The global life sciences industry must remain competitive to sustain growth. Attracting employees to sales teams may require new strategies in the coming year. Understanding how the biggest companies are building their commercial teams will help you make life sciences sales careers more appealing to long-term team members.
Is the Life Sciences Industry Growing?
The life sciences industry is growing, even as it faces some challenges. Deloitte found that 71% of U.S. biopharma respondents expect revenue gains in 2026. Medical research funding cuts haven’t stopped people from seeking employment with life sciences companies for several reasons.
Artificial intelligence advancements are accelerating productivity. People can accomplish more during their shifts, perform better and maintain stronger professional connections with companies that connect them to the latest technologies. New therapies developed by researchers also create the need for more sales staff to market each lifesaving medication.
Innovative Growth Strategies for Sales Teams
Becoming a top-choice employer is essential in the modern life sciences industry. You can make candidates want to join your sales workforce by getting ahead of competitors with leading strategies.
1. Higher Hourly Wages
Some people have heard negative stories from former sales industry employees who worked strictly on commission. Competitive life sciences companies like Danaher are actively hiring for sales and commercial roles by appealing to professionals with leading hourly wages. If applicants with deep scientific knowledge know they’ll make a great hourly wage with sizable commission bonuses, the number of applications per job role could match your projected growth needs.
A contract sales specialist with an Associate’s degree could make six figures before bonuses or incentive pay. People looking for jobs will see that figure and know they can comfortably afford child care or pay their student loans with that income. Your sales department will be a preferred place to work if you ensure that your team members earn a comfortable living.
2. Career Growth Opportunities
Finding new jobs is stressful. No one wants to change careers multiple times throughout their life, so you can grow your sales department by showcasing your internal growth opportunities.
Pharmaceutical industry jobs like those at Eli Lilly are appealing because they use a similar approach. The company’s GROW program teaches every employee how to develop their leadership potential, find mentors and learn from leaders in whatever department they want to learn about within life sciences. Offering similar opportunities for your employees will show people that a sales job with your company is a long-term place to land.
3. People-Focused Work
Candidates often explore sales jobs for the appealing commission rates, but team members stay long-term if they feel fulfilled. Presenting your job opportunities as people-focused work could help you build your commercial workforce.
Integra Life Sciences crafts biotech sales opportunities similarly. The job descriptions include a reminder that sales commissions reward ethical customer impact, rather than meeting quarterly revenue requirements. If people focus on helping others, they receive financial incentives. You could do the same by framing commission projects as rewards for improving each customer’s quality of life, rather than meeting productivity quotas.
Make Life Sciences Sales Careers a Top Choice
The life sciences industry is growing, so your sales team should know how to keep up with it. Making job opportunities more appealing with strategies used by the industry’s biggest companies will help. Presenting competitive hourly wages, infusing your department’s work with purpose and showing candidates how they can grow will increase your application rates during growth periods.
