role has pushed my boundaries and tested my limits. I have learnt to be more assertive but not pushy, to think on my feet and adapt to unprecedented situations quicker. I’ve learnt not to overload a Doctor or Nurse with all the knowledge on the product I have….okay so I’m still working on that one but you can’t fault me for being passionate! I have developed the ability to direct a conversation and built on my knowledge of products to better engage with customer and tailor my arguments when the need arises. I’ve always been one to roll with the punches and yet my resilience has also been tested from time to time. Unsurprising when you consider I work Derby which is a fairly tough access territory. Within the field and all the challenges it can bring there is no describing the high you can feel after a successful call. Be that simply being a GP phoning you out of the blue and telling you what you said actually ‘made sense’ and they’re are writing a script right now only ‘what was the name of that Vitamin D again?’ or a hospital switching to your product trust wide. It’s joking with nurses over prostate exams and how they’re ‘revenge for years of smear tests’. This is a role that is both challenging and yet fulfilling in so many ways and after this ten month roller- coaster of a journey I hope to continue to grow with Ashfield. I may not know exactly where I fit yet or where I want my development to stop, if in fact I ever do want to stop challenging and developing myself, but I know Ashfield will continue to support my development as I progress through the company.

• Name: George Ball
• Role: Graduate Medical Sales Representative
• University: University of Glasgow
• Degree: Pharmacology BSc Hons

I am a Pharmacology graduate from the University of Glasgow. I graduated in 2013 and was working within the NHS for just under 2 years. I applied for a role as a Medical Sales Representative and had applied for quite a few roles, with a few different companies. After finally applying to Ashfield Healthcare I was able to secure a job within a few weeks of my initial application. The recruitment department where absolutely fantastic. They were with me every step of the way in the recruitment process and made me feel like part of the team from the onset. I knew this was a company that I wanted to work with and was delighted to have been offered a position. My application process was a little different from others who have started in the industry. However, this was due to the company taking the time and being flexible with me as I was limited to travelling to head office for interviews. I appreciate all the time and effort taking by the company to ensure that I was secured a position within the field.

Since starting in a sales role I have enjoyed every minute of the 9 months since I have started. Every department within the company continue to make you feel a part of the family. Although Medical Sales is a field position and can become quite lonely, at times, I know I am able to pick up the phone to my colleagues at any point.

Initially it had taken about 3 months to really find my feet in the job. However, the support and advice provided by everyone in the company ensured this was a smooth and enjoyable learning curve. This is just because of the type of job. After the initially 3 months I finally began to understand my territory and my role as a representative. I am now at the 9 month stage and starting to see the changes in my territory that is all due to the hard work that I have put in. I am able to approach customers and they know and respect the reason why I am there. This is a feeling that is indescribable. You feel like you are really committing to the future of healthcare.

The most impressive part of Ashfield Healthcare, as a company, are their core values and their belief in the younger generation. Their view is to employ graduates in the hope that they can move on in the business and develop into successful business partners. This is an aspect that is very attractive to me and my development. I am hoping that in the near future I can possibly move out of the field and into head office. I am currently looking at recruitment and training as possible avenues, however, I know really that the sky is the limit with the company.

Ashfield is the perfect company, with values that everyone should be following in everyday life and are interested in each and every colleague they employ.