Posted by Paula Rutledge on September 3, 2010 under Medical Device News | 
The results are in for our 2010-2011 Medical Device Industry Hiring Survey, and the news is positive. The survey, which we released June 16th and closed June 22nd, asked medical device professionals two questions:
- In your opinion, how will the hiring practices of YOUR COMPANY change within the next 6 months as compared to the last 6 months?
- In your opinion, how will the hiring practices of the MEDICAL DEVICE INDUSTRY change within the next 6 months as compared to the last 6 months?
The majority of respondents believed that hiring would continue as is or increase in their own company. 43% predicted that the medical device industry’s overall employment would increase. Only 21% believed that hiring would decrease at all.
In addition to the 1,100 respondents, we had over 175 comments on the survey itself. Here are a few interesting points from the optimists as well as the pessimists in the community:
“The industry in Orthopaedics is fragile with the unknown consistencies of the health care reform and Renaissance of hospital’s capital spending. Preferred vendor contracting can also hamper companies quite a bit. There will be adversity ahead; however the demand for orthopaedics is to triple in the next decade.”
“I expect the industry boom to continue if not grow further due to the baby boomers generation reaching retirement age and requiring orthopedics.”
“I have been with two medical device start-ups in three years. Both failed. With new government oversight and tough /lean business, it will be very tough for newer Medical Device Companies to be successful”
So, feelings are still mixed as to where the industry is headed for a variety of reasons. Healthcare reform, innovation, and a maturing baby-boomer population prevent stable predictions of the future, but the bulk of medical device professionals expect increased growth and employment.
Posted by Joy Bridges on August 24, 2010 under Job Hunting Tips, Resume Advice |
Reasons why you should use Linkedin:
- For higher level executives, it does not pay to blast your resume on CareerBuilder or Monster. This can even degrade your personal brand. Linkedin is a safe way to display your experience without seeming unprofessional.
- If you are gainfully employed but want to network Linkedin can show off your talents without showing your employer that you are looking.
- Linkedin Recruiter is a new Linkedin project for recruiters. Recruiters can search Linkedin like a resume database and the quality of our results is dependent on the quality of your profiles. If you want to be found, it just got a lot easier.
- Create an image, be an expert in your field, brand yourself. It’s all about marketing yourself as a product and Linkedin is part of that marketing strategy.
What do we look for?
We search for job titles and industry first. Make sure your industry is updated and avoid abbreviations in your job title. Instead of Sr. Marketing Mgr. write Senior Marketing Manager – Cardiovascular Ultrasound. Labeling which medical device market work in is key to being found by relevant recruiters. We recently had a search for a mechanical engineer with imaging experience. Linkedin profiles that mentioned working on CT scanners, x-rays, even airport security scanners were of interest to us.
Recommendations: Linkedin recommendations show off soft skills in an honest, testimonial style that serves you far better than a list of skills in your resume. A page full of positive praise from third parties is more believable and more powerful. Having a difficult time getting recommendations? To give is to receive. Asking for recommendations generally seems unprofessional or annoying, but giving good recommendations encourages others to return the favor.
The Summary, A Subtle Cover Letter: If you are actively searching for a medical device job, write that you are actively looking and summarize your achievements and career experience. If you are passively searching or simply networking, utilize this feature as an executive summary. Take advantage of keywords as well. This is another place to detail your areas of expertise.
Personal Branding: Make sure you add your personal website, twitter, or anything else that you don’t mind recruiters finding and keeping track of. Conversations are networking. The Linkedin WordPress plugin is great for showing off your personal or professional blog. That said, make sure your social networks are work appropriate if you decide to share them.
Posted by Paula Rutledge on August 21, 2010 under Medical Device News, Newsletter, Uncategorized |
Maybe you remember the cartoon guru from the Medical Device Guru forum. Perhaps you saw his face on the MDG Linkedin group, but who is he?
Medical Device Guru was a forum dedicated to medical device news, career tips, and discussion. While the forum served us well for the last couple years, we decided the guru needed a makeover.
Visit the New Medical Device Guru
New Features:
All Your Medical Device News in One Place: The new Medical Device Guru site pulls news from sources such as Science Daily, Medical Device News Today, and press releases from companies such as Stryker, Boston Scientific, and Biomet.
Discussion: While we did away with the forum environment, you can still discuss the news in our comments section in each post.
