Winning the Interview

Darin Ramsey, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCACPAssociate Professor of Pharmacy Practice

Butler University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Clinical Pharmacist & PGY2 Ambulatory Care/Education Residency Co-Director VA Medical Center

Learning Objectives

• Prioritize your personal career goals in order to select a company that supports these goals.

• Identify resources available for researching available jobs/careers in pharmacy.

• Develop strategies to help student pharmacists stand out during the application process.

• Respond to questions posed during the interview process.

• Identify when and what is appropriate to negotiate during the interview process.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be a PHARMACIST!!!!!

Career Options for Pharmacy Professionals

• Community– Chain– Independent

• Institution– Hospital– Long Term Care– Veterinary

• Consulting– Clinical– Home Health Care– JCAHO– Long Term Care– Managed Care

• Regulatory– State Board of Pharmacy– Department of Health– Medicare/Medicaid

• Armed Services– DEA– FDA– Indian/Public Health– Veterans Administration

Career Options for Pharmacy Professionals

• Industry– Administration– Business– Research &

Development– Technical/Scientific

• Academia

• OTHER– Association

Management– Informatics– Mail Service– Public Policy & Law– Publishing &

Communications

Adapting to Today’s Market

• Where did all the jobs go?– 180o turn from a candidate-driven market to a

employer-driven market– Economy– Increase in supply of pharmacists

• 8% vacancy rate in 2000• 5% vacancy rate in 2004• 5.9% vacancy rate in 2008

“The Adequacy of Pharmacist Supply: 2004 to 2030.” December 2008. U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services.

Increase in Pharmacy Schools

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2000 2005 2010 2014

“The employers are, for once in a long, long time, having the opportunity to be quite choosy with regard to their candidates. They are now

really focusing on hiring the best and the brightest.”

--James Scanlon, BS Pharm, RPhPharmacy Manager TARGET; Lowell Mass.

Jill Sederstrom Drug Topics April 15, 2011

“Probably this past year has been the most saturated the

market has been.”

--Lindsay Carlson, Pharm.D. 2010Houston, TX

Jill Sederstrom Drug Topics April 15, 2011

Does this translate into a bleak future for a career in pharmacy? Absolutely not

• Clinical pharmacy is becoming more prevalent

• Think outside the box

• What the aging population means for pharmacists

5 Tips to Make the Most of the Current Trends

• New Grads: Make Yourselves Stand Out• Polish Up your CV• Brush Up on Interviewing Skills• Consider Getting Additional Certifications and

Training• Don’t Let your Clinical Skills get Stale• Look for Jobs in Nontraditional Settings

Pharmacy Times June 15, 2010

Pharmacy Specific Resources

Thomas P. Reinders 3rd Edition

Residency Specific Resources

Websites with helpful tips on interviewing:

• Department of Veterans Affairs Performance-Based Interviewing– http://www.va.gov/pbi/

• STAR Interviewing Method– http://web.mit.edu/career/www/guide/star.html – http://www.quintcareers.com/STAR_interviewing.html

• General Tips on Interviewing Conduct– http://www.pohly.com/interview.html

http://www.accp.com/stunet/compass/cv.aspx

Social Networking…Facebook, Twitter…

Pharmacy Students Pharmacy Residency Program Directors

57% feel it’s unfair for employers to use information posted on social media sites

89% agree that students’ online profiles are “fair game” for making character assessments

36% have posted information they would not want potential employers to see

52% uncovered information on social media sites that revealed “unprofessional attitudes”

30% believe students should not be held accountable for inappropriate or unprofessional material they post online

90% believe candidates should be held accountable for unprofessional behavior discovered through social media

Laura Enderle Pharmacy Times Spring 2011

Introduction to Job Searching:Questions to ask yourself

• What is important to you?

• Where do you get your passion or your energy?

