Medical Sales College. Is it for Real?

[Anonymous]

Looking for opinions here

 

[Anonymous]

You can find a ton if information about it. Look through the website, testimonials and the recruitment/placement services arm. Unlike the company before, this is a licensed state approved college.

Several placements on their Facebook page. They have connections with everyone in the industry!

 

[Anonymous]

Looking for opinions here

Medical Sales College used to be called the American Institute of Medical Sales (AIMS for short) and was started by two Wright Medical guys, Jim Rogers & John Wells back around December 2008 in Memphis, TN. They moved AIMS to Denver and renamed their company Medical Sales College or MSC for short and are using the name AIMS for their recruiting division. Just google AIMS or American Institute of Medical Sales and you will find a lot of information. In the early days, AIMS used to offer a job placement or your money back guarantee but stopped doing that. Experiences have been mixed. Those who are placed sing their praises while those who weren't don't. Reach out to a dozen former students on LinkedIn ask about their experience privately. Just remember, many of the unplaced "graduates" are afraid to rock the boat for fear of not getting placement assistance. Some people will kiss so much ass to gain favor with JR et al. despite unreturned phone calls, no interviews, false promises, etc. Who could blame them after paying thousands of dollars and spending all that time and energy going through the program?

 

[Anonymous]

Looking for opinions here

Here is my opinion. i graduated from the spine class back when it was still a 10 week course. I learned a lot from the instruction. However, the whole recruiting side of the business is a joke. I had one interview after I graduated and that was 5 months after. After that, nothing. They had my money so why should they care. And that was typical for over half my class of whom none received any interviews from AIMS.

The instruction was good and I could have had a coherent conversation with any spine doctor in the country after I went there. But you had better have a job already lined up because chances are they aren't going to help you out one bit.

 

[Anonymous]

Here is my opinion. i graduated from the spine class back when it was still a 10 week course. I learned a lot from the instruction. However, the whole recruiting side of the business is a joke. I had one interview after I graduated and that was 5 months after. After that, nothing. They had my money so why should they care. And that was typical for over half my class of whom none received any interviews from AIMS.

The instruction was good and I could have had a coherent conversation with any spine doctor in the country after I went there. But you had better have a job already lined up because chances are they aren't going to help you out one bit.

I graduated from the Aims program, predecessor to Medical Scam College and received zero help, interviews or guaranteed refund. Do not spend any money on this scam. The people that have attended this class and were able to land a job is a very small number. Yah, look at the streaming pictures of graduates with jobs, all of them got them on their own not because of medical sales college and the scheming Jim Rogers.
My two bucks...

 

[Anonymous]

Yah, look at the streaming pictures of graduates with jobs, all of them got them on their own not because of medical sales college



All them got jobs on their own…..

So, 400-600 people get jobs on their own post the Medical Sales College?

Isn’t that the idea?

If the 400-600 could have got their jobs without the Medical Sales College why wouldn’t they have saved their money? They obviously went to the Medical Sales College because they DIDN’T have success and needed the education to get the job! Duh…….

 

[Anonymous]

American Institute of Medical Sales or AIMS became Medical Sales College or MSC and Blue Chip Medical Sales Recruiting became AIMS Recruiting which became Elitemed Recruiting.

Also new to the mix is their own job board called elitemedjobs.com. Now they can save their money blasting "jobs" on Career Builder in hopes to get people to pay for their training class (MSC) to maybe get into a job that does or doesn't exist to begin with.

Rogers, you are an evil genius.

 

[Shannon Marshall]

Unlike all the posts on Cafepharma that have remained anonymous, this post will be very different.

My name is Shannon Marshall and I am the Director of Social Media for the Medical Sales College. Traditionally, we have had a policy in place that prohibits employees of the college from responding to posts on Cafepharma.

