Pharmacy Interview

Personal

 What skills do you think make a good pharmacist?

 What can you bring to a career as a pharmacist?
 How well can you manage your time when working under pressure?
 How would you deal with a nervous customer who didn’t trust their medication?
 How would you deal with an angry or frustrated customer?
 What would you do if you spotted an obvious mistake on a GPs prescription?
 How would you feel if you missed it?
 How would you advise someone to deal with the common cold?

Subject specific

 What is the role of the pharmacist in the treatment chain?

 What challenges do you think a modern pharmacist faces?
 What experience do you have of pharmacy, and how did this affect your choice?
 Why do you want to be a pharmacist?
 Describe a typical day for a pharmacist
 What have you read about pharmacy or drugs in the news?
 How do you think the role of the pharmacist could be improved?
 Should pharmacists be able to prescribe drugs?
 How can a pharmacist work to improve community health?

Ethical:

 Do you think prescription charges are a fair way of paying for drugs?
 Should recovering addicts be given free/subsidised treatment?
 What would you do if a parent refused drugs for their child for religious or moral
reasons?
 Should patients be discouraged from taking antibiotics to reduce resistance?
 A mistake could be tragic or even fatal. How would you deal with this responsibility?
 Should drug trials be more or less vigorous?
 Is it ethical for companies to charge so much for new drugs?
 If you disagree with a doctor’s choice of treatment, would you question it?

1. Tell me about yourself.

“I’ve always loved medicine and medical type shows since I can remember. I pursued that by
doing these classes and have worked as a pharmacy aid since 2016.

I’m a dedicated worker and I’m willing to work on a problem until I figure out a solution. For
example, we had a group project in school and no one could figure out the answer. They were
willing to miss one question and give up.
Instead, I reread the entire book that night and finally found what we needed. We ended up
getting it right. I know that I can apply that dedication to my next workplace.

Looking forward, I would like to see myself as the head technician by the time I’m 30. I want to
work hard and get as much experience as I can, so I can provide the best service when I reach
my goal.

2. Why you want this job?

Your answer needs to cover the following points.

 How this position will help you achieve a goal

 How this position will help you help others

3. How Would You Handle Trouble With Coworkers?

How your values line up with the company’s values: why it’s a good fitThe interviewer is looking
for you to show that you have

 Management skills
 Patience
 Conflict resolution

A thorough answer would look like this:

“If a coworker was bothering me, I’d try to distance myself from them in the room. Then I’d
complete my tasks and job duties. I’d forgive that person and assume it won’t happen again.

If it did, I’d bring it up to my manager during my next shift, at the end of the day. I’d describe the
situations, why they bothered me, and describe how I think their actions conflict with company
values/rules.

Then I’d ask my manager for a recommendation on how to proceed and go from there.”

4. How Would You Handle an Unhappy Customer?

The interviewer looks for: Patience, respect, conflict resolution skills, and the ability to think
creatively.

5. A Customer Says Their Medication Didn’t Work – What Do You Do?

Let them know you’ll write down the issues they had in their file so no one tries to prescribe
them the same thing again. If their complaint had to do with side effects, you can troubleshoot
ways to make them better.
You need to be empathetic and kind. You’re not a doctor, so don’t make any promises about
their condition or changing medication.

What do you like best about being a pharmacist?

“I love getting to serve patients in practical ways, whether thats educating
them about how to take their medications, alleviating their concerns
about possible side effects, or simply refilling their prescriptions in a
timely and pleasant manner.”

What do you like least about being a pharmacist?

“Even though I generally enjoy my work, working with a long stream of

difficult customers becomes draining. However, I remind myself that when
I’m in pain or worried about myself or a loved one, I’m not always pleasant
either. This helps me focus on being kind and improving their days instead
of on my irritation.”

What is your greatest strength?

My greatest strength is my ability to stay calm under pressure. I thrive

when things get crazy, and my problem-solving skills are at their best
when I need to find solutions fast.”