You all need some help with interviews and what should and should not be put on a CV!
NJAC-Congrats on getting the job, despite the horrible advice you were given on this site from other students.
To clear up a few things...
1. Your grades do not go on your CV. Some people may tell you different, but the majority of professors and career counselors I've talked with have said grades do not belong on the CV. Your GPA should be on your resume only if you think it will help you get the job. It does not imply in your GPA is bad if it is not listed. It may imply your GPA is around 3.5 or less, but it doesn't really matter. Students get internships, jobs, and residencies with GPAs of 2.5. Employers are looking for a well-rounded student. Decent grades with work and organizational experience will help much, much more than a 4.0. Remember to keep the format of your resume/CV easy to read without a lot of white space. Use the tabs to separate information. The computer-formatted resume "helpers" are not good programs as they make these documents unfriendly with other computer programs, copiers, scanners, and email. If an employer can't read your CV because of the computer format after email, odds are you won't be getting a call. Be sure to triple check your CV/resume for errors, this is a big turn-off to employers.
2. You need to prepare for an interview in advance. This will be especially more important when it comes to residency or full-time position at the end of school. Practice, practice, practice!
3. Interview types: there are individual interviews, group interviews, dinner interviews, and phone interviews. Each presents a slightly different challenge. Be prepared for the type(s) of interview you will be in before you have the interview.
4. Questions: There are many questions the interviewer may ask. Some are like "Tell me about yourself" and "What is your greatest weakness?". Some are behavior type questions like "Describe a situation in which you failed." How will you answer these questions? Will you feel comfortable answering these on the spot during the interview? Of course not! This is why you practice how you are going to answer them. In front of the mirror a few times is good too, because you see your facial expressions. Just be sure to not sound like a tape recording, keep it real. There are many sample questions/answers online. Just google "interview" and go to monster.com. Spend time thinking about your skills from previous experiences, both from pharmacy and not.
5. Dress: Suit for ladies and gents is always appropriate! Nothing flashy, skimpy, outlandish. Think conservative. You don't want to be remembered as the student with the bright green tie or large hoop earrings. Believe it or not, employers look at your shoes. If your shoes are old, worn out, scratched, dull, etc. it shows you miss the details and may not have put a lot of effort into this interview. You don't have to buy new shoes for an interview, just make sure the comfortable pair you are wearing look nice.
6. Attitude: Sell yourself! You both want and deserve the position you are applying for. No one else is fighting for you. Every answer in every conversation you have with a potential employer (or other employee at the site) is a chance to prove you are the best for this job. Make it count. Study the job description and match your skills with what they are asking you to do. Always have questions ready for the interviewer. Look up the company aim/mission/motto, be familiar with the history and organization. The past years president report may be useful. Then slip this info into the conversation. This shows you care about the organization and have done your homework.
7. Other: Practice your handshake. Just remember this: Slide, pump, pump and release 🙂. Meaning you slide your hand along the thumb into the other person's hand. Shake hands up and down twice then let go. Bring extra copies of your CV and resume. It is ok to take some notes during the interview, especially if you are trying to compare multiple companies/sites. Be yourself. Try not to be nervous-meditate or take 3 deep breaths before you enter the room. Get enough sleep the night before. Drive to the site the day before so you know your way there.
8. A final note: If you don't know what to do next, ask. You can usually tell howwell your interview went at the end. If the employer is joking with you, talking about current events, or straying off topic, you may not be getting the call back you want. If the employer begins by describing the next steps in the hiring process, you have definitely done well.
9. Post-interview: Immediately write a thank you email. Follow up with a hand-written thank you note. The purpose of this is to put your name out there again. The interviewer will remember you did this since so few students actually do. It gives you a chance to reiterate some of your strengths and why are you good for this job or clarify some things said during the interview. Be sure to follow-up with interview within 1-2 weeks about the position.
Hope this helps you get a position in the future!