I would like to clear up information presented on this site and invite anyone into constructive conversations. I will only post to this thread (Medical Sales College. Is it for Real?) and will only answer questions related to the school, to our educational process, and to placement activities. I will not engage in discussions of employees, former employees, other recruiters, or specific customers or companies.

It appears that as we continue unprecedented success, we find a certain someone that is really having a hard time dealing with it.

First let me say that every post you see in opposition will be presented anonymously which I conclude almost all of them are the same person. We can clear that up if you too disclose whom you are so we can truly see how many people are posting. We are quite confident of the source as well as the self-serving reason behind the posts. Nonetheless, lets get started.

 

[Anonymous]

Unlike all the posts on Cafepharma that have remained anonymous, this post will be very different.

My name is Shannon Marshall and I am the Director of Social Media for the Medical Sales College. Traditionally, we have had a policy in place that prohibits employees of the college from responding to posts on Cafepharma.

I would like to clear up information presented on this site and invite anyone into constructive conversations. I will only post to this thread (Medical Sales College. Is it for Real?) and will only answer questions related to the school, to our educational process, and to placement activities. I will not engage in discussions of employees, former employees, other recruiters, or specific customers or companies.

It appears that as we continue unprecedented success, we find a certain someone that is really having a hard time dealing with it.

First let me say that every post you see in opposition will be presented anonymously which I conclude almost all of them are the same person. We can clear that up if you too disclose whom you are so we can truly see how many people are posting. We are quite confident of the source as well as the self-serving reason behind the posts. Nonetheless, lets get started.

Hello Shannon. Why does your company keep changing its name? Isn't it hard to establish a track record of stability, credibility, and a solid reputation if the company keeps changing its name? Thanks in advance. JT

 

[Anonymous]

Unlike all the posts on Cafepharma that have remained anonymous, this post will be very different.

My name is Shannon Marshall and I am the Director of Social Media for the Medical Sales College. Traditionally, we have had a policy in place that prohibits employees of the college from responding to posts on Cafepharma.

I would like to clear up information presented on this site and invite anyone into constructive conversations. I will only post to this thread (Medical Sales College. Is it for Real?) and will only answer questions related to the school, to our educational process, and to placement activities. I will not engage in discussions of employees, former employees, other recruiters, or specific customers or companies.

It appears that as we continue unprecedented success, we find a certain someone that is really having a hard time dealing with it.

First let me say that every post you see in opposition will be presented anonymously which I conclude almost all of them are the same person. We can clear that up if you too disclose whom you are so we can truly see how many people are posting. We are quite confident of the source as well as the self-serving reason behind the posts. Nonetheless, lets get started.

Hello Shannon. I have a M.S. in Biology and have been very successful in both business to business sales and pharmaceutical sales. I applied for a medical device position and received positive feedback on my background, however, the recruiter wanted to know if I was AIMS or RMSR certified, which I am not. They suggested that I take a course and certify in order to move further in the process. I find this a little preposterous.

I wanted to know both from you and any device representatives if this certification is really as necessary as it seems or am I just being swindled.

 

[Anonymous]

Hello Shannon. Why does your company keep changing its name? Isn't it hard to establish a track record of stability, credibility, and a solid reputation if the company keeps changing its name? Thanks in advance. JT

JT,

Great question. We have actually never changed our name. We incorporated as the Medical Sales College back in 2010. You see several posts that mention AIMS or American Institute of Medical Sales (Which was the same company) that was the original concept behind our company. The difference was that AIMS which started in 2008 was both a recruitment company and taught medical sales education. In late 2010 due to the size of enrollment, the Education Department for Colorado requested that AIMS register and license as a state college. This request required multiple corporations and forced the company into bonding requirements, additional staff and application to approve programs. At that time, a new ownership group was created, additional funds were brought in and two new companies were formed both the Medical Sales College and AIMS Medical Sales Recruiting. As a licensed college in the state of Colorado, the rules require a complete split of education and recruitment. Therefore, the Medical Sales College was utilizing a separate placement services arm to help graduates.

