If They Like Me, They’ll Hire Me

Is it true? Sure, it plays an important role in a pharmacy hiring manager’s decision, but why should they pick you out of other interested pharmacist applicants?

I was talking to a pharmacist who wanted to be presented for a management position.  I suggested that she highlight any leadership experience, including starting/leading clinical programs or previous leadership experiences during work or in pharmacy school (she had attended pharmacy school within the last 5 years), and her response to me was “I want to keep my resume the way it is.  If they like me, they’ll hire me.  I don’t want to be giving any false impressions about myself.”

I don’t know how else to say it, but please understand that you may not be used to a pharmacist job market that requires you to not only be a pharmacist who has the skills to get the job you want, but to also convey your skills and passion among other competing pharmacists to get the job.

It’s one thing that you know what you are good at–that your patients love the way you connect with them & physicians listen to your therapeutic suggestions because you are sharp clinically & you collaborate well with others.

It’s another thing to show on a resume (the main thing a potential pharmacist employer sees initially) what it is you have that is directly relevant to the pharmacist position they are trying to fill.  A good resume’s purpose is not false impressions.  A good resume points your strengths out.  It is not about being untruthful.  It’s about marketing yourself because that is one of the first key impressions someone will have of you.

If you are untruthful, you will be found out during the interview anyway, so that is dangerous territory to be playing in.  The point is to think of what the pharmacist employer wants and tailor your resume uniquely to what they are looking for.

Maybe this will help you understand why it’s important.  Why don’t we step back from pharmacy & look at a job for a housekeeper.  The qualities of a housekeeper an employer or a client (perhaps you) is looking for is 1) someone who cleans the house in an efficient & detail-oriented manner, 2) someone who has experience doing housekeeping.

Candidate #1:

This housekeeper has the skills mentioned above and the experience, but chooses to write on his/her resume:
Housekeeper.  Responsibilities are not elaborated on.

Assessment:  You are left wondering what responsibilities he/she had as a housekeeper.

Candidate #2:

This housekeeper has the skills mentioned above and experience housekeeping, but chooses to write on his/her resume: “Experience with scanning & copying”, “Running errands for my clients”, Taking quality photo portraits of people”, “Typing 100 WPM”.

Assessment:  Experience with scanning & copying is not relevant to the position.  Perhaps running errands is somewhat relevant, but not directly relevant.  Taking quality photos & typing 100 WPM is not relevant at all.

Candidate #2:

This housekeeper also has the skills and experience housekeeping, but chooses to write on their resume: “Cleaning 4 houses/day that are 5000 sq ft average size and retaining clients for 3+ years”, “Receiving high compliments from clients (references are available) and consistent referrals”

Assessment:  This person seems to 1) clean the house in an efficient & detail-oriented manner, 2) someone who has experience doing housekeeping.  This person also has references to back it up.

Who would you choose to interview?

Get your foot in the door first.  Once you are interviewing, they will get a better sense of your personality and whether they like you.  Keep in mind that you are still highlighting what you have that is directly relevant to the position even when you are interviewing, but at that point they will definitely take into consideration more of your personality fit.  When you are at the resume stage, what you point out is all they have to go by.  Get your foot in the door first.  For other tips useful in your job search, check out the 5 Biggest Mistakes Candidates Make in a Job Search.