Why this matters:
Physician-issued prescriptions, inventory information, and medication details are typically stored and transmitted digitally, using pharmacy management software. It's important to know how comfortable the candidate is with key systems.
What to listen for:
- Overall comfort with technology
- Familiarity with systems you use or their equivalents
- Overreliance on pen-and-paper methods, indicating lack of technical savvy
Why this matters:
Patients and physicians rely on pharmacists to impart crucial information that both ensures drug safety and optimizes effectiveness. The ideal candidate can translate the complexities of major classes of medications into directives, warnings, and educational pointers that a patient can easily understand.
What to listen for:
- Indications that the candidate understands current pharmacology
- Mention of providing patients with appropriate literature and information about dosage, side effects, and how to manage drug interactions
Why this matters:
Beyond being a skilled healthcare professional, a pharmacist is often responsible for sales. As a key point of contact for both patients and physicians, the pharmacist is likely to be the best person to drive revenue. A strong pharmacist can lead a team in suggesting over-the-counter products and therapies that can address and alleviate health issues.
What to listen for:
- Business savvy and an acknowledgment that sales goals are part of the role
- Tactics for boosting revenue, such as increasing patient education through flyers, posters, and conversations
- Proven success in a previous pharmacy role
Why this matters:
A pharmacist is typically a senior member of a team, overseeing technicians and other employees. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, confident, and communicative leader — one who values other inputs and who empowers team members to perform their roles effectively.
What to listen for:
- Support for team members and willingness to listen to their ideas
- Strong record of management experience
Why this matters:
A pharmacist may be pulled in several directions at a time — assisting with patient inquiries, speaking with healthcare professionals, and helping pharmacy technicians and junior staff members. Working in a pressure-filled environment is part of the job description, so a strong candidate should be able to juggle multiple responsibilities and consistently deliver high-quality work.
What to listen for:
- Ability to maintain accuracy, prioritize customer service, and manage stress levels at work
- Vague answers that might indicate a candidate doesn’t handle stress well
Why this matters:
Pharmacists promise to uphold ethical values, protect sensitive patient information, and adhere to a strict code of conduct. You’ll want to ensure that the person who joins your team follows these standards at all times. This question tests a candidate’s ethical sensibilities so that the best person can be chosen for the role.
What to listen for:
- Thoughtfulness, nuance, and balance
- Whether the candidate did the right thing while navigating diplomatically — and how
Why this matters:
Pharmacists deal with patient health and safety, so they need to have strong communication skills for conveying the right information, giving correct directives, answering questions, and more. Additionally, strong communication helps pharmacists effectively lead others on their team.
What to listen for:
- Understanding of the importance of communication, both written and verbal
- Clear articulation and explanations
Why this matters:
Values drive a person’s thoughts and actions, so it’s important to know which ones make a candidate tick. A strong match with your organization’s values will increase the new pharmacist’s engagement and prospects for retention.
What to listen for:
- Values that align with your organization’s mission and priorities, as well as those of your customers
- Commitment to doing what’s best to protect and improve patient health
Why this matters:
Passion for the job is important. What makes a candidate tick? Helping patients? Being technically strong? Has the candidate earned an award or recognition? This question will help you determine where and how the candidate finds fulfilment in the role.
What to listen for:
- What the candidate can bring to the table
- A vague answer that could be a red flag
Contact a sales specialist.