Written by Ally H. - Senior Recruiter at CONMED

As a new employee at CONMED and to the medical device sales industry, I did not know what to expect when I first accepted the job. Within my first nine months here with the company, I quickly learned how exciting it would be to sell directly to the operating room.

One Monday morning in Buffalo, NY, I woke up bright and early and headed to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital to meet Joe G., a Sales Representative I had hired back in April. He greeted me at the entrance and led the way into the hospital, exchanging friendly hellos with nurses and doctors along the way. It was clear how comfortable and well-liked he was in this hospital.

We made our way to the locker rooms, where Joe handed me a set of scrubs, a mask, and a hairnet to change into. I looked in the mirror and thought, “Wow, I’m ready for surgery.” We walked through the double doors into the operating room and reviewed the surgery board to determine which case and surgeon would be most beneficial for me to observe AirSeal® in action via a hysterectomy procedure.

We entered the operating room and moved toward the back. A team of nurses and residents was already assisting the doctor. The room was brightly lit and cool, filled with the sounds of suction devices, beeping monitors, and a subtle Taylor Swift song playing in the background.

Joe introduced me to the Doctor, who was more than happy to explain to me how and why the procedure we were observing needed to be done. She had a few technical questions for Joe, ,and he answered to the best of his knowledge, then stepped outside to call our Clinical Development Manager, Anna P., to ensure he provided the most accurate information possible. Joe came back into the operating room with confidence to deliver the information he received to our client. I was extremely impressed with Joe’s approach—it made me proud to know I had recruited him to join CONMED.

My biggest takeaway from this experience is the importance of our sales representatives building a strong rapport with the surgical teams and offering value without being intrusive. As a Talent Acquisition Specialist, it is essential to understand the daily responsibilities that our candidates will face inside the operating room, so that we can paint a realistic picture during that initial phone call. Understanding the day-to-day responsibilities, goals, and challenges that our sales force faces will help me to identify the right person for the job. By witnessing firsthand, the impact that our products have on patients’ lives made my role at CONMED even more meaningful as I continue to hire top-tier sales talent.

The testimonials displayed in this video are provided by Company employees who have voluntarily agreed to share their story and have not been compensated for their time and participation. These testimonials are strictly the views of the individuals providing them and do not reflect the views or opinions of CONMED Corporation.