Interview Coming Up? Get the Job!

You’ve done the work to market yourself to stand out from your competition.  You’ve been requested for an in-person interview.  It’s time to get the job!

Here are a few things to check off from your interview checklist:

1.  Prepare for the interview enough that you’re comfortable to ask for the job.
Know the names & titles of everyone you will be interviewing with.  This includes key interviewers within the pharmacy, HR, and perhaps people such as the CEO.  Prepare for your interview by anticipating the questions that will be asked of you.  Decide how you will answer challenging questions.  Research and figure out questions to ask that are both important to you and which reflect on your interest in the position that you are applying for.  Plan to ask for the job at the end. Asking for the job is something that most pharmacists are not used to doing.  There is an art to it and the pharmacists who know how tend to get the job.

Go through the interview process by asking a pharmacist job market expert to do a mock interview with you.  This will give you an advantage over other applicants.  You will have practiced interview questions being asked in this job market and ace the interview with confidence.

I know a pharmacist who has been able to talk herself into jobs that others haven’t been able to.  It is because she is amazing with marketing herself.  She will be a guest on our upcoming invitation-only teleseminar “How to Get the Job You Want Without the Experience”.  The teleseminar will be useful to pharmacists who don’t have the specific experience for a position, but want to apply for a pharmacist position in a different practice setting.  It will also be useful to new pharmacy residents & grads.  The first 32 pharmacists who enroll in the “Get the Job” Membership program will be invited to attend.

Many pharmacists are imbalanced on what part of the interview process they are good at.  Some are good at getting the interview, but not the job.  Others are good at getting the job, but have trouble getting interviews.  The good news is that this is something that can be learned.  You just need to have a handle on the secret of what works & what doesn’t in this tight job market.

2.  Get directions ahead of time. Map it out via Google Maps or Mapquest.   I prefer Google Maps because it also gives you the estimated time in traffic.  Also, call to request directions.  Someone familiar with the area will be able to give you landmarks that make it easier to find where you need to go.  Have the phone # of the interview location handy, in case you get lost.

3.  Look and feel sharp.  Take care in presenting yourself to make a memorable first impression, from brushing your hair neatly, to dressing professionally in colors that complement your skin tone.  It is better to overdress one notch than to under dress.  When you feel sharp, you radiate confidence and the hiring managers can feel that.

3.  Bring a few hard copies of your resume.  This offers something tangible for the hiring managers to hold on to.  They have it ready and can make notes on it if they wish.  Few pharmacists actually do this, so you would be standing out by bringing this to your interview.

What part of the interview checklist have you done in the past and gotten results from?  What part do you have challenges with?  Share your experiences below.

Good luck at your interview! Remember, give yourself the best chance possible–you only have one shot.