Pharmacist Resume Example

Pharmacists administer medications, either from pharmacies in retail stores or from hospitals. They are responsible for educating people on the appropriate dosage to take and how often. Pharmacists can also give vaccines and flu shots.

Let's review the steps to creating a stellar resume.

‍How to Write a Summary for a Pharmacist

1. Mention your previous experience. Have you completed any research in the pharmaceutical field, perhaps during your doctoral program? Have you worked in retail pharmacies or in doctors’ offices? 
2. Describe your greatest strength. Are you accurate and efficient in administering medications? Are you superb at communicating with patients? Do you take the time to research patients’ concerns and complaints? 
3. Explain what you’ve accomplished in your previous places of employment. Did you train new pharmacists? Did you switch the office from a paper to an electronic system? Did you reorganize the medication cabinets more efficiently?

How to List Your Work Experience as a Pharmacist

1. Use reverse chronological format. List your most recent jobs first, as this shows managers how you’ve gained experience in the industry. 
2. Use action verbs related to Pharmaceutical duties. Verbs are critical to demonstrating what you can do for the company. Review the following list for some powerful examples.

• Analyzed
• Assisted
• Calculated
• Determined
• Developed
• Dispensed
• Implemented
• Learned
• Managed
• Prepared
• Provided
• Researched 
• Verified

See our list of over 350 action verbs to find more.

Senior Level Work Experience as a Pharmacist

• Mentored and trained 5 new pharmacists, 3 of whom were swiftly promoted based on their performance
• Communicated the side effects of drugs to ensure patient awareness
• Improved efficiency of the office by 39% due to a new organizational system
• Administered medications with 96% accuracy 
• Prepared medications in a timely manner
• Researched and resolved dosage conflicts with providers to ensure patient safety 
• Developed and oversaw a standard training protocol for new team members, which improved efficiency by 34%
• Checks technicians’ work to verify order completion and validity 
• Managed medication inventory and completed orders with provider and insurance companies
• Saved company $1.5 million by creating new technician standards to optimize dosage accuracy and dispensation 
• Negotiated with supplier to increase discount rate from 10% to 15%
• Directed the research, preparation, and distribution of over 2,300 prescriptions weekly
• Supervised team of 4 technicians and 8 pharmacists 

Junior Level Work Experience as a Pharmacist

• Assisted with reception duties, including fielding phone calls and informing patients that their medications were ready for pickup 
• Researched common side effects of popular medications in order to alleviate patients’ concerns
• Swiftly calculated and dispensed the correct dosages
• Proficient in pharmacy softwares that track patient and provider data, including Liberty, PioneerRX, PrimeRX, and DataScan 
• Performed troubleshooting assistance to resolve insurance conflicts for patients
• Verified patient and physician information in a timely and professional manner
• Answered patients’ concerns and questions with compassion and efficiency 
• Calculates correct dosages, including conversions between the US and metric systems
• Prepared labels and filled prescriptions accordingly
• Provided outstanding customer service, which improved customer retention by 15%
• Improved sales of over the counter drug revenue by 42% by reorganizing shelves and introducing seasonal displays

How to List Your Skills as a Pharmacist 

Pharmacists must be proficient in math and science skills in order to determine and administer a variety of medications, yet they must also have strong interpersonal skills. Communication is key to interacting with patients, so not only do pharmacists need to be compassionate but they also need to be strong advocates for their patients’ health. 

• Ability to multitask
• Ability to prioritize
• Accurate
• Advocate 
• Analytical mind
• Communication
• Computer literacy 
• Conscientious 
• Data Entry  
• Efficient 
• Financial skills
• Medication management
• Mentor
• Organized
• Research 

How to List Your Education as a Pharmacist

Pharmacists first require two to four years of undergraduate schooling -- which can be equivalent to an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. The next step is to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) in order to get into a college that offers a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. This postgraduate professional degree takes four years to complete, though some programs offer accelerated versions. 

After obtaining the Pharm.D. degree, most pharmacists have to undergo two years of residency training, though this depends on the college. If you are thinking of running your own pharmacy, then you should consider acquiring a Master of Business Administration. 

Even after all this, you still aren’t out of the woods! Pharmacists must also attend continuing education throughout their careers in order to keep apace with the changing field of healthcare. Generally, this requires 15-30 hours of training every two years. 

Requirements for licensure vary by state but generally involve the following:

• The Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam: tests your knowledge of federal and state laws surrounding pharmaceutical practice
• The North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX): tests your knowledge and skills in the field. This includes your knowledge of pharmacotherapy, how to prepare and distribute medication, and how to best help your patience patients
• Each state then requires a written and practical exam. More information about your state’s specific requirements can be found here. 
• Complete a background check and drug test
• Get hired using our awesome resumes and career advice

Pharmacist Career Overview

Job Outlook

The job outlook for Pharmacists is not expected to grow, though with more individuals receiving medications by mail, pharmacist positions in retail stores will likely be on the decline. In 2018, there were 314,300 jobs available.

Average Salary 

Pharmacists make $128,090 per year on average. However, salaries could be as high as $162,900 depending on the location in which you work and if you have a specialty like psychopharmacology or pharmacoepidemiology.  

Top Paying Salaries by State

• $144,050 -- California
• $142,610 -- Alaska
• $135,650 -- Vermont

‍Search for Pharmacist Jobs

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• Simplyhired