Assuming a career in medical sales, you are required to be in the know with current industry trends, and be at par with the latest research, at lease those in direct relation to the product which you currently represent. You have to be flexible enough to accommodate changes in schedules and waiting times, since doctors can be quite lax when it comes to making people wait for their turn. This seems the perfect combination of traits for an eventual promotion, isn't it?

Well, it's not. Unsurprisingly, this industry does not differ from all the others, since you have to really, really work your way to the top; most of the time you'll be doing more hustling then working, but you'll need it to pull through. You have to build up your career from the get go, and to do that you have to start from the very bottom.

Assuming that you are a new to the business, the best possible way to make your mark is through exemplary performance. You need to deliver results on time. You need to look like and sound like you have the confidence and the passion to put out your product to anyone who is willing to listen. You have to be socially amiable, and you always have to be there, at the time when your presence matters the most. The key to climbing the corporate ladder is laying out a presentable image as a foundation.

You should be personally acquainted with key persons in your company, those who have a more substantial influence in giving you the promotion which you strive for. There are a lot of ways to achieve this, if you're ingenious enough; from 'chance' meetings in conventions and corporate functions, to casual talk in the elevator, make sure you make your presence felt in a discreet manner; they already have an inkling on your intentions anyway, you might as well make the most out of it and squeeze it for all it's worth. Make sure you remain as inconspicuous in your real intentions as possible, as the people you aim to impress may otherwise be turned off, and you may end up in a worse position than you started with.

Sell out yourself to every opportunity which may arise. Volunteer for medical missions, put yourself out on conferences and symposiums, take an increasing responsibility in committees and tasks; make your presence is felt, and then maximize your opportunities with every exposure.

Once you have laid out the 'preliminary work,' have a clear target as to which promotion you particularly aim for. At this point you'll have to be realistic with your chances, as other candidates with better experience and postgraduate qualifications may beat you to it in a cinch. Assess your current career situation and go for the promotion which is the next logical step for your current standing.

Once you have done everything which makes the promotion a possibility, you should leave some time for fate to do its work. You'll have to wait for a vacancy, and this could take months, several years. Just make sure that you do something significant with your time while you wait for the perfect opportunity.

This article is written by Jonathan Walker of pharmaceutical Careers and Pharma Jobs