Tips For Your Pharmacy Interviews

So, we've talked about how to write a killer pharmacy personal statement in the last article here: https://oscetoolbox.com/articles/tips-for-writing-a-pharmacy-personal-statement  but after you get your offers you have to think about the interviews. This can be daunting especially as it may be the first formal interview of your life. However, below are some tips on how to remain calm, answer the interviewer's questions and be yourself. Enjoy the read!

How I wrote this article:

• Articles

• https://studyinghealthcare.ac.uk/interviews/pharmacy-interview-preparation

• https://www.applytouni.com/applying/applying-advice/university-interviews/pharmacy-university-interview-questions/

• https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/pharmacy/roles-pharmacy/pharmacist

• Youtube Videos

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KSN4Zjm38A&t=44s

•                           Pharmacy School Interview: Best way to answer Why Pharmacy?           

•                           5 Best Pharmacist Interview Questions and Answers [EXAMPLES]           

• ChatGPT (for some example sentences)

• Personal experience from a healthcare degree and from 100+hrs tutoring people on how to answer these types of questions

How pharmacy interviews work:

This depends on the university, but most interviews fall into these two formats

1. Panel interview format
   • A more “traditional” interview in which you sit down (usually for a longer time than in MMIs) with one or two interviewers and they will ask all the questions
2. Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format 

• • Moving around a circuit of short stations that test different qualities they are looking for

General approach to interviews:

• Remember you've been invited to interview for a reason, remind the interviewer/s of why you’re a strong candidate

• Look good feel good, make sure you know what you're wearing on the day, you've tried it on and you feel confident in it

• For online interviews, check your Wi-Fi connection, choose a quiet and non-distracting background, and familiarise yourself with the interview software

• Obviously ensure a good night's sleep and quality food & drink beforehand (but nothing that will make you need the toilet!)

General approach to questions:

• Don't be afraid to ask the interviewer/s to repeat the question, sometimes you may have missed a key word that impacts your answer

• Honesty is the best policy, don't make anything up and if you can't answer a question say you can't and move on

• An alternative trick here is saying something like “I’ve never thought about that before, but here's how I would go about answering that”, sometimes the ability to think on your feet will still impress

• Understand timings, the interviewers should say you'll have “x” amount of time to answer but if not just clarify it, this way you know roughly when to stop or if you haven't said enough

• Quality speech over quantity, it's easy to get nervous and ramble on about a point that doesn't add much to your answer, take a second to breathe and think about what you are being asked

• Always address: Why me? Why Pharmacy?

Understanding the qualities of a good pharmacist:

• Almost every question asked will in some way be giving you a chance to display your understanding of key characteristics of pharmacists, so it's important to know them

• For example: attention to detail, strong communication skills, empathy, scientific knowledge, problem-solving abilities, ethical judgement, teamwork, organisational skills, adaptability, excellent customer service etc.

• You must be able to explain examples of using these skills and how you align with them

Understanding the roles of pharmacists:

• When it comes to pharmacists their role is ever evolving, knowing this is key to answering some questions you may be asked about the real life/routine of a modern day pharmacist

• Remember pharmacists usually work in local communities but can also be in hospitals, prisons, management roles, academia etc. 

• It's helpful to have spoken to a pharmacist or watched a recent video made by a pharmacist on what a normal day looks like, anything to help you understand this further will tell the interviewer/s you mean business

Answering why you:

• Its useful to have this answer semi-planned as its almost guaranteed you will be asked this

• Don't over script though, you'll sound like a robot

• We can't tell you how to answer this because everyone is different, however it's usually a combination of a key event/person/experience that made you decide on pharmacy along with your personality suiting the career and aligning with the key qualities

• Avoid giving a lacklustre answer that everyone else who hasn't thought about this question will give, these answers usually over focus on things like attention to detail, research, maths skills, science knowledge etc.

• E.g “I feel I am a perfect fit for the course as I have great attention to detail and a burning love for chemistry”

Answering why pharmacy:

• For this it is again a combination of your personality and skills blending well with those of a pharmacist

• However, remember whilst answering this to give examples of why pharmacy specifically, the interviewer/s can easily follow up with something like “why not nursing or medicine?” and you need to be ready for that

• A well thought out answer here might feature a focus on pharmacological processes more than (more medicine focused) non-pharmacological treatment aspects

• Also, honesty and transparency here can go a long way, if pharmacy wasn't actually your first choice explain your thought processes to why it is now

  • E.g “I initially considered other healthcare careers, but my fascination with how medications interact with the body to improve health along with the work/life balance drew me to pharmacy. My work experience at a community pharmacy solidified my passion for this field, in which I spoke to patients and realised how important getting their medication is for them."

Answering why this specific university:

• This can be easy to answer if the prep is done well, simply go to the respective universities pharmacy course page and jot down a few things they highlight themselves that makes them stand out from the other universities

• E.g “I know that the university of x teaches in a more traditional format which suits me due to the fact I learn better this way” or “the research done here on x really interests me and it would be an honour to be taught by those who have looked into this field”

• Additionally, have some reasons why you like the location of the university, be it a family link or just the fact you support the local football/rugby team, these can help tell the interviewer/s you will enjoy your time there

• Be careful if you want to mention societies, make it specific if you do as a common mistake of students is mentioning societies that all pharmacy universities have

Answering ethical scenario questions:

• Make sure you understand the scenario, carefully listen to or read the scenario to ensure you grasp all the details

• Vocalise your thought processes, interviewer/s like hearing how you came to your answer

• Identify the ethical issues at hand, most of the time it will be one of the 4 medical ethical pillars (justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy)

• Consider the parties involved, including patients, healthcare providers and family members, consider their perspectives

• Use ethical frameworks and professional guidelines to address the issue

• E.g NICE guidelines, Public Health England, refer to the 4 medical ethical pillars

• Weigh the options (this is key), evaluate the potential actions you could take, considering the benefits and risks of each option

• Make a decision, choose the most ethical course of action, explaining your reasoning clearly

• Here's an example of using the above points in an answer "In this situation, my primary concern is the X. I would have a compassionate conversation with the patient about X, expressing my concerns and seeking to understand their situation. I would counsel the patient on proper use and monitor their usage. If misuse is suspected, I would refer them to appropriate support services while ensuring they receive necessary care. Throughout, I would document all actions related to X and maintain a professional and empathetic approach, prioritising the patient's well-being."

Answering abstract questions:

• A classic question that we know has been asked in many a pharmacy interview is "If you could be any drug, which one would you be and why?"

• This type of abstract question can shock people and that's kind of why they throw it in, however it really is just an opportunity to be creative with your answer but back it up with logic

• E.g “Wow that's an interesting question, there are so many drugs with so many beneficial properties to choose from, I guess I would be paracetamol (for example) as it's known for being widely used and trusted with little side effects. This represents my aim for myself when I am a pharmacist, always ready to help patients and alleviate concerns.”

• The above example shows the ability of thinking out loud, using logic and relating it back to yourself/pharmacy, this would be a solid answer at any pharmacy interview 

Final notes:

• Let's be real, interviews are a big deal

• But if you prepare well, know your facts about the university and come loaded with proof as to why you're a good candidate, the interviewer/s have a hard task saying no to you

• Show them why you are a future pharmacist and why you deserve a place at their university, you can do it!

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