Welcome!

Tips and Techniques to Ace

An Interview

September 24, 2016

Emily Prohaska, PharmD, BCACP

Balls Food Stores

2016 Annual Meeting and Trade Show“Advancing as Providers | Reimaging the Present”

Wichita Marriott Hotel

Wichita, Kansas

Disclosures

• Dr. Prohaska has no disclosures to report.

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Program Summary

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• Whether you are a student pharmacist or seasonedpractitioner, preparing for a job or residencyinterview can be quite intimidating! This session willreview common interview questions, including casestudies of outstanding, average, and poor answers.Supplemental resources for interview preparationwill also be provided.

Learning Objectives

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• 1) Describe behavioral interviewing methods, including the STAR technique.

• 2) Formulate outstanding answers to common interview questions.

• 3) List 3 additional resources to use when preparing for interviews.

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Pre-Test

• In regards to behavioral interviewing, what does “STAR” stand for?

A. Start Today Achieving Results

B. Situation – Task – Action – Result

C. Skills To Achieve Results

D. Stop – Think – Assess – Respond

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Pre-Test

• What types of interview questions should a job candidate expect?

A. Informational

B. Behavioral

C. Case study

D. All of the above

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Pre-Test

• Published resources are available on resumes and interviewing specifically for pharmacists.

– True

– False

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• Questions designed to find out if you have the required skills to succeed in a position

• Employer goal: assess past behaviors to hint at future performance

• Examples

– Tell me about a time when…

– Describe a situation in which…

– Give me an example of…

– How would you handle…

What is behavioral interviewing?

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• Situation / Task

– Describe a specific scenario

• Action

– State what YOU did

• Result

– What happened / what did you learn?

The STAR Technique

“Do”s and “Don’t”s of

Behavioral Interviewing

• Do

– Use current and relevant stories

– Prepare examples in advance

– Be concise

– Expect follow-up questions / probes

• Don’t

– Use personal examples

– “Wing it”

– Give vague answers

– Ramble

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• This slide intentionally left blank.

Audience Activity

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• What is important to you?

– Opportunities for promotion / growth

– Mentorship

– Coworkers

– Geographic location

– Salary / benefits

Beginning Your Search

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• Network

• Review the job description

• Update your resume / CV

Getting the Interview

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• Pharmacy X is an innovative industry leader in community pharmacy practice. Our professional, state-of-the-art Wellness Centers and ever-expanding scope of patient care services are a reflection of our commitment to providing an environment for our pharmacists to thrive at the top of their profession.Our pharmacists are part of a community where they know their patients by name. With a holistic approach to health care management, our pharmacy staff provides a full complement of pharmaceutical services including clinical services in a community pharmacy setting. Our success is the result of meaningful patient relationships and exceptional pharmacy teams.

Reviewing the Job Description

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• As the Clinical Specialist-Infectious Disease Pharmacist at University Medical Center Y, you will serve as a resource for the development and implementation of clinical programs for the pharmacy. You will plan, organize, monitor and carry out an Antimicrobial Management Program to optimize clinical outcomes, promote cost effective therapy and improve care while minimizing unintended effects of infectious disease care in the hospital. You will mentor staff on the implementation of new clinical duties. You will lead the development and implementation of a Pharmacy Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.

Reviewing the Job Description

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• Exciting opportunity for a Pharmacist to join our Specialty Mail Service Pharmacy at Pharmacy Z! If you are a Pharmacist, and enjoy helping people on their path to better health, this may be the role for you! As a Pharmacist for our Specialty Mail Service Pharmacy, you will have the ability to provide exceptional customer service to patients and healthcare professionals while providing leadership and guidance to supporting staff. Drive key clinical and sales initiatives, build partnerships with manufacturers and/or additional clients, and help develop initiatives to grow and retain our oncology patient base.

Reviewing the Job Description

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• Many resources available

• No typos!

• Use sans-serif font

• Be able to explain everything in the document

• Quantify experiences whenever possible

Update Your Resume / CV

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• Confirm date / time

• Get HR representative / interviewer contact information

• Ask about type of interview and interviewers

– One on one

– Panel of interviewers

– Panel of candidates

• Where to go AND where to park!

