You've finished pharmacy school. What comes next?The Job Searching section of the Career Enhancement Series provides students with tips, guidelines, and further resources to aid in the job search process.
Here we provide guidance on each step in the process you will be sure to encounter - from producing a CV or resume to cover letters, letters of recommendation and business cards.
CVs and Resumes
Learn the difference between a curriculum vitae (CV) and resume, when you might want to utilize each, how to transform a CV to a resume and a resume to CV, and more.
College of Pharmacy students receive feedback annually through the curriculum, but additional reviews can help enhance your CV development. Be sure to provide reviewers the purpose of your CV such as for a job, residency program, or scholarship application. USC students in the pre-residency track will have an annual opportunity to discuss best practices to tailor CVs for residency applications. Communication from the pre-residency track coordinators regarding this typically occurs in September.
Cover Letters and Letters of Intent
The purpose of a cover letter is to express interest to an employer in a specific role or position within the organization. It is typically accompanied by your CV or resume. The purpose of a letter of intent is to express your interest to become a part of the company or organization even if there is no open position at that time.Both of these documents should be written by the applicant and include information a reviewer will not obtain by reading your CV or resume. These documents should complement your CV and resume and can incorporate components of your personal brand and elevator pitch.
An important aspect of cover letters and letters of intent is that they are specific to the role or organization. A helpful trick is to write your letter and then insert a different role or organization. If the letter still makes sense with another role or organization listed, then it isn't specific enough. We also recommend that you have someone else read your letter before you submit it. Our staff would be more than happy to review a letter and provide feedback that is custom to your needs.If you're not sure how to start writing your letter, check out our Frequently Asked Questions and Resources below.
What actually goes into a letter?
We are so glad you asked! Our resource, 7 Key Elements of a Successful Letter outlines the flow of each type of letter and provides formatting examples. ASHP has a helpful resource that outlines writing pearls for residency program letters of intent. Additionally, Dr. Ashlee Hayes, a pharmacist and career consultant, has written about helpful information to include in cover letters as well. If you are still struggling to begin your letter, please utilize our resource, Helpful Information for Letters Worksheet, or contact Pamela Hite at phite@cop.sc.edu for further assistance.
What personal information should go into my letter?
By now you probably know that each letter should be specific to the role or organization, as well as specific to you and your career. It can be overwhelming to think of all the pieces of information you may want to include. We created the Helpful Information for Letters Worksheet to help you summarize and compile information that is included in these types of letters.
Who can I ask to review my letter?
In our opinion, anyone can review your letter. It may be strategic to ask people who are practicing in the same field of pharmacy you are applying to or a boss, preceptor, professor, colleague, or mentor who knows you well to review your letter. For individuals who strongly dislike talking about themselves, asking someone who knows your previous experiences can help you highlight or elaborate upon unique opportunities.
Regardless, we believe that a fresh set of eyes can provide great insight during the letter-writing process. We do advise that you consider limiting the amount of feedback you solicit as it can be overwhelming to incorporate and process feedback from many different sources.If you would like someone in the Kennedy Center to review your letter, please email it to Pamela Hite at phite@cop.sc.edu. Additionally, letter of intent reviews are available at ACCP for national ACCP members.
Do I need to provide any information to people who review my letter?
Our experience has shown us that if someone agrees to review your cover letter or letter of intent they will ask for any other materials they may find useful. It is always recommended to provide them with a timeline that includes the application deadline, when you desire to receive feedback, and your ideal submission date.
Additionally, if you filled out the Helpful Information for Letters Worksheet, it may be beneficial to share that document with a reviewer to see if you accurately captured your interest and career goals through your letter.
Do you have an example of a cover letter?
Below we have provided a Sample Cover Letter from a pharmacy student who applied for a pharmacy intern position. The first page provides background information about a de-identified company.The second page provides a de-identified cover letter that the pharmacy student sent in with their CV to the company. We included boxes to discuss the information contained in each paragraph and called attention to important details.
Do you have an example of a letter of intent?
Below we have provided a Sample Letter of Intent from a pharmacy student who wrote to express interest in serving on a national committee for a pharmacy association. The first page provides background information about the pharmacy association, Phi Lambda Sigma, and includes additional sources of information the student used to help write this letter.
