You’re a pharmacist.
Your knowledge is vital to the health and well-being of humanity.
In fact, you’re somewhat of a medicinal magician.
However –
Taking care of your resume is no easy task.
Thankfully, this guide prescribes you the exact steps needed to create a job-winning pharmacist resume.
- An example of a finished pharmacist resume that works
- How to write a pharmacist resume that’ll fill up your interview diary
- How to make a pharmacist resume stand out [with top tips & tricks]
Before we get into the details, here’s a pharmacist resume example, created with our very own resume builder:
Simply follow the steps below to create one of your own.
How to Format a Pharmacist Resume
There is one vital step to take before you can wow the recruiter with your skills…
You need pick a resume format.
Choosing the best format for your specific situation will allow the recruiter to see your best attributes at a glance.
The most common resume format is “reverse-chronological”, and it’s no surprise. Essentially, this format puts your best attributes up-top. We recommend most pharmacists to start with this format.
The following resume formats also get our approval:
- Functional Resume – If you’re a highly-qualified pharmacist, but lack work experience, this resume format is recommended. It’s ideal for trained pharmacists that are new to the field or have gaps in their employment history.
- Combination Resume – As the name suggests, this format combines both “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological”. As such, it focuses on both skills AND work experience. Those pharmacists with a wealth of work experience may want to try this format.
Once your format has been selected, you need to pick a resume layout.
Resume Length - keep your resume under the 1-page limit. For guidance, view these one-page resume templates.
Use a Pharmacist Resume Template
The physical creation of a pharmacist resume seems easy.
Just open Microsoft Word and start typing, right?!
Well, you may want to take a slightly different approach.
You see, Word-made resumes have a layout that can fall apart with every small alteration.
Want to skip formatting issues? Use any of the following resume templates that can be easily tailored for a pharmacist position.
What to Include in a Pharmacist Resume
The main sections in a pharmacist resume are:
- Work Experience
- Contact Information
- Skills
- Education
Want to go a step further? You can also add these optional sections:
- Awards & Certification
- Languages
- Interests & Hobbies
That’s an impressive list, but what should you write for each section?
Read on to find out.
Want to know more about resume sections? View our guide on What to Put on a Resume.
How to Correctly Display your Contact Information
Just like when checking patient’s prescriptions for accuracy, you should also check your contact section for accuracy.
You see, a single mistake can result in the recruiter not being able to contact you for an interview – disaster!
The contact information section should include…
- Full Name
- Professional Title – In this case, “Pharmacist”
- Phone Number – Check for mistakes
- Email Address – Use a professional email address (firstname.lastname@gmail.com), not one from your childhood (dennisthemenace123@gmail.com)
- (Optional) Location
- Dennis May - Pharmacist. 101-358-6095. dmay@gmail.com
- Dennis May - Medicinal Magician. 101-358-6095. dennisthemenace123@gmail.com
How to Write a Pharmacist Resume Summary or Objective
It’s no secret that the top pharmacist jobs are in high demand.
This means your resume will be sitting on the recruiter’s desk amongst dozens and dozens of other resumes.
And with so many resumes to get through, recruiters don’t have the time or patience to read every resume from top to bottom.
The truth is that you have less than a minute to impress.
Your resume needs to be concise and convey your value within just a few sentences.
To do this, use a resume summary or objective.
These are both powerful introductions that sit at the top of your resume.
But what is the difference between the two sections?
A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.
- Pharmacist with 5+ years of experience in using strong interpersonal skills and extensive medication knowledge to help patients with their needs. Top achievements include earning 98% positive feedback in patient surveys during 2022.
A resume objective is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of what you want to achieve professionally.
Motivated Pharm graduate seeking to advise patients at Medical-X. Experience includes a placement at a fast-paced private clinic. Proven skills include Inventory management, Pharmaceutical research, and interpersonal communication.
So, should pharmacists choose a resume summary or objective?
Generally, we recommend that experienced pharmacists use a resume summary. An objective is suited to those who have the skills, but lack experience as a pharmacist (graduates, career changers, or those still studying).
How to Make Your Pharmacist Work Experience Stand Out
Pharmacies need pharmacists that can be trusted to give the correct advice and comply with industry regulations.
With this in mind, what’s the best way to build trust and confidence?
With a pharmacist work experience section that showcases your achievements.
We recommend the following structure:
- Position name
- Company Name
- Dates
- Responsibilities & Achievements
Pharmacist
Care4U
03/2018 – 12/2020
- Worked in a fast-paced pharmacy to dispense medicines, while advising on dosages and risks
- Managed and trained 6 pharmacy technicians, which increased overall performance by 18%
- Assisted patients with friendliness and enthusiasm, which resulted in 98% positive feedback from patient surveys
- Implemented the pharmacy’s quality assurance program, which provided compliance with HIPAA, CLIA and OSHA regulations
To separate your application from the other candidates, you should highlight your achievements instead of your daily tasks.
Instead of saying:
“Managed staff members”
Say:
“Managed and trained 6 pharmacy technicians, which increased overall performance by 18%”
Although the first statement shows you held a management role, it doesn’t go into any more detail. Who knows if your work had a positive effect or not?
