New drugs are certified every day. Good job applicants should show the interviewers that they are never satisfied with their knowledge, that they always seek improvement. Accredited continuing education classes are mandatory, and you will not impress us with saying that you attend them. Try to show that you do something extra.
Do you read any vocational magazines? Did something catch your eye lately? Did they conduct any successful medical experiment in your field? Is there a new popular drug on the market? Is there a new pharmacy chain in town? What makes them better? Did any new law or regulation become effective lately, having impact on the pharmacy?
We should feel that pharmacy is not only your job, but also your hobby. Show enthusiasm for the new trends in the field, mentioning magazines you read, and conferences you attended. That is a superb way to stand out from the other, mostly passive job applicants.
Sample answers
I read U.S. Pharmacist and Pharmacy Times. When traveling home from work, I typically spend about twenty minutes checking latest news on RxTimes, just to ensure I won’t miss anything important. I also try to attend a conference at the local University twice a year. I like pharmacy, so I enjoy doing that.
To be honest, I have a family and I try to find a healthy work-life balance. Therefore, once out of work, I do not spend much time reading magazines, or doing something else related to work. However, I attend ACE classes and follow all other requirements to renew my licensee. On the top of that, I try to use every free minute in job to consult my colleagues about the latest trends, and I read pharmacy articles on the internet when we have no customers in a store. I try to be a good pharmacist, but I also need a healthy life-work balance.
Going an extra mile
If you want to ensure that you did your very best to prepare for one of the most important meetings of your life, you should check my Pharmacist Interview Guide, an eBook in which you will find great answers to twenty two most common pharmacist interview questions, winning interview strategies, and basically everything you need to outclass your competitors. Statistics show that more than ten people apoply for every single pharmacist job opening. Will you be the one who gets the job?
Anita Stosur, Your Personal Job Interview Coach