I can see where that would appear like the original company the American Institute of Medical Sales (AIMS) changed their name to the Medical Sales College and AIMS Medical Sales Recruiting. In actuality, both of those corporations are based on a different ownership, and structure and therefore the Medical Sales College hasn’t changed their name.

As far a a track record and stability. We are pleased with the stability and track record for the Medical Sales College. The college has never received and complaint at any level. Our track record is impeccable. You can track the history be either calling Jim Parker who is the Director at the Department of Education which will tell you that a complaint has never been filled or through searching sites such as the BBB that has followed us since 2010 and although we have not PAID for registration of the BBB, you will notice zero complaints for the school. Furthermore, another big factor that differentiates us from the previous AIMS, is that the Medical Sales College has never offered any type of refund, guarantee and is fully bonded that protects any student 100% in the instance where a compliant would exist.

As far as the reputation, the Medical Sales College has a verified solid track record as to both the performance and placement of former graduates. You will see several publications that have recognized the school all the way to corporations such as CBS Money Watch recommending as the gateway to medical sales as required training.

The real validation however comes in the form of interested parties and those same parties utilizing our education. You will notice on our website more than 60 executives from the top manufacturers that have taken time from their respective schedules to visit and tour our facilities. In almost every case, those same executives post touring our facility have endorsed our programs and we have seen several graduates representing each one of those companies. In addition, many of the top manufactures have also given us to opportunity to work with their existing sales force teaching our sales training platform. Those companies can be seen on the website as well.


Shannon Marshall
Director of Social Media
Medical Sales College

 

[Anonymous]

Hello Shannon. I have a M.S. in Biology and have been very successful in both business to business sales and pharmaceutical sales. I applied for a medical device position and received positive feedback on my background, however, the recruiter wanted to know if I was AIMS or RMSR certified, which I am not. They suggested that I take a course and certify in order to move further in the process. I find this a little preposterous.

I wanted to know both from you and any device representatives if this certification is really as necessary as it seems or am I just being swindled.

You need to work with a different recruiter. If you have solid business to business sales experience, you do not need anything else. Do not waste your time and money, spend the extra time networking. I have been in capital equipment sales for several years and was in pharma before that. Over my career, I have working with many recruiters. None of which ever suggested that I need any AIMS certification. In fact, I would guess the vast majority of recruiters do not even know what that means.

 

[Anonymous]

You need to work with a different recruiter. If you have solid business to business sales experience, you do not need anything else. Do not waste your time and money, spend the extra time networking. I have been in capital equipment sales for several years and was in pharma before that. Over my career, I have working with many recruiters. None of which ever suggested that I need any AIMS certification. In fact, I would guess the vast majority of recruiters do not even know what that means.

very true.

this marshall women must be a young woman, who doesn't know much about the corporate world.

its funny how this organization uses a woman as their front, because the "leaders" don't have the courage to post.

Once you get about 5 years of sales experience (pharma sales is sales and don't let people fool you into thinking it is not), you can sell anything.

Even if you don't have the techinical knowledge on a product or the other background necessary, you can easily learn that if you are smart, and then, apply the sales model and market model and work ethic and presentation skills to be successful.

Sales is not a complicated job.

And I can't stand people that claim it is.

Those that claim sales is complicated, are really not good sales people!

 

[Anonymous]

very true.

this marshall women must be a young woman, who doesn't know much about the corporate world.

its funny how this organization uses a woman as their front, because the "leaders" don't have the courage to post.

Once you get about 5 years of sales experience (pharma sales is sales and don't let people fool you into thinking it is not), you can sell anything.

Even if you don't have the techinical knowledge on a product or the other background necessary, you can easily learn that if you are smart, and then, apply the sales model and market model and work ethic and presentation skills to be successful.

Sales is not a complicated job.

And I can't stand people that claim it is.

Those that claim sales is complicated, are really not good sales people!