The second statement shows that your work resulted in an 18% performance increase. This is very attractive to other pharmacies that want to increase performance.
Use Action Words to Make Your Pharmacist Resume POP!
You want to separate your resume from the competition, which means using power words to make your achievements stand out:
- Improved
- Coordinated
- Integrated
- Documented
- Inventoried
- Converted
- Studied
- Analyzed
- Tested
How to Correctly List your Education
As a pharmacist, you spent many years studying your craft.
This section is where you show the rewards of that hard work.
There’s no magic medicine here, just simply enter your education history in the following format:
- Degree Type & Major
- University Name
- Years Studied
- GPA, Honours, Courses, and anything else you might want to add
B.S. in PharmD
Boston State University
2012 - 2016
- Relevant Courses: Pharmacology, Pharmacy Law, Pharmacy Technology, Introduction to Accounting
- GPA: 3.8
Now, you may have some further questions that need answering. Here are the answers to some of the most frequent questions that we get:
- What if I haven’t completed education yet?
Regardless of whether you’re a graduate or still studying, you should still mention every year of education to date
- Should I include my high school education?
The general rule is to only include your highest education. So, don’t include it if you have a Pharm degree
- What do I put first, my education or experience?
Experiences take priority in any pharmacist resume, other than recent graduates, who you will likely start with their education
Need more advice? Check out our guide on how to list education on a resume.
Top 10 Skills for a Pharmacist Resume
It may seem obvious, but the recruiter wants a highly-skilled pharmacist.
This means they will be looking for certain skills as they flick through your resume.
List the wrong ones, and your resume will be thrown into the trash like a used face mask.
Here are some of the most common and desirable pharmacist skills...
Pharmacist Hard Skills:
- HIPAA trained
- Inventory management
- Medication distribution
- Quality assurance
- Pharmaceutical research
Pharmacist Soft Skills:
- Detail-orientated
- Communication
- Time-management
- Empathy
- Teamwork
Here’s a more comprehensive list of 100+ must-have skills this year.
What Else Can You Include?
Your medical assistant resume is finished and ready to be administered.
Well, nearly…
Your resume needs to be the best it can be.
Following the above tips should be enough to get you shortlisted, but adding the following sections could be the deciding factor that your future depends on.
Awards & Certifications
The medical industry is ever-evolving with new rules and regulations.
As such, you should showcase that you’re up-to-date and correctly qualified.
Have certifications that you’re proud of?
Then add a separate section to your resume, just like this:
- Critical Thinking Masterclass – MadeUpUniversity
- Health Care Delivery – Coursera Certificate
- Drug Development – Coursera Certificate
Languages
As a pharmacist, you shouldn’t need to know multiple languages.
However, no one can deny how impressive it is to be bilingual, so add a language section if you have space.
Rank the languages by proficiency:
- Native
- Fluent
- Proficient
- Intermediate
- Basic
Interests & Hobbies
Now, why would the recruiter want a pharmacist with personal hobbies?
Don’t worry, there are no special hobbies in particular, but including a hobbies section is an easy way to add a personal touch to your resume.
Here’s which hobbies & interests you may want to mention.
Include a Cover Letter with Your Resume
A cover letter is like a secret remedy for taking your application to the next level.
You see, a cover letter shows the recruiter that you care about working for this specific pharmacy.
Here’s how to structure a pharmacist cover letter:
No cover letter is complete without the following sections:
Personal Contact Information
Your full name, profession, email, phone number, and location.
Hiring Manager’s Contact Information
Full name, position, location, email.
Opening Paragraph
The recruiter doesn’t have much time to read your application. As such, the first paragraph should briefly mention:
- Your name
- The position you’re applying for
- Your experience summary and best achievement to date
The Body
With the recruiter interested, you can get deeper into the following specifics:
- Why you chose this specific pharmacy
- What you know about the pharmacy
- How your skills are relevant for the job
- Which similar industries or positions have you worked in before
Closing Paragraph
Just like a conversation, you shouldn’t finish abruptly. You should…
- Conclude the points of the application
- Thank the recruiter for the job opportunity
- Finish with a simple call to action to continue the conversation at a later date. A simple “At your earliest opportunity, I’d love to discuss more how I can help pharmacy X” will work
Formal Salutations
End the letter in a professional manner. We recommend something like, “Kind regards” or “Sincerely”.
For more inspiration, read our step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter.
You might want to check out our related resume examples if you're looking for a different position in the medical field:
Key Takeaways
So, this section marks the end of our guide…
But this also marks the start of your new pharmacist role.
Simply follow the advice in this guide to create a job-winning pharmacist resume that will have every pharmacy competing for your skills.
Let’s quickly recap the main talking points:
- Format your pharmacist resume correctly. Use the reverse-chronological format, and then follow the content layout recommendations
- Start your resume with a summary or objective to hook the recruiter
- Highlight the best achievements from your work history, rather than your responsibilities
- Attach a convincing cover letter to make your application stand out