Job Board: a hassle free, moderated job board. At the moment we are posting detailed descriptions of Legacy MedSearch positions, but we plan to post positions from other recruiters as well.
Ways to enjoy MDG:
Any ideas or suggestions for improvement? Leave your comments here or email Arianna@legacymedsearch.com.
Posted by Joy Bridges on August 17, 2010 under Medical Device Career Advice, Resume Advice |
When the economy falters, every seasoned employee faces the challenge of maintaining his or her relevance while contending with a company’s temptation to hire cheaper, younger employees. If you’re over 50 and searching for a job, here are a few tips on rewriting your resume to market yourself as an indispensable addition to a company.
Step 1. Keep your skill set relevant and current. In just a few years the internet and computers have revolutionized the way employees communicate and operate within a company. A common assumption is that older employees refuse to or cannot learn new technology, so it is essential that you prove this wrong. Take a class in the essential office software (Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel are great places to start) and list your technological skills on your resume.
A great online resource for learning new software is Lynda.com. The site has relatively inexpensive classes in programs such as AutoCAD, the Microsoft office suite, and even social media.
Step 2. Sidestep Age Discrimination: Yes it’s illegal, but it happens, and keeping your resume fresh will help you avoid it. Exclude anything that does not pertain to your skills as an employee from your resume. Examples: Date of birth, years of graduation, photos of your grandchildren, irrelevant hobbies.
Step 3. Focus on your achievements. In your executive summary, list the accomplishments and skills that make you invaluable to a company. What experience do you have that a new grad or younger employee could not supply? In the medical device industry, prior experience with specific technology can be extremely beneficial to finding a new position so make sure to include those details in your CV.
The resumes that catch our eye are full of industry phrases such as
“product manager for X company’s coronary stent portfolio”
“Director of Marketing – Spinal Implants”
“Achieved sales goals in tri-state region for surgical navigation ”
The attention to detail is critical in showing your unique value to recruiters as well as potential employers since this specific experience is difficult to acquire and even more difficult to replace in a company. That said, it is very important to focus on the relevant experience for the position you are applying for. Pulling out all your experience could date your resume and show your age before you have a chance to get an interview.
Good luck and stay tuned for Part II: The Interview.
Posted by Paula Rutledge on August 12, 2010 under Interview Tips |
You’ve filled out the application, sent out your resume and landed an interview…only it’s on Skype. If you’ve never heard of Skype – don’t panic – just follow these steps and you’ll be well prepared for your first Skype interview.
1.) Make sure you have a good Internet connection, a webcam so you and the interviewer can see each other, and a clear microphone and speakers so you can effectively communicate.
2.) Go to www.skype.com, click the “Download” tab and then click “Download now”. The Skype download should start within a few seconds. Follow the directions the client gives you and Skype will be successfully installed onto your computer.
3.) Open up the Skype program and click “Don’t Have a Skype Name?”. Type in your name and then create a Skype username and password. Make sure you create a professional sounding username because your interviewer will see it! Follow the directions Skype gives you from there and click “Sign in”.
4.) Now you’re successfully logged onto Skype. You’ll want to make sure you are able to contact your interviewer on time if you’re supposed to initiate the call, so find out their Skype information and add them as a Skype contact. You can look them up using “Search For Skype Users”. Once you have found and selected the appropriate person, click “Add Skype Contact”, enter a message telling them you’re scheduled for an interview with them and click “OK”. They will then have to accept your invite. If they are calling you, you don’t have to worry about inviting them, simply click the “Answer” button in the popup that comes up on Skype when they call you.
5.) Find a friend to speak with through Skype to make sure that everything works correctly. It would be frustrating for both you and the interviewer if, for example, your microphone didn’t work. It could show a lack of preparation on your part which might cost you the job.
6.) Now you should be confident that everything is functioning perfectly for your Skype interview. Treat this interview as you would any other face-to-face interview. This includes dressing appropriately, being on time, speaking clearly, maintaining good eye contact and all of the other interviewing essentials you’ve heard time and again.
Good luck!
Posted by Steven Rodriguez on August 8, 2010 under Job Hunting Tips, Resume Advice |
Why isn’t my resume being noticed? How do I rise above the crowd?
Gone are the days where individuals could simply walk into a personnel office and fill out an application for a job. In a world filled with automation, efficiency, and EEO laws, applicants are now asked to apply electronically for job postings. Why then, in this world of “efficiency,” are so many good candidates overlooked? The answer is simple, targeted “key word” resumes.
