Pharmacy Job Search – Getting Started

When you’re just starting out as a pharmacist, getting ready for your first job search can seem a daunting task. There is so much to think about as you move toward the beginning of your career. You want to get off on the right foot and make the best choices to gain experience, so you’ll want to prepare carefully. These tips can help you find and land a great job, right from the beginning of your first pharmacy job search.

Preparing Your Resume

When you’re just starting out, job experience is something that is at a minimum. Preparing your resume for your first pharmacy job search can be something of a challenge. That said, there are some great ways to make your resume shine and help you land that important first job.

• Make your education a focal point. Point out awards, accolades, and achievements that showed your prowess in the classroom and dedication to your education.
• Choose solid references. Look to mentors and supervisors in your residency programs to put in a good word for you when it comes to your employability and work ethic.
• Include other jobs. Did you work the same part-time job throughout college? Have a repeat summer gig back home? Even though those experiences aren’t in the field, they still show your employability and loyalty to your positions.
• Neatness really does count. Make sure that your resume is formatted nicely, is free of spelling and grammatical errors, and looks organized and professional. Skip the clip art headers and keep things streamlined and clean.

Finding Available Positions

Once you have a solid resume ready to go, you need to start searching for places to apply. While you might have a dream job or company in mind, as you’re starting out, prepare to be a little more flexible with your job choices. Online pharmacy staffing websites are a great resource to help you locate jobs that will be a fit for your personal needs or help you to find ways to spread your wings and visit new and exciting locations. On a more personal level, you can talk with people who work in local pharmacies and hospitals to see if they know of a job that may be a good fit.

Acing Your Interviews

After you’ve found a position and made it through the application process, you will need to put your best face forward in the interview to land the job. Though every interview has a unique set of questions, there are some things that you can be sure will make a great impression.

• Dress to impress. Put together a polished, professional look. Even though you may spend your days in a lab coat, in the interview, you will want to look sharp.
• Practice answering common questions beforehand. Have a friend help you run through a mock interview, feeding you some of the more frequently asked questions to give you a practice run. They can ask about your strengths and weaknesses, previous employment, reasons that you’re a fit for the position, and similar queries.
• Learn when it’s time to talk and when it’s time to rein it in. Avoid overselling yourself. Yes, you want to be sure that your interviewer gets you, but you also don’t want them to get tired of you.
• Always close with a thank you and a firm handshake. Even if you feel like it was a disaster, end every interview on a high note. That’s the last chance to make an impression, so take advantage of it.

Getting started in your pharmacy job search may not be easy, but with the right drive and following a few best practices, you will be on your way to the career of your dreams in no time.