I'm slightly offended that you would use the "woman as a front" comment. There are lots of women who are hard working. You don't know anything about Ms. Marshall, so why would you group her without any prior knowledge. If you had said just "another person" instead of the leaders, I would not have been offended. This is why working in a male-dominated field is so difficult!

- not Ms. Marshall

 

[Anonymous]

Unlike all the posts on Cafepharma that have remained anonymous, this post will be very different.

My name is Shannon Marshall and I am the Director of Social Media for the Medical Sales College. Traditionally, we have had a policy in place that prohibits employees of the college from responding to posts on Cafepharma.

I would like to clear up information presented on this site and invite anyone into constructive conversations. I will only post to this thread (Medical Sales College. Is it for Real?) and will only answer questions related to the school, to our educational process, and to placement activities. I will not engage in discussions of employees, former employees, other recruiters, or specific customers or companies.

It appears that as we continue unprecedented success, we find a certain someone that is really having a hard time dealing with it.

First let me say that every post you see in opposition will be presented anonymously which I conclude almost all of them are the same person. We can clear that up if you too disclose whom you are so we can truly see how many people are posting. We are quite confident of the source as well as the self-serving reason behind the posts. Nonetheless, lets get started.

Perhaps you can tell me why out of our class of 11, that only about 3 people ever got interviews that were lined up by your supposed great recruiting team. And the only two people to get jobs got them on their own with no help from the recruiting team. And why I, as a class valedictorian, only got one interview and that was 5 months after graduating?

 

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you can tell me why out of our class of 11, that only about 3 people ever got interviews that were lined up by your supposed great recruiting team. And the only two people to get jobs got them on their own with no help from the recruiting team. And why I, as a class valedictorian, only got one interview and that was 5 months after graduating?

Because you are not a me ted.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry folks got a little behind with work this weekend. I will catch up on your questions.

Shannon Marshall

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry folks got a little behind with work this weekend. I will catch up on your questions.

Shannon Marshall

 

[Anonymous]

Hello Shannon. I have a M.S. in Biology and have been very successful in both business to business sales and pharmaceutical sales. I applied for a medical device position and received positive feedback on my background, however, the recruiter wanted to know if I was AIMS or RMSR certified, which I am not. They suggested that I take a course and certify in order to move further in the process. I find this a little preposterous.

I wanted to know both from you and any device representatives if this certification is really as necessary as it seems or am I just being swindled.

Post #10

I am not sure why this recruiter would want to know if you have been AIMS or RMSR certified.

Let me clear up one thing quickly. There is much confusion with the acronym AIMS. Equally, I hear the word AIMS certification thrown around too. We are the Medical Sales College. We have MSC certification or a graduate of the Medical Sales College. AIMS was the acronym of the American Institute of Medical Sales. AIMS was both an education center and recruitment arm. In 2010 acting in compliance with the Department of Colorado Higher Education, AIMS was replaced through two newer corporations the Medical Sales College and AIMS Medical Sales Recruiting. This change also resulted in a different ownership group and additional investors.

Furthermore, according to your question this “recruiter” said, “in order to move further” which makes no sense because the job would be likely be gone before you would ever finish the Medical Sales College. I am not sure who this recruiter would be. As far as being compared to the RMSR, the Medical Sales College is entirely different. We have however graduated several people that have taken the RMSR exam. I have not seen in any circumstance in which anyone has “required” the RMSR. Although, I know several hiring managers that like to see any effort on the basis to increase your knowledge or at least show that you are willing to go up and above the call of duty for a job.

I also want to make a quick point to the fact that NOTHING is required as far as training or certification to become a medical sales representative. On the other hand, you do need to know what you are up against when applying and more important if you are lucky enough, what you are up against once you land the job. Believe it or not, people that post networking; hard work and B2B experience is all you need are correct. Well not totally. Some people get in without anything! But here are the facts about the business that you must remember.