Introduction to Job Searching

• Networking– Get involved professionally

• Career Day Events– Butler, Purdue, & Manchester

• Placement Services (PPS)– ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting

• Residency Showcase– Local Showcase & ASHP Midyear Showcase

Internet Sources for Position ListingsOrganization URL

American College of Clinical Pharmacy www.accp.org

American Pharmacists Association www.aphanet.org

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists www.ashp.org

Career Builder www.careerbuilder.com

Health Care Jobs Online www.hcjobsonline.com

Indiana Pharmacists Alliance www.indianapharmacists.org

National Association of Chain Drug Stores www.nacds.org

Pharmacist Jobs Pharmacistjobs.com

PharmacyWeek Pharmacy week.com

Rx Career Center Rxcareercenter.com

United States Food & Drug Administration www.fda.gov

United States Public Health Service www.usphs.gov

Veteran Affairs www.VAcareers.va.gov

THE INTERVIEW: BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER

Not Knowing Anything About the Company

Getting Ready for the Interview

• Do Your Homework– Location– Type of facilities– Organizational structure– Reputation– Personnel demographics– Scope of products or services provided– Strategic Plan– Financial position

Getting Ready for the Actual Interview

• Practice, Practice, Practice

• Conduct Mock Interviews

• Develop a List of Questions

• Remember Your Manners

• Prepare for Presentations

• Dress for Success

The Most Common Interview Mistakes

Dressing Inappropriately

Professional Dress

Conservative…but not Mr. Rogers style

Arriving Late

The Interview

• Bring Applicable Documents

• Arrive on Time

• Use Nonverbal Communication Cues– Make eye contact, smile, and give a firm handshake– Maintain an enthusiastic and confident attitude

Not Paying Attention

Bringing a Drink with You

The Interview

• Remember Mealtime Etiquette

• Control Nervous Habits– Avoid slang expressions: “awesome” or “yeah”

• Use Effective Interpersonal Skills

Using Your Phone During the Interview

Interview Etiquette: The Cell Phone

• Do NOT interrupt your interview to take calls from others

• Turn your cell phone OFF before you enter the office or building of the interview

• Don’t turn it on again until you are in your car

Fuzzy Resume/CV Facts

Not Being Prepared to Answer the Questions

Badmouthing Past Employers

Topics to Avoid During the Interview

• Discussing salary and benefits early in the process• Making references to the superiority of the institutions

you are associated with• Speaking negatively about current or past employers,

faculty, or colleagues• Displaying a “know-it-all” attitude• Discussing religion, politics, or other highly controversial

topics• Seeking special treatment because of your connections

After the Interview…….

After the Interview

• Assess the Experience

• Send a ‘Thank You’ Note

Things to Consider

• Geographic Location– Cost of Living– Housing Availability– Relocation Expenses– Climate

• Lifestyle Issues– Work Schedule– Commute Time– Opportunity for Social

Activities

Things to Consider• Compensation

– Salary– Overtime Pay– Performance Bonus

• Benefits– Retirement Plan Options– Medical/Dental/Vision Plans– Disability Insurance– Long-Term Care Insurance– Tuition Waiver Plan– Flexible Spending Accounts– Child Care– Stock Options– Vacation– Holiday Time– Sick Leave

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Interview Techniques Used• PBI

– Performance Based Interview• Encourages candidates to discuss past scenarios

and examples

• STAR method– Situation– Task– Action– Results

Accomplishments

• Tell me about yourself.

• Tell me about your most satisfying accomplishment in life.

• Tell me about a time when you completed an assignment that was well received by an employer.

Career Development

• What are your short-term career goals?

• What are your long-term career goals?

• How do you plan to achieve your goals?

• Describe the ideal position based on your long-term career plan.

Coping with Change

• How do you handle change at work?

• How do you deal with individuals who resist change?

Communication Skills

• Tell me about a quality presentation you delivered. What made it successful?

• How would you compare your oral presentation skills to your writing skills?

Dealing with Conflict

• How do you handle conflict?

• Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an irate patient {physician, nurse, student}. How did you handle the situation?

• Tell me about a time when you needed to work closely with someone you routinely disagree with. How did you deal with the situation?

