Pharmacist CV Guide + Tips + Example
Want a pharmacist job? Then you need an impressive CV. Congratulations! You’ve come to the right place. Our guide to crafting a great pharmacist CV will help you make the most of your excellent communication skills and attention to detail so you can get the job
Get started by editing this pharmacist CV template, or browse our library of CV templates to find the one that fits you.
Pharmacist CV example (text version)
Joshua Smith
Columbus, OH 43004
555 555 5555
example@example.com
Summary Statement
Skilled pharmacist with exceptional organization skills, strong interpersonal communication ability, and extensive knowledge of medications and their use. Experienced pharmacist places a strong focus on attention to detail and excels in accuracy to guarantee patients are cared for and prescribers have confidence. Dedicated professional ensures that all safety protocols and security measures are adhered to in meeting the high standards of the field.
Core Qualifications
- Operational oversight
- Labeling procedures
- Pharmacy policies and procedures
- MEDITECH software
- Medication assessment
- Drug ordering storage
- Problem-solving
- Time management
Education
- Ohio State University Columbus, OH
Doctor of Pharmacy Pharmacy - Ohio State University Columbus, OH
Bachelor of Science Chemistry
Work Experience
June 2016 – Current
Ohio Health – Columbus, OH
Hospital Pharmacist
- Offer information to up to 300 patients weekly regarding dosage, side effects, drug interaction and appropriate storage practices.
- Maintain patient profiles, inventories, pharmacy files and other records.
- Reduce 65% of pharmacy waste by enacting better protocols for inventory and storage.
- Assess the strength, purity and identity of medications.
April 2013 – June 2016
Walgreens – Columbus, OH
Pharmacy Technician
- Maintained security conditions and proper storage for up to 5,000 medications and drugs.
- Received refill requests and written prescriptions and ensured that information was accurate and complete.
- Completed six months with zero errors on tag typing and filing.
August 2012 – April 2013
Trinity Health – Columbus, OH
Pharmacy Aide
- Answered questions from an average of 90 clients per day and helped them find merchandise.
- Stored and inventoried pharmaceutical medications and supplies and made notes of medications that were expired.
- Improved 35% of employee morale by scheduling monthly staff meetings to go over accomplishments and highlights.
Research Experience
- Validated incoming data to check information accuracy and integrity while independently locating and correcting concerns as research lead in “Prescription Control in Small and Medium Size Pharmacies” (2017), Ohio State University
- Developed research statements and ran surveys and interviews as a research assistant in “Identifying Medication Reactions and Prescribing Trend Analysis” (2016), Ohio State University
Conference Presentations
FDA Drug Safety Guidelines conference – (2021)
Patient Confidentiality and Record Control exchange – (2019)
Conference Attendance
- OPA, Annual Conference, Ohio Pharmacist Association – (2022)
- Annual Meeting, Ohio Society of Health-System Pharmacists – (2022)
- 6th International Conference on Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science (ICPPS) – (2021)
Professional Affiliations and Memberships
- Ohio Pharmacist Association – (2021)
- The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) – (2019)
- American Pharmacists Association (APA) – (2019)
- National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) – (2018)
Certifications and Licenses
- Pharmacist Licensure, State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy – (Updated 2022)
- ACLS certification – (2021)
- APhA Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery Certificate Program (Online) – (2020)
Training
- 37th Annual Pharmacy Practice Seminar – (2022)
- Pharmacy Technicians and Vaccinations: An Advanced Training Program (Online) – (2021)
- The 8th Annual Asheville Summit. The Golden Years: Bridging the Gaps in Elderly Care – (2020)
Profession Relevant Skills
- Excellent communication and active listening skills to ensure that patients and customers understand their medications and how to take them.
- Extensive education and training to guarantee that I am constantly up to date on the newest research and information regarding medications.
- Ability to hear and understand what others are saying and oral expression skills that allow me to explain a complicated topic in a simple way that they can understand.
- Strong sensitivity to problems that may arise when issues with prescribers, patients or drug companies are present.
- Intense focus and attention to detail to minimize mistakes and unnecessary expenses for both the drug companies and the pharmacy.