Most efficient offices that hire either for themselves or other clients use advanced Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These ATS systems are governed in many of the same ways a Google search is governed, hence keyword rich resumes equal hits! The solution is quite simple, think of the job description as a recipe card and your resume as a spice cabinet. This is the secret to what is known as a Targeted Resume.
If the client asks for specific skills, applicants must
A) include those skills in the resume if they’ve done them and
B) give specific examples of their use.
In essence a resume bullet such as “Created detailed CAD drawings utilizing SolidWorks to streamline product line” shows not only the use of a software package, but how the individual made a difference. This is the dividing factor between an individual who lists what she can do and one that markets herself as a product.
The next step is to ask yourself, “So what?” This is what hiring managers will ask when they read each bullet. Your bullet should have “weight.” How do you market yourself as a product? What sets you above the rest of the competition? Where did you make a difference, add value, reduce costs, or go beyond your job functions? Ensuring each bullet is weighted not only increases your hits but will show you as a valued candidate that can enhance and is needed within an organization.
Posted by Paula Rutledge on August 3, 2010 under Job Hunting Tips, Medical Device Career Advice, Resume Advice |
For those who are actively searching for a new position or want to join the medical device industry, Legacy MedSearch has compiled a list of 11 ways to kickstart your job search.
- Check our open positions View Open Positions and see how we work :59 Second Informational Video.
- To receive details on new opportunities or to stay current via our monthly newsletter, register for our email list
- Go through the 24 page Interview Preparation Guide for Medical Device Careers found here: Interview Prep Guide and/or use our “Soft skills assessment“ to put in writing what has made you successful.
- Read our article about using LinkedIn: 5 Things to do TODAY if you’re in an active job search and if we’re not already connected, link to our company on Legacy MedSearch LinkedIn Profile. (With 25+ years in medical device, I have over 10,000 connections on LinkedIn) http://www.linkedin.com/in/paularutledge). Then,
- Join our Medical Device Group LinkedIn Medical Device Group to network with other medical device professionals, search job postings, and read industry news.
- Check your resume over to make sure it is keyword rich and that you have QUANTIFIED, QUALIFIED AND CLARIFIED each line. Take advantage of the free consultation offered by The Resume Group by mentioning our company name: Complimentary Resume Review or read our blog post 8 Ways to Make Your Resume Stand Out to Employers.
- Research the industry on the Medical Device Research Forum Medical Device Guru
- Review the interviewing Videos on YouTube Medical Career Magazine
- See how your information will be presented to our clients via your Professional Profile?
- Make sure your profile online with us is up to date on our website, www.LegacyMedSearch.com. Go to the “Find a Position” tab and login or register as a new user. We’re hiring 3-5 people per month on average for some great companies.
- Help someone else who needs a job with a letter of recommendation, job lead, encouraging word, etc. It amazes me how “Paying it Forward” really works. If our resources are helpful to you, would you consider writing a quick recommendation for us on LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/in/paularutledge)- and send other good people our way that we can be of service to?
Finally, please stay on the lookout for the new opportunities we send you – and keep us posted on your progress. Hopefully some of our resources will be of benefit even if we are not able to place you in your next opportunity. We really do try to do the right thing – and delight to know when someone we talk to has found a position, even if it’s not directly through us. So – stay in touch.
Posted by Joy Bridges on July 29, 2010 under Medical Device Career Advice, Resume Advice |
Here is an example of a story I hear over and over again in the medical device recruiting industry.
I have years of relevant experience for the position I applied for. I sent my resume to the hiring authority but did not receive a response! How could this happen? I put my career history complete with company names, dates of employment AND my title? What more could I do?
Technology has changed the hiring process for most companies. Rather than manually sifting through each and every resume, most hiring managers and recruiters search their resume databases for keywords that will quickly point them to a quality candidate for their job opening. Keywords are nouns (both words and phrases) that you may also know as industry “buzzwords.” In order to set yourself apart and make it easy for the hiring manager to find you, you must fill your resume with keywords that are relevant to both your career history and the medical device job you are applying for.
How?
- Look to the Past: What is your specific experience that is relevant to the medical device industry? Have you worked with drug-eluting stent technology or marketed spinal implants? Did you sell diagnostic imaging equipment in Houston, Texas? The nouns are crucial, as hiring managers search for medical technology experience and location first.
