6 Career Tips For Pharmacist Graduates

Like many fields in healthcare, pharmacy is undergoing rapid transformation, but with any change come opportunities. Pharmacist graduates can find opportunities to work in communities or hospitals and even in academia.

However, with the steep competition in the pharmacist job market, fresh graduates need to know how to market themselves and showcase their abilities to the hiring team. Here are a few tips to help you succeed in finding the appropriate position.

1. Leverage Online Job Posting

There are many online resources you can utilize to find a pharmacy job. It’s in your best interest to take the time to explore the services and options that exist. Explore a few general sites, such as Indeed.com, Beyond.com, Jobs.com, and Monster.com.

Consider creating a profile and signing up for some of these platforms to become familiar with your field’s market. Visit the institutional websites of the companies you want to work for and search for pharmacy jobs in their career section.

You can also identify community pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals using Google Maps in the state or city where you want to work. Sometimes you might find jobs here that aren’t posted elsewhere.

2. Build A Personal Brand

A personal brand is one of the most valuable resources to succeed in any career. Personal branding involves showing evidence that you have the skills required in a profession, usually on a website or portfolio.

Develop an identity on high-traffic platforms like LinkedIn that shows your professional interests and accomplishments.

As you grow in your career, add areas of expertise, certifications, and awards. Interpersonal skills are also essential since they contribute to your brand and reputation among colleagues.

3. Utilize Social Media Platforms

Social media is a great place to find like-minded individuals with similar interests. The objective of social media is to network with others, explore emerging fields within the pharmacy profession, and share ideas.

Strive to connect with other pharmacists who can give you career advice and guide you into unique fields that may be of interest.

Put yourself out there by messaging people you admire or those with jobs you want advice for. You can even take the conversation deeper by asking for a zoom meeting.

4. Learn From Others’ Experiences

Besides learning from your own experience, take time to learn from others’ experiences. Listen to what senior pharmacists have to say since they have many years of experience and have likely encountered the same problems you will face in your career.

Consulting other pharmacists and learning from what they have to say is a valuable resource as you grow your pharmacy career. Don’t shy away from positive criticism. Instead, try to use it to boost your performance on the job.

5. Build Your Professional Network

Networking is essential for your career as a fresh pharmacist graduate. Professional networks can lead to more job or business opportunities, enhance innovativeness, improve quality of work, and boost overall job satisfaction.

Engage with your coworkers and remain connected even when you change positions. Being visible in your field is the best way to show your colleagues that you are talented, reliable, and supportive.

In addition, take advantage of formal networks, including alumni groups and professional associations.

This will keep your pool of colleagues large, providing you with more resources to call upon and offer help. It will also make job searches easier whenever you are in the market for a new job.

6. Learn From Your Mistakes

You will make mistakes at some point in your career, which is much more certain. Of course, you will want to avoid making unnecessary mistakes and remain keen on what you are doing.

However, don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed with fear of making mistakes to the point that it paralyzes you. A little fear or respect for the potential consequences of your action as a pharmacist is motivating and healthy.

However, too much worry will cloud your judgment, making it impossible to act. If you make a mistake, do your best to solve the problem and reduce anxiety. After that, move away from the situation armed with the lesson that you have learned.

Don’t be ashamed if you don’t have the answer to a patient’s question right away. While you need to be knowledgeable about your area as a pharmacist, there are many things involved in your work that you won’t have immediate answers for.

Endnote

Building a successful career in pharmacy is a process that doesn’t happen overnight. You need a clear vision of what you want to achieve and the impact you want to make.

Take your time to figure out what a successful pharmacy career will look like for you and create a plan to achieve your goals.