• Make sure you add key information about yourself and correct contact details so they can reach you regarding interviews/key information

1. Conciseness: Highlight key responsibilities and achievements.
2. Relevance: Tailor each description to match the requirements of the job you’re applying for
3. Action Verbs: Begin each bullet point with strong action verbs to effectively convey your impact and contributions. For example: Co-ordinated the development.. or implemented new inventory..
4. Quantify Achievements: Successful projects, awards, or recognition.
5. Keywords: Integrate industry-specific keywords and phrases relevant to the job to optimise your application for applicant tracking systems (ATS) and capture the attention of recruiters.
6. Provide Context: recruiters a better understanding of the scope and scale of your responsibilities.
7. Accuracy: Avoiding exaggeration or misrepresentation.
8. Proofread: Review your descriptions for spelling/ grammatical errors to present a professional application

TOP TIP: Write out the criteria from the job description as keywords on a separate document and cross them off as you include them in your supporting information. This will showcase how you directly meet the role’s requirements and the recruiter can pull out these key words

Interpersonal skills

• Examples of Teamwork and Collaboration: Provide examples team working and collaborating with colleagues to achieve shared goals.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Describe where you’ve successfully resolved challenges in a healthcare setting.
• Leadership Abilities: Highlight any roles where you’ve taken on leadership responsibilities i.e university course representative.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: Highlight your ability to adapt to different work environments, shifts, and changes in the healthcare landscape.
• Additional Information: Include any other relevant information such as language skills, IT proficiency, or specific clinical interests.

Professional points

• Clinical Experience: Pre reg training
• Skills and Competencies: List key skills and competencies that match the requirements of the job, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and patient care.
• Training and Professional Development: Mention any courses (CPPE or first aid) you’ve undertaken to enhance your skills and knowledge.
• Commitment to Patient Care: Give examples of high-quality patient care and safety in all aspects of your work i.e. medication counselling.
• Relevant Achievements: Highlight any notable achievements or awards 
• Familiarity with NHS Policies: Demonstrate your understanding of NHS policies, procedures, and guidelines relevant to the role.

• Ideally use referees that are academic or professionally linked. Avoid use character referees unless in exceptional circumstances 
• Make sure you contact your referees in advance to let them know to expect a reference to to be written if called for an interview 

“My effective communication skills hve played a crucial role during challenging patient consultation. For example when patient expressed concerns about their medication side effects, feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. By actively listening, providing clear explanations, and showing empathy, I helped address their worries and build trust. This approach improved patient confidence in their treatment and fostered a positive therapeutic relationship”

“I’m currently enhancing my skills through a first aid course and a CPPE program for pre-registration pharmacists. I aim to use this knowledge to mentor others in training hence fostering growth  This commitment underscores my dedication to continual learning and contribution to the personal development”

“In my pursuit of service improvement, I prioritise medicines governance and safety, diligently reporting prescribing and administration near misses and addressing risk management issues through the Datix system. This approach contribute in enhancing patient safety protocols, encompassing areas such as incorrect prescribing, control drug discrepancies, and non- adherence to Trust policies that may involve medicines associated guidelines that support the control of expenditure and cost”

“During my orthopaedics rotation, I’m leading a significant initiative: conducting informative sessions for patients on their post-surgery rehabilitation regimen at a nearby sports facility. The aim is to encourage adherence to prescribed medications, ultimately reducing the likelihood of readmissions. By empowering patients with a deeper understanding of their medications, I’m actively contributing to the fulfilment of our healthcare institution’s commitment to providing unparalleled healthcare services to our local community”

• Tell me about yourself
• Strengths and weakness
• Can you tell me about a time something happened in a way they were not supposed to and how you dealt with it?
• Can you tell me about a difficult situation and how you handled it?
• Can you tell me about a time you handled conflict (this question can come as a scenario they give but the gist of it is, what would be the process you take i.e. listening, looking at it from their perspective, attacking the problem not the people involved
• Tell me about a time you have gone above and beyond for co-worker/patient
• How you deal with criticism (this is more to do with how well you take feedback and self-development etc)
• When have you acted with leadership (i.e. delegating, this is a good STAR question)
• Experiences where you have shown accountability
• What do you know about ethnicity and diversity and how have you acted on it?
• Where do you see your career in 10 years’ time (shows long term goals and ambitions)?

• What do you know about Antimicrobial Stewardship and how would you act on it
• How would you promote the ‘Safe use of medicine’
• Tell me about an important clinical intervention you recently made
• Prescriber will not follow protocol; how would you handle it
• What recent MHRA advice or NPSA alert have you seen/heard about and how will you change your practice based on this?

• Scenario based question on a high risk drug- learn the therapeutic levels of HRD such as digoxin, phenytoin or methotrexate and about their side effects, common interactions or counselling
• Some interview processes may involve reviewing a drug chart, looking at dosing errors, interactions or contraindications
• Some interviews can be OSCE based 

• Based on the trust VISION what can you bring to the team (Trust vision and values are two separate concepts- learn the vision and values
• Why do you want to work for us (learn what is unique about the trust and why you would fit in)- learn about a service that is unique to them and how you would be ideal to promote it further or why it would interest you
• Final questions