This series highlights unique and diverse career opportunities for healthcare professionals looking to transition away from traditional roles. Each post provides an overview of the job, qualifications required, and potential salary ranges, though these may vary by location and employer and information available on the actual job post. If this job isn’t a good fit for your credentials and background, then please click here to view all Job Spotlights.

Sometimes we find ourselves in the position of realizing that we hate our jobs—and that’s OK. The stress of knowing that any mistakes we make can literally impact peoples’ lives can be overwhelming. But it can also feel frustrating because we’ve invested so much time and money in degrees, certifications, and specialized training. So, the question becomes: how do you leverage your education and experience in a way that’s completely different from the original intent?

For many healthcare professionals, the idea of transitioning into sales is appealing. It offers a chance to stay connected to the industry while escaping the bedside or clinical setting. And financially, it can be VERY rewarding. However, breaking into sales isn’t always straightforward. Many companies prioritize candidates with business degrees or prior sales experience over those with clinical expertise.

The trick? Finding roles that bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and sales, giving you a solid foundation to pivot into lucrative career paths like pharmaceutical or medical device sales.

If you’re ready to explore this kind of opportunity, today’s job spotlight might be exactly what you need. Vapotherm currently has two positions open for a repiratory therapist clinical sales role. Lets look at them a little closer.

About the Role: Clinical Sales Specialist (Respiratory Therapy)

This position is perfect for a respiratory therapist (RT) who’s looking to shift into sales. As a Clinical Sales Specialist, you’ll act as a liaison between the company and healthcare providers, using your clinical expertise to educate clients, demonstrate products, and provide ongoing support.

Here are some of the highlights of this role:

• Duties:

  • Represent the company’s respiratory products to hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings.

  • Train healthcare professionals on product usage and best practices.

  • Develop relationships with key stakeholders, including physicians, RTs, and administrators.

  • Work closely with the sales team to identify client needs and present tailored solutions.

• Qualifications You’ll Need:

  • Active credentials as a respiratory therapist (RRT).

  • Strong communication and presentation skills. You have probably educated other staff or patients/family on the equipment you were using, add this to your resume.

  • A passion for problem-solving and educating others.

  • Previous example/s of influencing clinical use of product in hospital environment. If you ever participated in any product demo at your facility that let to them buying in to that product, include that on your resume.

Why This Role Stands Out

Transitioning into sales might feel daunting, but this role is designed to utilize your clinical experience as a foundation for success. The clinical sales path offers a mix of challenges and rewards:

• Use What You Already Know: You’ll still be working with healthcare professionals, speaking their language, and solving real-world problems—but from a different angle.

• Gain Sales Experience: This role gives you a chance to build the sales skills that can open doors to even more lucrative opportunities, like pharmaceutical or advanced medical device sales. Even better, they provide business training! (Be sure to include this new job on your LinkedIn profile, because eventually you will have recruiters reaching out to you!)

• Escape Burnout: By stepping away from direct patient care, you’ll still be making a meaningful impact—but without the emotional and physical toll of bedside work.

• Excellent Salary: The salary posted for this position is $100,000-$120,000. Be sure however to ask about the “extras”- bonus, commission, stock options, car/car allowance, etc. Remember too- this could eventually lead to a job pharmaceutical sales, which could pay even more.

Tips for Success in this Role

• Be Ready to Learn: Sales is a skill, just like clinical care. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn from seasoned sales professionals.

• Highlight Your Clinical Expertise: Your background as a respiratory therapist is your biggest asset. Use it to build trust with clients. I have walked into offices and introduced myself as a nurse, and the atmosphere changes- you are now “one of us” and treated more like a colleague than a sales outsider. This trust can help you build stronger relationships with clients, making it easier to understand their needs and tailor your solutions.

• Stay Resilient: Sales comes with its own set of challenges, like rejection and quotas. Having a growth mindset will help you thrive.

This Clinical Sales Specialist role could be the first step toward a more flexible, higher-paying career. If you’re ready to pivot and want to learn more, check out the full job description here.

Your dream job might be closer than you think—sometimes it just takes the right opportunity to make the leap.

Disclaimer: This blog post is independently written and not affiliated with or endorsed by Vapotherm. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please refer to the official job posting.