No Pharmacy Experience during interviews

[JWells488]

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I am starting to get extremely worried about being accepted to pharmacy school. I have been offered interviews everywhere I applied, but the interviews I've had so far have been really tough. At UB, I was rejected after my interview. At LECOM and Creighton, the interviewers seemed to be extremely unimpressed with my lack of pharmacy experience and I'm still waiting to hear back from them.

I realize that these schools want to make sure that I am dedicated to the profession, but does being a pharmacy technician at a retail chain really ensure that more than reading career guides and talking to pharmacists. I'm just kind of lost on what to do here. I don't know what to say to the adcoms to prove that I know that I want to be a pharmacist. It seems that no matter what I say, they'll always come back to the question: "So do you have any actual experience in a pharmacy?" to which I will have to answer "nay."

It's extremely difficult to get a paid position where I live as a pharm tech. There is a pharmacy school right in town and no stores are hiring. And even if I found something now, it's probably too late.

Is there any way to prove to adcoms that you know you want to be a pharmacist without any experience? I guess I could also just try to BS my way through it...

 

[mrblah]

you need to work on your interview skills. Pharmacy experience is not a requirement, and any good EC can replace it. If they ask you "do you have any pharmacy school experience?" You say "no, but I have hospital experience/neighborhood volunteer experience/etc in which I have learned the meaning behind empathy and compassion, and I feel those character traits are important to any healthcare professional, including pharmacists. You will have to go on to show how you exhibited those traits in your daily life and during your EC's.

Actually, all your answers should be along those lines. Your answers should never be a one word answer, and you should downplay your weaknesses by emphasizing your strengths. Just remember, if you are offered a interview, the interview panel knows that you want to be a pharmacist, now you have to demonstrate to them that you are going to be a successful pharmacy student, and ultimately, a successful pharmacist.

 

[JWells488]

Yes. I am thinking about just BSing.

 

[pharbitis]

I have 0 hour experience in pharmacy but I got accepted.

 

[Knickerbocker]

I have 0 hour experience in pharmacy but I got accepted.

What school?

 

[JWells488]

I have 0 hour experience in pharmacy but I got accepted.

How did you respond to why you want to be a pharmacist?

 

[fenixtnlfan]

Have you tried shadowing or volunteering? You could also try keeping up with some of the trends/news in pharmacy. So when they ask if you have experience, you can say no but listen to what I've learned about the profession and this is why I think it's interesting. Definitely play up your strengths though because having no pharm experience might not be the only reason you are having trouble.

 

[OrllY]

zero exp points as well! but i talked about other jobs i've had during my interview and it went well when they asked about it.

 

[EMichInDc]

Like the few people above me, I have no pharmacy experience, but I've been accepted at 4/5 schools I've interviewed at (and no word yet from the fifth). Just talk about the great things that you *have* done to downplay what you haven't. Maybe try practice interviewing with a friend so you can demo the answers you will give in interview to some of the more standard questions. Good luck!!

 

[SoccerCoach10]

JWells, only you know why you want to be a pharmacist. As the other posters mentioned, try explaining how your other ECs tie into aspects necessary for pharmacy. I would also read up on current news in pharmacy. I read Drug Topics, which has helped me during the interview process. You can get an email newsletter from their website.

 

[BlueCrayon]

I am starting to get extremely worried about being accepted to pharmacy school. I have been offered interviews everywhere I applied, but the interviews I've had so far have been really tough. At UB, I was rejected after my interview. At LECOM and Creighton, the interviewers seemed to be extremely unimpressed with my lack of pharmacy experience and I'm still waiting to hear back from them.

I realize that these schools want to make sure that I am dedicated to the profession, but does being a pharmacy technician at a retail chain really ensure that more than reading career guides and talking to pharmacists. I'm just kind of lost on what to do here. I don't know what to say to the adcoms to prove that I know that I want to be a pharmacist. It seems that no matter what I say, they'll always come back to the question: "So do you have any actual experience in a pharmacy?" to which I will have to answer "nay."

It's extremely difficult to get a paid position where I live as a pharm tech. There is a pharmacy school right in town and no stores are hiring. And even if I found something now, it's probably too late.

Is there any way to prove to adcoms that you know you want to be a pharmacist without any experience? I guess I could also just try to BS my way through it...

I was extremely worried about this as well going into my interview...apparently, however, it is not necessary as I got accepted to UB right away...I have a rather unique situation though because I have been doing pharmacology research at UB for almost 9 years. You just have to play up your other strengths. When they asked me if I had any experience, I said honestly no, just a couple dozen hours of shadowing.

Have you tried shadowing or volunteering? You could also try keeping up with some of the trends/news in pharmacy. So when they ask if you have experience, you can say no but listen to what I've learned about the profession and this is why I think it's interesting. Definitely play up your strengths though because having no pharm experience might not be the only reason you are having trouble.

This seemed to be a pretty big thing, I brought up a number of current trends and hot topics, which we discussed for quite a while and they seemed relatively impressed that I had an idea what was going on in the field.

 

[mustang sally]

Yes. I am thinking about just BSing.

If by BSing, you mean lying and saying you have experience, I don't think that's such a great idea. I am sure there are much more ethical ways to address interview questions as other posters have mentioned above, whereas getting trapped in a lie will kill your chances of admittance for sure. If you don't get any acceptances this year, just keep trying to get some experience for next year.

 

[azPharmD2B]

I realize that these schools want to make sure that I am dedicated to the profession, but does being a pharmacy technician at a retail chain really ensure that more than reading career guides and talking to pharmacists. I'm just kind of lost on what to do here. I don't know what to say to the adcoms to prove that I know that I want to be a pharmacist. It seems that no matter what I say, they'll always come back to the question: "So do you have any actual experience in a pharmacy?" to which I will have to answer "nay."

Did they specifically ask if you had worked as a technician at a retail chain? There are plenty of other ways to get pharmacy experience, what have you been doing the last few years that you didn't have time to get any experience in the field? <-- Actual question asked to a friend in their interview. Let me give you a hint, "going to school and working" is not the correct answer. Also be prepared for questions about pharmacy and health care in general. Again, its going to be difficult to relate without any experience, and they may see that in your answers.

 

[medicalCPA]

I have no experience working in pharmacy whatsoever, and I was asked about it on my interviews. I mentioned that I had a busy class schedule. I have 2 unrelated majors, and am graduating in 8 semesters with 209 hours. This means that I take a truckload of hours every semester, with 29 being the highest (and I work at my school's library 20 hours every week). But I mentioned that I had learned about the profession from being on SDN (thanks, guys!) and through reading the blogs of two retail pharmacists. They seemed to agree with me that the latter was like "virtual shadowing."

 

[trailrider400]

well I hope you get accepted this year but if you don't I think you should really consider trying harder to get pharmacy experience. As you know any pharmacy experience shows dedication and interest to the adcoms. Its also important for the IV when they are asking you pharmacy related questions. South Dakota is the only school I've heard of that requires pharmacy experience but its very important. If you are having trouble getting a job in a retail pharmacy call the volunteer coordinator of your closest hospital and tell them your story. These people are extremely helpful and love student volunteers. Another option is become a certified pharm tech and then apply again. Ive heard its pretty easy.