Becoming a pharmacist requires a significant level of commitment. Qualification status is only achieved after six to eight years of academic study, at the end of which you could potentially find yourself without employment.
Employment obstacles
After all those years of study, it is surprising that pharmacists struggle to find suitable placements once graduated. Whilst a plethora of pharmaceutical establishments can be found on every British high street, the reality is that fully-qualified pharmacists outnumber the available positions by a ratio of five to one. Once a pharmacist, always a pharmacist; for many, it is a job for life. This may explain the large number of older chemists who remain in long-held positions and are reluctant to relinquish their positions.
A recent survey revealed that there were ten applicants for every position advertised. This can only result in a scramble between those equally qualified and an attempt to outperform and surpass fellow pharmacists.
Recruiters have the pick of the bunch; therefore, newly-qualified graduates looking for a career in clinical trial services, for example, are likely to find that linking with a relevant recruitment agency is a good place to start.
Standing out from the crowd
Successful recruitment will depend upon an individual’s ability to present themselves as a cut above the rest. This can start at the very beginning of the pharmacy degree by following a career planning timetable.
It is not enough to consider yourself a master of pharmaceuticals; in fact, the role of pharmacist demands significant business, personal, technical and behavioural skills.
A prospective pharmacist needs to display a hunger for the role, an understanding of customer service, an instinctive ability to detect addictive behaviour and other challenging medical conditions, an extensive industry knowledge, profound personal ambition and a level of introspection. Understanding individual strengths and weaknesses is vital to this important customer service role.
Making an effort to present yourself professionally at interview should be a given, with how you look on the outside reflecting your motivation, knowledge and attention to detail. Never underestimate the power of emotional intelligence in beating down the opposition.