GE Careers Blog.

GE Healthcare operates a 24-month Experienced Commercial Leadership Program (ECLP) that trains recent college graduates on product specifications, sales operations and even the soft skills needed to succeed in the medical device industry, says Jay Moore, general manager for commercial learning for the U.S. and Canada at GE Healthcare and head of the ECLP program. The final eight months of the program are spent in the field — and in the operating room — with a mentor, earning base salary while learning the ropes. The 90% of participants who graduate from the program are offered full time sales positions with GE Healthcare, say Moore.

This is part of an ongoing series of Q&As with recruiters from top MBA employers. Bloomberg Businessweek’s Erin Zlomek interviews Chris Thomas, global recruiting director of General Electric’s (GE) Experienced Commercial Leadership Program.

In May of last year, Experienced Commercial Leadership Program (ECLP) member Dottie never would have imagined that she’d step foot in a “yard” handling construction equipment. Granted, she had experience driving a tractor before, but she did not have a lot of experience with the “heavy stuff”…. until she got her first assignment in GE’s ECLP. Dottie found out her first eight-month stint would be in sales with the Equipment Finance team and she would be moving to Dallas, Texas.

The Experienced Commercial Leadership Program blog interviews Monica Li, GE Capital ECLP Class of 2012, China pole, to learn more about her personal experience with the new “Global New Directions Project.”

ECLP is the premier development opportunity for GE’s future sales and marketing leaders. ECLP gives you the opportunity to differentiate and accelerate your career through exposure to senior leadership, working on high impact assignments and access to world-class marketing and leadership training. Participants gain valuable experience through three eight month assignments in various parts of the world.