- The Job Posting: The best indicator of which keywords should show up in your resume is the job posting itself. Of course, you don’t want to lie about your experience and just copy the posting’s language, but definitely borrow relevant terminology.
- Ask Your Recruiter: If you are partnered with a recruiter, he or she will know industry terminology that fits with your career history and help you create a resume that reflects your expertise.
- Company Research: I have already talked at length about the importance of researching a company before an interview, but it is relevant here as well. What does your previous position have in common with the new medical device company you are applying with? Industry terminology is a great resource for keywords.
- Titles: Knee product manager, orthopedic sales representative, human factors engineer, all of these titles are commonly searched for by recruiters and hiring managers. Be specific, and include the job title that you want next, not just previous job titles.
- Have A Keyword Section: This is also known as a “skills summary” or a skills section. It should be a collection of keywords that are relevant to the position you are applying for.
- Variety Can be Great: We often search for Mechanical Engineers, Mech. Engineers, M.E.s and MEs. Vary your terminology for titles, skills, and degrees to be sure you are found.
- But Keep it Relevant: You may be a marketing expert in medical robotics, cardiovascular devices, and pharmaceuticals, but a resume with all of these keywords will make you seem like a jack of all trades rather than an expert. Have a resume with all of these keywords to send recruiters, but pick and choose the appropriate terms for the job you are applying for and make that a separate resume.
Now that you have a stellar resume, send it out. Keep an updated resume on file with a recruiter even if you are not currently searching for a new career.
Posted by Randy Blankenship on July 14, 2010 under Interview Tips, Medical Device Career Advice |
All Medical Device Professionals should be prepared to negotiate a compensation package which 
reflects their value. Many avoid negotiations because they are uncomfortable or unaware of their market value. This can lead to remorse after accepting the new career. Set yourself up for success and satisfaction with these 3 tips:
1. Knowledge is power and leads to satisfaction.
- Research salary ranges with comparable companies for your job description. A good source is http://www.glassdoor.com
- Ask the hiring manager for the salary range for your new position.
- Use your research to determine if your salary offer is competitive.
- Negotiate your salary based on comparables.
- Negotiate for benefits after the job offer is tendered.
2. Timing is everything
- Immediately after the job offer and acceptance, ask about the benefits offered.
- Make a list of what you want before the meeting.
- Point out what you expect and the justification……then simply listen. Many hiring managers will make concessions acceptable to your needs. They have most likely gone through an extensive search. They have an incentive to close the deal with you.
3. Get creative and avoid waging war in the counter offer
- Pick your battles carefully as companies do not appreciate their entire compensation packages being attacked by new employees. Establish where they have room to negotiate.
- If the hiring manager is unable to negotiate on salary and basic benefits then ask for more vacation time to start, relocation assistance, signing bonus, or performance bonus. These are outside of the standard packages which they may have to offer everyone, but add value to your compensation and career satisfaction.
Posted by Paula Rutledge on June 17, 2010 under Medical Device News |
For those of you who subscribe to our newsletter, you may remember reading that unemployment among college degreed professionals in the United States over the age of 25 is at 5%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Unemployment Table. Both my HR and recruiter colleagues are reporting increases in both requisitions and hires in most sectors, although imaging and pharma are still lagging.
A survey we gave back in January found that 55% of the medical industry professionals that participated were looking to change jobs this year. Employment seems to be bouncing back, but the statistics are mixed considering the May employment report released last Friday by the government. According to Morningstar’s video report, 200,000 more jobs were expected but only 41,000 jobs in the private sector materialized. This may seem like bad news for those looking for medical device jobs, but health care employment itself is increasing strongly, and consistently. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report itself,
“Health care employment was little changed in May (+8,000). Over the prior 12 months, health care employment had increased by an average of 20,000 per month.”
This is already great news for jobseekers in the medical device industry, but the combination of healthcare reform and new medical device technology makes the future of the industry’s hiring difficult to clearly forecast.
With those thoughts and statistics in mind, we created a survey asking medical device professionals to assess the future of hiring in the medical device industry over the next 6 months. On the first day we had over 1,000 responses, so take the survey and see the results so far.
Final results will be posted next week, so stay tuned!
Paula Rutledge
President
LegacyMedSearch
Paula@LegacyMedSearch.com
407-898-4440
