I have been looking to break into medical device from a B2B sales position, and I have been offered a TMA position on the West Coast with Applied. Given that it's a difficult industry to break into, I want to accept. That being said, Applied gets torn apart on these forums. I'm willing to pay my dues and move on to another company in a year or two, but don't want to waste my time if companies have a negative stigma towards hiring Applied reps or if I can't make 85-100k as a TM. It would be a lateral move financially, but looking at it as more as an investment to gain industry experience. So is it worth it? I'm looking for unbiased insight on my current predictament (although I understand that's hard to come by on here)...
Don't let what you read on this forum sway your decision. The position is what you make of it. If you expect to be working 20 hours/week and making a full time salary, then you might try to find another company (good luck with that). If you plan to work hard like most people do, then you'll do well. The days are gone of fat expense budgets and 5* hotels for meetings and those that were around back then complain the most. This board (this whole website site infact) is loaded with mostly disgruntled people. It's not just this board, look at any other company's board on here. Applied has been around a while and whether you agree or not, they're doing something right to be competitive in the market. If you're attitude begins with "this job sucks because of what I read on an anonymous message board and I plan to leave in a couple years anyhow..." then why waste your time. Ultimately the job will be what you make of it.
Have to agree with the previous post. While not ground breaking technology, it's a good foot in the door opportunity to get into medical device. Regardless of the posts, and many of them are accurate, this position is what you make of it and how you prepare yourself. Learn the products and the procedures, understand your competition and get to know your surgeons, nurses and administration and in a couple of years, you'll have the relative experience you need to be successful, at Applied or elsewhere.
Are there better medical jobs to get your feet wet with? Sure. Is applied a decent gig to get 2-3 years experience and then move on, yes. It won't pigeon hole you and prevent you from advancing your career in medical. Now, If you were a regional manager and trying to jet a job as an RM at big name company you might have a damn hard if not impossible time. Get in, work hard, land a TM job, make pretty decent money (not amazing) and move on.