The average position garners more than 375 resumes. The hiring manager can only pick one person for the job. That would indicate that you have less than a 1% chance of landing the job. Actually .0026% to be exact. Then if you think about it, the hiring manager most likely is replacing an underperforming sales rep. Therefore, the weakest link in his/her territory. Hiring managers and distributors are based on performance. Not performance three or four years from now, performance today! This is why you see in many cases these open positions requiring previous medical sales experience. They need someone to start tomorrow and perform tomorrow. Problem with the high percentage of experienced medical sales representatives is simply that the good ones are not available. If they are successful, most likely they would stay with their current positions because of a non-compete or because relationships. Nobody in his or her right mind would want to start over. New to the industry presents a whole new challenge. The time necessary learning the “ropes” in order to produce. This is why new people have such a high rate of turnover. Hiring existing reps also has a high rate of turnover because naturally they are hiring somebody that most likely failed at their last position.

This is exactly why we are in business. We take those driven individuals that have the necessary drive, commitment and dedication and arm them with the tools to compete. Our process will speed up the learning process between 9-18 months. This will give you a much better chance to “succeed” in the field. Is it a guarantee that with the education you will get the job? Nope, that still counts on you! However, it increases your odds a great deal! In fact, you will see on the website that post 90 days; all of our graduates have seen a 6 out of 10 success rate. Again, that includes all of our graduates that have graduated 90 days out.

So do you need MSC? That is entirely up to you. We like to think that a 6 in 10 chance is much better than a 1 in 375.

How we differ from RMSR, resume writing, a sales coach is that our graduates are in demand. The largest medical device companies have flown out to see our college. Top executives have spent precious time figuring out how to utilize our system. Our list of executives on our site says it all. Jobs come to us, not us chasing jobs. RMSR is a book you read on the weekend covering 100+subjects with each subject one or two pages. I am not sure it actually teaches you anything. More like a book that introduces you to “what is…”. We have eight-weeks on a single specialty, including hands on learning. Manufactures can hire MSC grads and reduce recruitment fees to zero. It is a no-brainer for them.


Hope this long response helps. Good luck!

Shannon Marshall
Director of Social Media
Medical Sales College

 

[Anonymous]

You need to work with a different recruiter. If you have solid business to business sales experience, you do not need anything else. Do not waste your time and money, spend the extra time networking. I have been in capital equipment sales for several years and was in pharma before that. Over my career, I have working with many recruiters. None of which ever suggested that I need any AIMS certification. In fact, I would guess the vast majority of recruiters do not even know what that means.

#12

I agree that networking can help. Again, keep in mind that you are up against hundreds for that same position. The manager most likely will want more than networking like practical experience. Meaning, you can work right away with results. How can you possibly do that without knowing how to perform the job? Do you believe a surgeon will give you his or her business when you can’t even pronounce the procedure? These surgeons are under a great deal of risk with increased malpractice. What sells is passion. How can you be passionate about something you have very little confidence of? You can only be confident of something you have knowledge. That is where experience comes in.

On another note, I always believe someone has an agenda when they post. #12 is yet a great example. If you look closely to what he or she says;

“I have been in capital equipment sales for several years and was in pharma before that. Over my career, I have working with many recruiters. None of which ever suggested that I need any AIMS certification. In fact, I would guess the vast majority of recruiters do not even know what that means.”

Unless this individual has been changing jobs within capital sales on an annual basis, I am not sure why they would be working with so many recruiters (red flag), I also don’t believe that all recruiters know what AIMS certification would be considering it doesn’t exist. I would bet however that they all know the Medical Sales College. I also bet they do not like it. Why would they? It has taken 400+ jobs away from them and has created another source for candidates that cost the employer zero. Who would you rather have the former copier salesman for a $15,000 fee or the former copier salesman 8-weeks trained for a $0 fee?


Shannon Marshall
Director of Social Media
Medical Sales College