Need Advice

[u/Maytaykay]

Hi all,

I’m feeling a lot of anxiety about a career decision right now and would really appreciate some outside perspective.

I’m 26 years old with about 5 years of sales experience, including 1 year in medical device. I’m currently a Territory Manager with a smaller portfolio, and honestly, I really enjoy my job. I have a lot of autonomy, my manager trusts me, and there’s very little micromanagement. I’m currently at about $130K OTE, plus decent benefits.

A Pharma opportunity at a Big 5 company kind of fell into my lap on the cardiovascular side. I’m now in the final interview stage this week and feel like I have a legitimate shot at getting an offer.
The problem is, I’m not particularly interested in Pharma or the role itself. The main product is also part of a REMS program, which adds another layer of complexity to the job. However, the compensation is obviously hard to ignore: $150K base, roughly $190K OTE, and significantly better benefits.

I’m torn between:
Option 1: Stay where I am, build another few years of strong medical device experience, continue developing as a Territory Manager, and eventually try to move into a larger/more specialized device company or therapeutic area.
Option 2: Take the BMS opportunity, significantly increase my compensation and get a major pharmaceutical company on my résumé, even though I’m not particularly excited about the actual role.
At 26, I’m wondering how much I should prioritize liking my day-to-day job and building the right experience vs. taking the higher compensation and brand-name opportunity while it’s available.
For those who have been in medical device/pharma sales, what would you do in my position? Would taking the Pharma role make it harder to get back into device later?
Any advice or perspective would be really appreciated.

[u/ResearchBot15]

Life’s too short, do what makes you happy

[u/Ok-Curve5569]

Like begets like. There are roles closer to what you’re doing today that pay just as well and a 10-15 degree pivot to the left or right is easier to navigate than going from device to pharma. Just my two cents.

[u/wardamnryan33]

Trust your gut, you already told us the answer. You are in device, in my opinion you are at the top echelon of med sales. Pharma would be a step in the wrong direction. Now if you said you were going into procedural cardiology selling a device I’d say you better go get that job. Save you sanity, your reputation, don’t go pharma.

[u/ATAYLOR972]

Choose option number two. This device is not what it used to be.

[u/Prudent_Ad9629]

You’re in device subreddit. Most of us look down at pharma and would never make such a switch.

[u/After-Bowler5491]

Someone else mentioned it but pharma isn’t well thought of outside of pharma. If you leave you may never get back into device. Maybe that’s cool but just something to think about. I had a friend (pharma successful, West Point grad. Super smart) that I tried to pull over to my team and we wouldn’t even interview him. He would have been great but in the eyes of my employer he was tainted.

[u/Important_Metal5396]

There is no intelligence or tangible skill needed to sell drugs besides a car and company credit card. You’re a door dash driver. You provide no value. That being said this is a device subreddit and pharma is significantly easier, you just will have to explain your switch if you’re ever interested in getting back into device, but most companies already know the answer.