Navigating the “what’s next” question

Grant Smith is a final-year PharmD candidate at the Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy and is a 2023–2024 APhA–ASP National Member-at-large. He has accepted a postgraduate fellowship with Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, IN.

Job. Residency. Fellowship. These words strike fear, confusion, and anxiety in the hearts of many third- and final-year student pharmacists. As you begin the transition from student pharmacist to practicing pharmacist, the question of “what’s next?” can be overwhelming at times. I experienced these same feelings while applying for fellowship positions this past fall.

To hopefully prevent you from feeling some of these stressors, these are my top tips to help you navigate the process of securing a position after graduation.

Explore early … or late?

Regardless of your year in pharmacy school, try to venture out and meet other student pharmacists, researchers, pharmacists, business owners, or anyone whose work or hobbies aligns with your passion and professional aspirations. Whether you have no idea where you want to end up or you know it exactly, cast your net wide when building your network. By reaching out to a diverse set of individuals from different fields of pharmacy, you’ll be exposed to a variety of practice settings that could change your passion and career outlook.

Build you network and use it

“Pharmacy is a small world.” If you haven’t heard that phrase yet, you will, and it’s true. Many professionals in the field of pharmacy know each other and can connect you with other mentors. A simple introduction over email or in person can go a long way to initiate a conversation that could open your eyes to new possibilities.

Many times, pharmacists are looking to pour into student pharmacists, so why not take advantage of this while in school? A great place to take advantage of this is at an in-person pharmacy conference like the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition, happening March 22–25, 2024, in Orlando, FL.

Gain experience

This tip is more so straight forward.  If there is a type of pharmacy you want to practice, try to  to gain experience in that field. This can sometimes be challenging, as some roles require  certifications or are limited in experiential opportunity. I would challenge you to be creative in your search for real-word experience. Many leadership positions and nontraditional work experiences, while not directly tied to the field of interest, can build skills that are applicable to the field in which you want to practice. As you begin the job application process, tailor the unique set of skills learned from these prior experiences to the position to which you are applying in both letters of intent and interviews.

Practice builds confidence

Throughout my journey in the fellowship process, I learned that practicing for an interview or a case built my confidence before the official interview/case occurred. Often, I was not perfect in my interview, but practicing allowed me to build the confidence I needed to remain calm and think clearly throughout the interview process.

Get involved!

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to securing postgraduate employment, being involved and active in your community or profession can go a long way to building your network, gaining experience, and allowing you to explore career opportunities within the profession. Whether as a student pharmacist or graduate, staying involved will allow you to refine your skills and build your network to set yourself up for future success.

Good luck!