1 in a 1,000,000 - Standing out in a crowd

Applicants for jobs are very quickly reaching a point that will make it incredibly difficult for a human resources manager or recruiter to distinguish candidates from one another by resume alone.  So, your challenge now has become two-fold: how do you find the companies that are hiring and how do you standout?

Pharmacy is getting to be no different.  Right now, there are more and more pharmacists that were working part-time that are starting to consider more full-time opportunities.  Also, include the retired pharmacists who are slowly returning to work because their 401k and other retirement accounts are deteriorated.  This has turned the previous shortage on it's head. Pharmacists must adapt just like other candidates in other specialties. 

5 Tips to Help You Stand out in a Crowd:

1. Have a resume or CV that sells your skills and accomplishments, not just a time line of where you've worked.  Don't use the resume from college.  Update it constantly with new successes and awards.  Keep a journal if you are prone to forget over time.

2. Use the web to research the facility and the hiring manager.  Yes, both.  The more you know and the better bond you can create with the interviewer the better chance they have to remember you after.
3. Be early, sometimes be really early.  Arrive an hour early and take a self-guided tour of the facility if possible.  Introduce yourself to another person walking around and ask why they enjoy working there.  Bonus points if you can get someone you know in the pharmacy to take you on a tour and then arrange for your introduction themselves.
4. Bring letters of recommendation with you.  Yes, they might check your references later but bring a copy you can leave with them to read.  Chances are HR will only conduct an employment verification and that really is no help before an offer is made.  Leaving this will force the interviewer to take notice and see how awesome you are. 
5. Bring a thank you card with you.  When you are finished with the interview go to the lobby, write out the thank your card then take it back by the pharmacy to hand-deliver it back. 

Good luck!