- Exceptional social perception facilitates the understanding of concerns and issues of both patients and prescribers as they arise.
- Instructing skills that allow me to teach others how to do things better rather than just doing jobs for them.
Languages
- English
Native or Bilingual - Spanish
Professional Working
Hobbies and Interests
I am extremely interested in the development of procedures to counteract prescription drug addiction and to keep medications safe from patients that would abuse them. Computers are a hobby of mine and I am skilled in working with several different programs and databases. I enjoy hiking, kayaking and biking and anything that is done outdoors. I love sports but am partial to basketball and soccer. I also enjoy spending time with my wife, two kids and dog when I have free time.
5 essentials of a top pharmacist CV
Contact details
Without contact information, hiring managers cannot get in touch with you. At the top of your CV, place your full name, city, state and ZIP code, followed by your phone number and professional email address. If you have a LinkedIn profile and professional website, add those as well.
Personal statement
A personal statement, also called a professional summary, is your chance to introduce yourself and highlight your top qualifications to the hiring manager. Your professional statement should make an immediate impact by including one or two of your most notable professional accomplishments. Make sure to use our example pharmacist CV for guidance.
Skills
Hiring managers want to know if your skills match their needs. Show them you have what it takes by creating a separate section and using bullet points to display your top hard and soft skills — from algorithm implementation to teamwork — as shown on our sample pharmacist CV. However, Iif you are applying for your first job, include transferable skills, which are soft skills that you can use in any job,, such as communication and interpersonal skills.
Work history
Your CV must have a detailed employment history section, like our example CV for a pharmacist shows — even if you don’t have relevant work experience. Create a section for your employment history and list your current and previous employers in reverse-chronological order. Provide company names, locations and the dates you worked for each. Describe your experience through three bullet points of measurable expertise for every job you mention. If you don’t have work experience in the field or if this is your first job application, add extracurricular activities, volunteer experience, community service and professional and personal projects — anything that shows you have relevant work experience.
Education
Add all the educational institutions you’ve attended after high school to your pharmacist CV. Use bullet points for each school and display the name of the school and the year you graduated, unless it was more than 10 years ago. List your high school information and any post-high school classes taken if you did not attend college. Use the pharmacist CV sample on this page to see how to do it correctly.
See why My Perfect Resume is a 5-star resume builder
Action words for a stand-out Pharmacist CV
Action words convey confidence and strengthen CVs because they mention what you did in your past roles. Combine them with numbers to really make an impact!
Here’s a short list of perfect action words for a pharmacist CV:
- Completed
- Filled
- Maintained
- Manage
- Counsel
- Oversee
- Dispense
- Mentor
- Analyzed
- Advised
- Communicated
- Organized
- Prepared
- Supervised
Need a professional pharmacist CV now? Head to our CV maker, which has all the tools you need to create a professional CV in minutes. Start by downloading a pharmacist CV template for free. We’ll give you expert phrases and industry-relevant keywords. You can make edits on the fly, download your CV, and save it as a PDF, .doc or plain text when you’re finished. Yes, it really is that easy!
Top skills for a pharmacist CV
Readview the job description carefully and match the required skills to your skill sets and traits.
Your skills might include:
- Written and verbal communication
- Customer service
- Interpersonal skills
- Administration
- Organizational skills
- Planning
- Sales
- Attention to detail
- Focus
- Pharmacy software
- Customer service
- Record keeping
- Leadership
Certifications for a pharmacist CV
A Ccertification is not a requirement for a pharmacist job, but job seekers who are certified tend to get hired more than those who do not.
Certifications from a respected organization on your pharmacist CV convey to prospective employers that you are committed to your field. Some programs take longer than others, and most require an ongoing commitment, but staying current in your field is crucial to landing a great job as a pharmacist.
There are several certifications available for pharmacists, including:
- Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP)
- Board Certified Cardiology Pharmacist (BCCP)
- Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist (BCCCP)
- Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP)
- Board Certified Infectious Diseases Pharmacist (BCIDP)
- Board Certified Medication Therapy Management Specialist (BCMTMS)
Pair your CV with a matching cover letter
Pharmacist CV FAQ
1. How should you craft your pharmacist cv if you’re looking to take the next step forward in your career?
Keep the points below in mind to enhance your resume and take your career to the next level:
- Continue to gain experience and expertise in providing consultations and answers to patient inquiries.
