Pharmacist CV: template, example, & guide
Our CV builder and writing guide below make the perfect prescription for your job search.
As a Pharmacist, you know the importance of precision and attention to detail, traits that are equally indispensable when preparing your CV.
However, do you think your employers aren’t noticing what you can bring to the table?
Luckily, we have the perfect prescription for you if your CV isn’t getting you the recognition that you deserve.
Our creative online CV builder accompanied by the advice in this article to help you prepare your application in minutes.
In this article, you’ll learn how to:
- Include your qualifications, such as your MPharm degree, that are relevant to the Pharmacist role
- Draft a job-winning CV if you have no experience
- Draft a personal statement with the right amount of detail
- Learn which power words can grab the employer’s attention
Continue reading to get a job-winning formula that will help you create a CV that goes beyond a hiring manager’s expectations.
The best pharmacy student CV layout to use
You may be asking yourself how do I set up my CV, or how long should a Pharmacist CV be?
Well, much like preparing a prescription, your CV must follow a logical order.
That’s why you’ll need to tailor your application to your skills and experience in a structured layout. That’s especially important in CVs for pharmacy students and entry-level candidates.
For an entry-level or less experienced Pharmacist, try using a combination or a skills-based layout. Here are a few reasons why:
- They allow you to mention skills gained through education, unrelated jobs, or work placements.
- You can avoid displaying a lack of full-time work experience at the beginning of your application.
- You can also focus on your qualifications and education.
- Both formats allow you to highlight your motivation as a Pharmacist
When you are at a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to showing past success in the workplace, your skills can save you when using a well-balanced CV format.
The best CV layout for experienced Pharmacists
If you have already been a full-time Pharmacist, then it’s key to show that you have been successful in the past.
To do that, you should use a chronological CV format for the following reasons:
- Emphasises clinical competence: The format highlights involvement in a variety of clinical activities, such as medication management and drug utilization reviews.
- Highlights specialisation: It demonstrates the development of a specialisation in a particular area, such as oncology, paediatrics, or infectious disease.
- Showcases research and publication: A chronological format displays your contribution to the field and highlights your expertise through your publications and past research.
- Demonstrates leadership and management: It shows how you managed a group of Pharmacists in your previous job and how you innovated your previous workplace.
Tips for writing a Pharmacist CV with no experience
Let’s face the facts, it is more difficult for entry-level job candidates to land a position. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
You can ensure your CV isn’t overlooked just because you can’t say that you’ve been working as a Pharmacist for several years.
Apart from picking a skill’s skill-based or combination format, you can include the right vocabulary and show off your qualifications.
Entry-level or Pharmacy student CV example
As someone ready for their first professional challenge, you should have a look at a sample of a CV for pharmacy students, written ideally for entry-level candidates.
A detailed CV example like the one below can give you a fantastic idea of how to structure your application.
John Doe
Pharmacist
123 Job Search Street, London, SE1 111
Phone: 07123 456 789 | Email: johndoe@randomemail.com
Personal Statement
A highly motivated and detail-oriented recent MPharm graduate from the University of London with a strong academic background and a passion for patient care. Eager to bring a solid foundation in pharmacy principles, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to continuous professional development to a pharmacist role. Dedicated to providing the highest quality of care and staying current with the latest advancements in pharmacy practice.
Skills
- Prescription dispensing skills
- Medication counselling
- Pharmacy inventory management
- Pharmaceutical calculations
- Patient-centred care
- Regulatory Compliance
Education
Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) |University of London, London, UK | 2022
- Key coursework: Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacy Practice.
- Final Year Project: “The Impact of Antibiotic Resistance on Public Health”.
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science | University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK | 2021
Experience
Pre-Registration Pharmacist |ABC Pharmacy, London, UK |July 2021 – July 2022
- Completed a 12-month pre-registration training programme under the supervision of an experienced pharmacist.
- Developed skills in dispensing prescriptions, providing medication counselling, and managing the pharmacy inventory.
- Gained experience in interacting with patients, healthcare professionals, and suppliers.
Languages
- English (Native)
- French (Intermediate)
Certifications
- CPR certification
- Registered Pharmacist, General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) | 2022
Interests
- Continuing Professional Development
- Public Health Advocacy
- Pharmacy Research
UK Pharmacy Certificates and Degrees
To work as a Pharmacist in the UK, you must complete a Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree, which is a one-year, full-time postgraduate course. This degree is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
That means this information should be added to your CV, and if you haven’t worked in the past, even more so.
It is also beneficial to have other certifications, such as:
- Advanced Life Support (ALS) Certification: This certifies that you are trained to provide advanced life support in emergencies.
- Medication Management Certification: There are various certificates for medicine management, each with its specialisation, such as for domiciliary care and safe handling.
Having these certifications can make your application more competitive in the job market and allow you to provide a wider range of services to your patients.
Top skills for a Pharmacist CV
As a Pharmacist, your skills, and customer/patient care will be crucial, and you’ll need to point that out on your CV. However, it’s also essential to mention how you manage prescriptions and medicine and get on with your coworkers.