Creativity

• If you were planning a trip to the moon and could only take three things, what would you take?

• If you were a drug, what drug would you be? Why?

• Describe a time when your personal creativity helped solve a problem at work.

Knowledge of Issues Facing the Profession

• How do you see the role of the pharmacist changing in the next 5 – 10 years?

• What single greatest challenge does the profession face in the next two years?

• What does the term “pharmaceutical care” mean to you?

Personal Attributes

• What makes you different from other pharmacists (students)?

• How do you motivate others?

• How do you unwind in your spare time?

• How would your best friend describe you?

Questions you should NEVER be asked

• How old are you?

• Who do you live with?

• Where does your spouse work?

• What are your plans for starting a family?

• Do you have any health conditions that would compromise your attendance record?

JOB NEGOTIATIONYOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT…..BUT SOMETIMES YOU CAN

Would you rather have a job that pays…..

$100,000 or $120,000

Salary Difference over 5 Years

$ 100,000 $ 120,000

3% Raise $ 3,000 $ 3,600

1st Year out $ 103,000 $ 123,600

3% Raise $ 3,090 $ 3,708

2nd Year out $ 106,090 $ 127,308

3% Raise $ 3,183 $ 3,820

3rd Year out $ 109,273 $ 131,128

3% Raise $ 3,278 $ 3,934

4th Year out $ 112,551 $ 135,062

3% Raise $ 3,377 $ 4,052

5th Year out $ 115,927 $ 139,114 Difference: $ 23,187

Evaluating Salary & Benefits

$ 100,000Vacation 3 weeks

Weekends NONE

Holiday Off all major holidays

Professional days 5 days per year

$ 120,000Vacation 2 weeks

Weekends Every other

Holiday Work one major holiday per year

Professional days NONE

A few extra bucks will never turn a BAD job into a GOOD job

401k/403b Retirement

$ 100,000Yearly Salary 5% + 10% Match

$ 100,000 $ 15,000

$ 103,000 $ 15,450

$ 106,090 $ 15,914

$ 109,273 $ 16,391

$ 112,551 $ 16,883

$ 115,927 $ 17,389

TOTAL $ 97,027

$ 120,000Yearly Salary 6% + 3% Match

$ 110,000 $ 9,900

$ 123,600 $ 11,124

$ 127,308 $ 11,458

$ 131,128 $ 11,802

$ 135,062 $ 12,156

$ 139,114 $ 12,520

TOTAL $ 68,960

Scenario 1Salary

• A range of $100,000 - $120,000 is advertised, and HR offers $100,000.

• You feel you are worth $120,000.

• How would you negotiate?

Scenario 2Support for meeting attendance

• You have a passion for research and would like to continue to present posters at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting.

• How would you negotiate for yearly meeting attendance?

Principals of Negotiation

Develop a win-win situation where each party gets more than what they want

Cooperation (form a partnership)

Separate yourself from both the problem and your ego

Assess interests of opposing sides as well as your own

Develop creative options (give up the little things in exchange for the big things)

Be fair and make sure all parties are treated equally

Healthcare Purchasing News. 2010;34(5):64

Common Mistakes of Pharmacy Job Seekers

• Waiting too long• Ignoring minimum job requirements• Narrowing the search too much• Doing it alone• Winging the interview• Appearing unprofessional• Answering questions vaguely• Displaying poor nonverbal communication• Disparaging past colleagues• Forgetting to follow up

White CA. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2011;68:294-296

Words of Advice

• Treat every rotation experience as if it is a job interview

• Find a pharmacy mentor

• Get involved in local pharmacy organizations

• Have a ‘Plan B’ in place

• Rejection is OK

• Be persistent…..but not annoying

Recipe for Success

“What is the recipe for successful achievement? To my mind there are just four essential ingredients: Choose a career you love, give it the best there is in you, seize your opportunities, and be a member of the team”

Benjamin F. Fairless, Author

Talking Too Much