What a pharmacist does
Australia's occupation list says community pharmacists dispense prescribed medicines, and teach people how to use them safely. The work includes:
- reviewing prescriptions and medicine histories before dispensing
- preparing and labelling medicines
- advising patients on medicines, interactions and lifestyle
- keeping records of prescription and controlled medicines
- advising prescribers on whether a medicine suits the patient
- supervising pharmacy technicians, interns and assistants
England's National Careers Service notes pharmacists also work in hospitals, GP practices and research. In hospitals, they may run screening programmes and buy, test and supply medicines.
The US occupation database adds advice on interactions, side effects and dosage. It also lists helping patients manage conditions such as asthma or diabetes.
Skills employers look for
England's National Careers Service lists skills including:
- being thorough and paying attention to detail
- sensitivity and understanding
- customer service skills
- knowledge of chemistry, including the safe use of chemicals
- maths knowledge
- patience and staying calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication
It also says you'll need to pass background checks.
Registration rules
The rules and the steps to registration differ by country. Two examples:
- Great Britain: the General Pharmaceutical Council says registration is a legal requirement to practise. You can apply to register after an accredited MPharm or OSPAP qualification. You also need 52 weeks of foundation training and a pass in the registration assessment.
- Australia: pharmacists must be registered with the Pharmacy Board to practise. The Board's registration examination has a written exam and an oral exam. You must pass both within 18 months.
Other countries have their own rules. Check the regulator where you'll work.
If you're an intern or waiting for registration, say so plainly. Never imply you're registered before you are.
How the interviews usually work
You may meet a mix of these:
- Behavioural questions about patient care, teamwork and pressure.
- Clinical scenarios, such as a possible interaction or a dose that looks wrong.
- Ethical scenarios, such as a request you shouldn't fill.
- A role-play where you counsel a patient on a medicine.
For hospital and training posts, ask whether there's a written test or an assessment day.
Questions that test each skill
These are the kinds of questions that test each skill. They are examples, not a list from any one employer.
- Patient safety: "A prescription has a dose ten times the usual. What do you do?"
- Counselling: "How would you explain a new inhaler to a nervous patient?"
- Prescribers: "Tell us about a time you questioned a prescriber. How did it go?"
- Ethics: "A regular customer asks for a medicine early, without a valid prescription. What do you do?"
- Errors: "Tell us about a near miss. What did you change afterwards?"
- Pressure: "The pharmacy is busy and you're the only pharmacist. How do you keep checks safe?"
What to prepare
- Note the job's setting: community, hospital, GP practice or industry.
- Pick true stories about safety, a near miss, counselling and working with prescribers.
- Revise common interactions and high-risk medicines for that setting.
- Practise a two-minute counselling role-play out loud.
- Know the registration rules and your own status, and bring proof.
Keep patients anonymous in every story. Leave out names and details that could identify them.
A worked answer for a pharmacy role
Here is a made-up answer to a question that tests patient safety.
Made-up example
Amara, a made-up community pharmacist applying for a hospital job
Question
Situation
Task
Action
- I checked his history and saw a regular anti-inflammatory that can raise bleeding risk with blood thinners.
- I asked him what he took the anti-inflammatory for, and how often.
- I called the prescriber, explained the risk and suggested another option for his pain.
- The prescriber agreed, so I dispensed the blood thinner and updated his record.
- I explained the change to him in plain words, and gave him a printed list of his medicines.
Result
Amara checks, asks, brings the prescriber a solution and explains it to the patient. Each step protects safety.
Questions
Do I need to be registered before I interview?
Not always. Some jobs are for interns or new graduates. Read the ad, and state your registration status exactly.
Will there be a clinical test?
Some employers use clinical scenarios or a written test. Ask what the process includes.
How do I prepare for ethical questions?
Read your regulator's code of conduct. Then practise saying what you'd do, and why, in plain words.
Sources
Written by Seal the Offer from these pages, last checked on . Rules change, so check the employer's own page and the job ad before you apply.
- Community Pharmacist · Jobs and Skills Australia
- Pharmacist · National Careers Service (England)
- 29-1051.00 - Pharmacists · O*NET OnLine, US Department of Labor
- Registering as a pharmacist · General Pharmaceutical Council
- UK qualified pharmacist registration · General Pharmaceutical Council
- Registration · Pharmacy Board of Australia
- Registration Examination · Pharmacy Board of Australia