- Continue to collaborate with health care professionals and physicians regarding drugs, their potential side effects and specified use.
- Show examples of how you’ve effectively managed pharmacy operations with a solid commitment to efficiency, accuracy and service quality.
- Obtain a doctoral degree in pharmacy and any other related training and certifications.
- Attain membership in industry networking and professional groups to improve your knowledge and experience.
- Check out pharmacist CV samples for guidance.
2. How do I include keywords in my CV for a pharmacist job?
Read the job description thoroughly, pinpointing important words and phrases that describe what the job demands, such as providing consultations, answering inquiries, or monitoring pharmacy medication stock orders. (You can also check the company’s website for other keywords that depict its culture and approach.) These keywords will be searched for by applicant tracking systems (ATS), which employers use to scan your resume.
The more keywords you can address in your resume, the higher your resume’s chances of clearing the scan. Gear your summary, work experience, and skills sections to address these keywords. Ensure you add keyword phrases, such as “Medication inventory management” in your skills section, or write “Experienced in all aspects of medication inventory, including stock ordering and maintenance” in your summary section.
3. What’s the best CV format for a pharmacist?
The best CV format for a pharmacist is the one that fits the industry, job, work experience and goals. For instance, if you’re applying for your first pharmacist job or are changing careers, it’s best to use a CV format that emphasizes your education or skills. However, if you have a steady career as a pharmacist and have progressed through the ranks, you might want to showcase your work experience. Professional pharmacist CV examples are the best way to get started on your pharmacist CV.
Do’s and don’ts for building a pharmacist CV
- Use measurable achievements to describe your pharmacist skills and experience.
- Use action words to make an impact on your pharmacist CV.
- Tailor your CV to your target pharmacist job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your pharmacist CV.
- Format your pharmacist CV so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your pharmacist experience and skills.
- Boast about your “incomparable” pharmacist abilities.
- Include irrelevant personal information, such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience not pertaining to pharmacy.
- Forget to proofread. A pharmacist CV with errors is unprofessional.
Top 4 tips for acing a pharmacist interview
Learn about the company before your interview.
Learning about a company’s history, goals, values and people before the interview is important. It shows real interest, dedication and commitment — traits that hiring managers look for in top job candidates. Plus, having a glimpse of the company culture before you arrive will give you an idea of what to expect on arrival, which will help you feel more confident.
Practice!
A little practice now will go a long way during your interview. To practice for your interview, start by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as:
Ask a friend to interview you so you can get comfortable with the questions and instill the answers in your mind. Ask them for feedback on your performance and answers, and write down their suggestions . You’ll feel more at ease, confident and ready when it’s time for the real thing.
Be proactive and ask questions.
Your interviewer will ask if you have any questions at the end of your session. You should always have at least three questions ready ; job candidates who don’t ask questions are not as likely to get hired because hiring managers assume they aren’t interested in the role or haven’t put much thought into it.
Some questions you might ask for a pharmacist job are:
- Why is this position open?
- How do you define success for this job?
- What are the next steps?
Have references ready.
Having professional references ready before your interview will prepare you in case the hiring manager decides to move forward. HaveCreate a list of two former colleagues and a former manager willing to speak to your abilities and write a letter of recommendation for you. Ensure you contact those who you know will give you a stellar review.
If you are applying for your first full-time job and don’t have former colleagues or a manager for reference, you can get references from a former instructor, volunteer coordinator, internship manager, classmate, or community leader who will provide a positive review about your ability to perform different tasks.
Resume examples for the next step in your pharmaceutical career
Cover letter examples for the next step in your pharmaceutical career
Rate this article
Pharmacist CV Example
Kellie is the content strategist for My Perfect Resume. She has more than 20 years of experience in digital media and is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She has a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
More Articles by Kellie Hanna, CPRW
