As pharmacists it is very important to have an updated copy of your curriculum vitae and it is well known that if you are seeking a clinical pharmacy job, most employers will require a copy of your CV. That does not mean that you shouldn’t also have a resume. A resume provides a vehicle for you to capture the attention of recruiters quickly and succinctly in the online recruiting market, including your Linked In profile.
When it comes to your resume, it’s important to remember that your resume is a marketing document. Typically one or two pages, it provides potential employers insights into who you are as an individual, your skills and qualifications, as well as your previous work experience. Typically a resume should be no more than 2 pages and serves as a "career at a glance" for recruiters and hiring managers.
When beginning to write your resume for all industries, pharmacists and pharmacy included, it’s important to place yourself in the shoes of the recruiter or hiring manager. A recruiter is likely working on multiple requisitions or open positions at their company. Prior to viewing your individual resume, a recruiter uses a computer program called an Applicant Tracking System or ATS. The ATS is used to store applicants and sort through resumes by skill, experience, qualification, keywords, and all of the above. Once a recruiter begins to evaluate resumes using a series of keyword terms and experience criteria to sort and organize their list of applicants.
Keywords likely searched for by pharmacy recruiters are likely certifications and job requirements listed in the job ad or job description. Because of this it’s important to customize every resume you submit to each individual position. This increases the likelihood that a recruiter will take the time to review your resume as part of the initial stage of the interview and selection process. Consider listing keywords at the beginning of the resume, some ATS systems score the importance of keywords based on their placement within the actual resume. Lead with your skills and qualifications for this reason in an easy to read bulleted format.
Resumes are often times the one chance that pharmacist candidates have to make a lasting impression. Focusing on crafting a customized resume allows for an increased likelihood that your resume will be viewed by an individual versus being stored in the ATS.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of our How to Write a Pharmacist Resume Series with more great tips and tricks to get your resume noticed by a recruiter.