Some skills to focus on in your CV should include:
- Pharmacy inventory management
- Pharmaceutical calculations
- Patient-centred care
- Patient counselling
- Effective decision-making
- Strong attention to detail
- Accurate medication dispensing
If you’re writing a CV with no experience, these should be placed as high as possible on your application.
How to write a Pharmacy CV with experience
As a Pharmacist who can add some previous experiences to their CV, your application should aim to showcase your past success.
To do that you’ll need to highlight your experience in:
- A detailed experience section
- An interesting personal statement
In both cases, you should use the right action verbs to emphasise your success in carrying out your previous duties.
Study a well-structured Pharmacist CV example
When drafting a CV, it’s always helpful to review a finished sample. It can give you an idea of how you should structure your application.
Emily Taylor
Pharmacist
123 CV Street, London, UK, SW1 1AA
Phone: +44 7123 456 789 | Email: emily.taylor@randomemail.com
Personal Statement
Experienced Pharmacist with over 5 years in the healthcare sector, holding a consistent record of ensuring accurate dispensing and providing comprehensive patient counselling. Adept in medication therapy management, pharmaceutical care, and clinical pharmacy services. Demonstrated ability to make critical decisions and ensure patient safety.
Experience
Lead Pharmacist | XYZ Pharmacy, London, UK | Jan 2020 – Present
- Organised and completed daily medication orders, improving dispensing accuracy by 20%.
- Provided comprehensive patient counselling, resulting in increased patient satisfaction by 15%.
- Implemented medication therapy management services, leading to a 25% reduction in medication-related problems.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of new drugs and treatment protocols, ensuring optimal patient care.
Pharmacist | ABC Pharmacy, Birmingham, UK | Dec 2018 – Dec 2020
- Accurately dispensed prescription medications, resulting in a 10% reduction in dispensing errors.
- Conducted medication reviews, leading to improved patient adherence and a 20% decrease in hospital readmissions.
- Provided immunisation services, resulting in a 30% increase in vaccinated patients.
- Collaborated with healthcare providers to optimise medication regimens, leading to improved patient outcomes.
Education
Master of Pharmacy (MPharm), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK | 2018
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK | 2017
Skills
- Accurate medication dispensing
- Effective patient counselling
- Comprehensive medication therapy management
- Strong pharmaceutical care
- Proficient in clinical pharmacy services
- Effective decision-making
- Strong attention to detail
Certifications
- Registered Pharmacist, General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) | 2016
Show off your best qualities in your personal statement
If you feel your application is a bit bland or being ignored, you’ll need to make it stand out with an interesting personal statement.
Whether you are experienced or not, your statement must be attention-grabbing. How can you do that?
To quickly impress a hiring manager and ensure they keep reading your application, do the following in your statement:
- State how long you’ve worked and achievements if you are experienced
- Mention your motivation if you are an entry-level candidate
- Mention your relevant skills
- Ensure that the statement is personalised for the pharmacy you are applying to
- Include quantifiable data
You can use the following sample as motivation when writing your statement:
A highly organised and detail-oriented Pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in medication dispensing, patient counselling, and pharmacy management. A proactive and collaborative team player, committed to continuous professional development and delivering the highest standards of patient care.
How to write a Pharmacist CV experience section
Experience is any job candidate’s best friend. That means it’s key to show off your prior work in a detailed experience section on your application.
An employer would love to see that you have carried out tasks that you will likely need to handle in the pharmacy you are applying to.
You can do that by:
- Mentioning your responsibilities and achievements in your current or previous role
- Using quantifiable data to explain your success in detail
- Adding action words to emphasise how you carried out those tasks
Have a look at the example below to fully understand how your experience should look on your CV:
Lead Pharmacist, XYZ Pharmacy, London, UK |January | 2019 – Present
- Administered vaccinations to an average of 50 patients weekly, contributing to a 20% increase in the pharmacy’s overall vaccination rate.
- Advised an average of 100 patients daily on medication usage, side effects, and potential drug interactions, resulting in a 30% reduction in medication-related incidents.
- Dispensed an average of 200 prescriptions daily while maintaining 100% accuracy and compliance with pharmacy laws and regulations.
Power Words to Include in Your Pharmacist CV
Using action words in your CV can make a strong impression on hiring managers.
Using this type of vocabulary indicates action, responsibility, and achievement, and a hiring manager will notice your qualifications much faster. Here are some power words to consider including in your Pharmacist CV:
- Administered
- Advised
- Collaborated
- Counselled
- Dispensed
- Implemented
- Organised
- Provided
- Supervised
Key points
In the highly competitive field of pharmacy, having a well-crafted CV is essential for landing interviews and securing job offers.
You can give yourself a better chance of being hired if you take the advice mentioned above, such as:
- Adding the necessary Pharmacist certifications
- Using action verbs and adjectives, especially in your experience section and personal statement
- Focus on your skills if you have little to no experience
- Take advantage of online tools to simplify the CV writing process
With these tips and online CV tools, you’ll have the perfect prescription for your application and will likely start landing interviews before you know it.
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