Interview Advice

[megandupe]

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To anyone who has already interviewed and been accepted to Pharmacy school:
My first interview is in next week, and I would appreciate whatever advice you can offer.

Yes, I've read alot of the Interview Feedback from SDN (although my school didnt have much to offer, I read other schools)

I have a suit (black), and I'm buying a pair of shoes today

I've read online interview advice, more in particular that is targeted for Med school students, and unfortunately it made me more nervous.

All in all, I've been quite successful with my interview skills in the past, but this isnt for a job, and I feel like the playing field this time is quite different.

 

[DrBioChem]

Megandupe,

I am on the faculty at a new College of Pharmacy (Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science), and I have been interviewing Medical Students for years. Here, Pharmacy student interviews are very similar to medical student interviews (which make sense since they are both healthcare professionals). In general, your interviewing skills from the world of commerce should translate very well in this setting. When I am interviewing a candidate, I am generally interested in who they are (what is their story), do they know what a pharmacist does, do they see themselves as a pharmacist, are they interested in RFUMS or is it just another Pharm School, can they think, do they answer my questions or are they using preprogrammed responses to stimuli, are they honest (I have a BS detector hidden in my office 🙂), do they have an ethical framework, are they curious, and do they care about people.

There are a few things that a candidate can do to improve their interview. Come prepared: do your homework about the school, know and be able to acknowledge your own strengths and weaknesses; remember to think before answering questions; pretend that the interviewer is a friend asking you questions (people (interviewers too) like to be liked); behave like the professional that you want to become. Above all be honest, be yourself. If you are going to be damned, be damned for whom you are, not for being someone you are not. Shakespeare said it best:

.This above all: to thine own self be true,.
.And it must follow, as the night the day,.
.Thou canst not then be false to any man..
.
..Try to learn about the school, ask questions, and enjoy the day..
.
Dr. BioChem.

 

[R2pharmD2]

All in all, I've been quite successful with my interview skills in the past, but this isnt for a job, and I feel like the playing field this time is quite different.

If I could give you one word of advice it would be: relax. Don't get me wrong, you need to prep and do your homework on the school where you're interviewing like DrBio said, but once you're there try and enjoy yourself. Not only will you be less miserable but you'll feel more comfortable answering questions if you can get yourself out of the mindset that the interview is some sort of test to be passed.

 

[DrBioChem]

If I could give you one word of advice it would be: relax. Don't get me wrong, you need to prep and do your homework on the school where you're interviewing like DrBio said, but once you're there try and enjoy yourself. Not only will you be less miserable but you'll feel more comfortable answering questions if you can get yourself out of the mindset that the interview is some sort of test to be passed.

I completely agree.

 

[megandupe]

Thank you, to both of you!

 

[RxLam]

Hope this benefit you all...

I currently work with a pharmacist that use to interview students in Cali....
He advise me to:
1) dress for the position
2) Have a leather folder to hold your loose leaf paper (this will help witht he essay portion), pen, pencil, & ect.
- This help to hold the essay you wrote for the school and be prepared for the activities i.e essay portion...
3) Review the essay that you wrote for the school and the pharmcas essay. -Just in case a question is sparked from the essay you wrote.
4) Research the school and the faculty. Researching the faculty was a great idea because if you were interview by the faculty you review you can boost the guy/gal ego.
5) and finally, preparation ease nervousness.

GL to everyone!!!