How to prep for a pharmacy job interview

Landing a pharmacy job interview can be exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. Whether you’re a newly graduated pharmacist or a seasoned pharmacist looking for better pay, work-life balance, or a change in environment, a successful interview is paramount to getting hired. 

Interviewing well comes naturally to some. Fortunately for most people, however, nailing an interview is a skill that can be learned. You can stand out as a top candidate with these pharmacist interview tips, along with the right preparation and practice. 

Continue reading to learn more about how to prepare for a pharmacy interview.

RELATED: Pharmacist salary |Pharmacy technician salary

5 tips for pharmacy job interviews

An outstanding interview can increase the odds of getting hired, even if you’re not completely qualified for the job. Hiring managers use interviews as a way to get to know you and see what you have to offer. You can also use the interview as an opportunity to learn more about the company. 

1. Do your research

Doing your research should be a given even before applying for the job. Ahead of your interview, you should have a good idea about the duties and responsibilities of the job you’re applying for. You should also be familiar with the company’s mission, goals, and values to see how they align with your own vision. If you really want to be prepared, you can reach out to colleagues or current employees to get a feel for what to expect on a typical day. 

2. Have the right mindset

You’ll want to have the right mindset to navigate the interview with confidence. Being relaxed, confident, and in control of your emotions can help you stay level-headed if the interviewer throws you any curveballs. Know your value, and remember to approach the interview from the angle of seeing if the job is a right fit for you. After all, a job interview is a two-way street. Ask what success looks like on the job and whether there are opportunities for progression in the company. Don’t be afraid to walk away if you feel that working there doesn’t align with your goals. 

3. Be on time

First impressions are everything. Being late can suggest the interview is not important for you or signal future bad behaviors and red flags for employers. To be on the safe side, arrive 15 minutes before the interview. 

4. Dress well

Along the same lines of being on time, you should dress appropriately for the job interview. If you’re wondering what to wear to a pharmacist or pharmacy technician job interview, aim for business professional attire. You could wear a pant, dress, or skirt suit, which might match what you’d wear on school rotations. You should look clean and neat and avoid any overpowering scents or perfumes that can be distracting. 

5. Practice

Practicing possible answers to questions is one of the best ways to prepare for an interview. Saying the answers out loud instead of writing them down can help you get a feel for the pacing of the interview. Practicing also helps you structure your answers so you’re not rambling. You can do mock interviews with a family member, friend, or professional mentor for feedback. When the company calls to schedule your interview, you can even ask them directly who will be interviewing you and what the format of the interview will be to prepare.

Common pharmacy interview questions

After you understand the mindset you should have for an interview, answering pharmacy interview questions becomes easier. Remember, your objective is to highlight your professional experience and see how working at the company fits into your career goals. With this objective in mind, you’ll be clear and concise when answering questions. Keep in mind that pharmacist interview questions and pharmacy technician interview questions may vary. 

Tell me about yourself

This is one of the most common initial questions an interviewer may ask. It’s generally a way to kick off the interview and refresh the interviewer on who you are. You can keep the answer brief by focusing on your relevant professional experience. You don’t have to go into personal details or your whole life story.

Why should we hire you as a pharmacist?

Some form of this question is almost guaranteed at a job interview. You should emphasize your qualifications for the job, relevant skills, and specific reasons why you’re interested in the position. You can talk about the values you share with the company or how you’d like to help the company achieve its goals. 

Tell me about a particular situation with a prescriber, patient, or colleague?

Hiring managers typically like to ask behavioral or situational questions to see how you’d work on the team. They may ask you to describe a particularly difficult situation with a prescriber, patient, or colleague and how you resolved the issue. You can demonstrate your experience by using the STAR method, which stands for situation, task, action, and result. You would describe the context of the problem, explain your duty or responsibility in the situation, the specific actions you took to resolve the problem, and the outcomes of your actions. 

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

For this question, you’ll want to provide answers relevant to the job description. For your strengths, you can discuss any specific qualities that qualify you for the job, such as leadership or technical skills. When explaining your weaknesses, you’ll want to be tactfully honest. You can explain your weaknesses, but you should give specific situations and how you’re improving or working on your weaknesses. 

How do you handle stress?

When talking about stress, you’ll want to focus on the solution, not the problem. You can talk about how you prioritize and organize your tasks to deal with deadlines or stressful situations. You can also answer this question based on past stressful experiences and how you handled them. 

After the interview

At the end of the pharmacy interview, you can thank the interviewer for the time and opportunity to share your experience and learn more about the position. Before you leave, you should have an idea about the hiring timeline and when you can expect to hear back. You can also get the interviewer’s contact information to send a thank you note within the next couple of days after the interview. 

Standing out as a candidate 

Preparing for the interview is just as important as the interview itself. Having the right mindset, plan, and strategy can help you ace the interview and stand out among other candidates.