Landing your first sales position in the biotech industry can be a challenge—especially in the Canadian market, which is smaller and more competitive than the United States. Fewer companies mean fewer opportunities, so standing out is key.

For this article, we’re assuming you’re just starting your professional career. Whether you're coming in with a bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree (Master’s or PhD), your path into biotech sales will look a little different depending on your background.

Starting with a Bachelor’s Degree

If you’re entering the job market with a bachelor’s degree, you may need to build general sales experience first. Without an advanced degree, you likely won’t have the same level of lab or technical expertise, so companies may prefer candidates who already know how to sell.

Consider applying to companies like Xerox, Cintas, or ADP—known for their strong B2B sales training programs. These roles offer solid foundational skills and hands-on experience that can fast-track your sales development. With just one to two years under your belt, you’ll be in a much stronger position to transition into biotech sales.

Starting with an Advanced Degree

If you have a Master’s or PhD, your lab and technical experience can often help you bypass that initial sales role. Larger biotech companies with strong Canadian operations, like Thermo Fisher Scientific, often hire entry-level sales reps with advanced degrees. Your academic background makes you a valuable asset—especially when selling technical products where subject matter expertise is critical.

This initial industry experience can be the perfect launching pad for your biotech sales career.

The Power of Networking

In today’s competitive Canadian biotech job market, networking can make all the difference. It’s not always fair, but having someone on the inside who can vouch for you often gives you a real advantage.

If you already know someone in the industry, reach out and ask if they’d be open to a conversation about the commercial side of biotech. A short, friendly call can go a long way.

For those with advanced degrees, it’s highly likely that you—or someone in your lab—has interacted with a biotech sales rep. Reach out to those contacts, or ask your supervisor to make an introduction. These reps are often happy to share their experience and might even help pass along your resume.

If you’re entering with a bachelor’s and don’t have many connections, LinkedIn can be your best friend. When I was starting out, I cold-messaged people in the industry asking for a quick call—and to my surprise, many said yes. These conversations helped me build real relationships, and in a few cases, even led to internal resume referrals.

The key is to be genuine, express your gratitude, and remember to return the favor when you’re in a position to help others.

Building a Strong Resume

Don’t get caught up in making a “pretty” resume with fancy graphics. Those can confuse applicant tracking systems (ATS) and may even turn off hiring managers. Instead, focus on clarity and relevance.

Your resume should be easy to skim—ideally, a hiring manager should be able to understand your qualifications in 30 seconds. If you have sales experience, highlight your quota attainment and achievements clearly. If you come from a lab background, outline relevant technical experience, especially the techniques and tools that align with the role you’re applying for.

Don’t forget soft skills. Biotech sales requires strong communication, interpersonal skills, and organization. Be sure to include those alongside your hard skills.

Lastly, optimize your resume for ATS by incorporating keywords from the job description. I’ll be writing a follow-up article on keyword strategy soon—keep an eye out for that. If you're looking for templates, there are some great ones on Reddit. I borrowed mine from a thread you can check out here.

Final Thoughts

These three guiding principles—gaining relevant experience, building strong connections, and crafting a focused resume—will put you on the path to landing your first biotech sales job in Canada.

If you're ready to move on to the next step, check out our upcoming article on how to ace your biotech sales interview.

Good luck on your journey. The future is bright, and you’ve got this!

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