Accepting the Interview Offer

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• Develop and practice answers to common interview questions

• Review your own resume / CV

• Learn all you can about the company

• Research the interviewers

• Bring a list of written questions

Preparing For the Interview

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• Allow plenty of time

• Don’t forget to eat!

• Treat everyone you meet like the company CEO

• Bring extra copies of your resume / CV

• Carry a portfolio, paper, and pen

The Interview Day

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• Greet everyone by formal title until invited to do otherwise

• Use professional language and good grammar

• Be mindful of your non-verbal behaviors

The Interview Day

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• Read between the lines – what is the interviewer trying to assess with a given question?

• Pause a moment to organize your thoughts before answering a question

• Ask the interviewer to repeat a question / clarify when needed

• Avoid interrupting the interviewer

• Limit most answers to less than 90 seconds

• Ask permission to write notes and do so

Communication Pearls

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• Tell me about yourself.

• Where do you see yourself in five years?

• Why are you interested in our company?

• What are your areas for improvement / weaknesses?

• What are your strengths / why pick you?

Common Interview Questions

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• What to say

– Who you are

– What are your strengths for this position

– Why are you interested

– End with a question

• What NOT to say

– Regurgitate your resume / CV

Tell me about yourself.

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• What to say

– Personal career goals and how this job will help you achieve them

– New skills or information you want to learn from the position

– Desired future responsibilities/advancement opportunities

• What NOT to say

– Hope to advance to a position within the company that doesn’t exist

– Uncertain or vague goals

Where do you see yourself in

five years?

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• What to say

– Demonstrate that you have researched the company and the job description you have applied for

– Describe how you can fit into the company culture

– Tell the interviewer what YOU can offer THEM

• What NOT to say

– Things that focus on YOUR benefit only

– STAR answers (generally)

Why are you interested in our

company?

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• What to say

– Choose your “best” weakness

– Use a “confession and recovery” model

– Describe a weakness and how you overcame it

• What NOT to say

– Laundry list with no insight as to how you will improve

– A weakness that is a requirement for the position

What are your areas for

improvement / weaknesses?

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• What to say

– Reflect on your strengths / ask others for input

– Pick qualities that are relevant to the position

– Develop a list of 3 to 5 strengths

• What NOT to say

– Rehashing what’s on your resume / CV

– “I believe my strengths are…”

What are your strengths / why

pick you?

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• What does it take to succeed in this role?

• What is the biggest challenge with this position?

• How do you feel about my experience and qualifications for this job?

• How would you describe the company’s values/culture?

• Why did you choose to work here/why do you stay with this company?

• What are the next steps and timeframe?

Questions for the Interviewer(s)

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• Send a thank you note

• Self-assess

– What went well?

– What would you do differently next time?

• Follow up if needed

After the Interview

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• Salary information– Glassdoor.com

– Salary.com

• Any pharmacist– The Pharmacy Professional's Guide to Resumes and CV's and

Interviewing (Thomas Reinders)

• Access it: KU Library Databases: PharmacyLibrary

• Buy it: APhA Bookstore

• Residency candidates– Get the Residency: ASHP's Guide to Residency Interviews and

Preparation (Joshua Caballero, Kevin Clauson, Sandra Benavides)

• Buy it: ASHP Store

Additional Resources

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• Know who you are and what you want from a position

• Candidates should expect a variety of question types during interviews

• Anticipate common questions and practice in advance

• Many resources are available to assist with interview preparation

Summary

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Post-Test

• In regards to behavioral interviewing, what does “STAR” stand for?

A. Start Today Achieving Results

B. Situation – Task – Action – Result

C. Skills To Achieve Results

D. Stop – Think – Assess – Respond

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Post-Test

• What types of interview questions should a job candidate expect?

A. Informational

B. Behavioral

C. Case study

D. All of the above

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Post-Test

• Published resources are available on resumes and interviewing specifically for pharmacists.

– True

– False

Questions?

Emily Prohaska, PharmD, BCACP

emily.prohaska@ballsfoods.com

2016 Annual Meeting and Trade Show“Advancing as Providers | Reimaging the Present”

Wichita Marriott Hotel

Wichita, Kansas