The second page provides a de-identified letter of intent that the pharmacy student sent in with their CV to the association to express their desire to serve on any national committee for the upcoming year. We included boxes to discuss the information contained in each paragraph and called attention to important details.
Letters of Recommendation
Most pharmacists need a letter of recommendation (LOR) at least once during their career. Whether it is for entry into a pharmacy school, a scholarship, a post-graduate training program, or a job, the odds are highly likely that you will need to ask a mentor for a letter of recommendation. This section will provide suggestions and tips on how to acquire a positive letter of recommendation.
How do you determine whom to ask for a letter of recommendation? The individual you ask should have the ability to speak to your personal and/or professional growth and understand your interest in and knowledge of pharmacy. Some experts in this field suggest knowing the individual for one year or more; however, pre-pharmacy students and pharmacy students can also consider asking faculty, preceptors, or employers who have seen your growth and work ethic via rotations, summer internships, or semester-long classes. Based on the application requirements, including the number of letters requested and the relationship to each writer, will help you determine whom to ask. Our LOR Worksheet may help you determine the best mentors to ask for a LOR.
For those seeking a residency post-graduation, the pre-residency track, led by Dr. Brandon Bookstaver, has details regarding which faculty/staff should write a LOR. We suggest you participate in the pre-residency track and follow Dr. Bookstaver’s advice regarding this subject. For those seeking fellowships, it may be advantageous to listen to and follow the advice of Dr. Bookstaver as there are some similarities between the types of post-graduate training programs.
Writers should be provided ample time to compose LORs. Some sources suggest asking 3 months in advance. At a minimum, we suggest asking 1 month in advance of the LOR deadline to be considerate of the writer’s existing schedule.
Business Cards
Business cards are an important part of a brand, whether it be a personal brand or a company brand. When networking in person, a business card is utilized to provide contact information in a quick, memorable way.
As a Pharm.D. student, you are able to obtain business cards with USC College of Pharmacy logo. Below is an example of what student business cards look like. For more information about obtaining student business cards, please email Sylvia Jenkins at SJ50@mailbox.sc.edu.
| Essential items you should include on a business card | Additional items that can be included |
|---|---|
|
|
Never leave your home or office without your cards and plenty of them.
Opportunity knocks anytime, anywhere. Be prepared.
Protect your business cards.
Keep your cards in a business card case or in something that protects them from wear and tear. A crumpled business card makes a poor first impression.
Know where your business cards are at all times.
The person who must go through every pocket or every nook and cranny of a briefcase to find those business cards loses credibility immediately.
Hand them out with discretion.
Handing out multiple cards at once devalues them.
Avoid appearing aggressive with business cards.
Wait to be asked for yours. If it does not happen, ask the other person for their card. Reciprocity generally follows.
Follow the other person’s lead.
When you receive a business card, accept the card in the same way the other person offers it to you. For example: If the person presents their card with two hands, accept it with two hands. This gesture is a practical way to overcome any language or cultural barriers when networking abroad.
Always make a comment about a card when you receive it.
Note the logo, the business name, or some other piece of information. This places value on the card. However, do not make the note during the conversation with the individual.
Be intentional in how you hand someone your business card.
Give your card so the person who is receiving it can read it without having to turn it around.
Keep your business cards up to date.
When any of your contact information changes; immediately obtain new cards. It is poor business etiquette to hand out cards on which you have crossed off old information and handwritten new.
Do not write notes on someone else’s business card during the exchange unless it is relevant. For example, when expected to follow up with a specific task, it is OK to write the task on the back of the card at that time. However, personal “notes” about the person or business should be done later and out of sight.
Resources
- Slides | How to Create a Resume that Stands Out with Dr. Ashlee Hayes [pdf]
- Guide | KPIC Guide CV vs. Resume [pdf]
- Guide | KPIC CV and Resume Pearls [pdf]
- Guide | KPIC Transition a CV to and from Resume [pdf]
- Guide | KPIC CV Tips for Industry [png]
- Guide | KPIC 7 Key Elements of a Successful Cover Letter [pdf]
- Guide | Sample Cover Letter [pdf]
- Guide | Sample Letter of Intent [pdf]
- Guide | Tips for Writing Strong Letters of Recommendation [pdf]
- Checklist | KPIC CV Checklist [pdf]
- Worksheet | KPIC Helpful Information for Letters [pdf]
- Worksheet | KPIC LOR Worksheet and Example [pdf]
Residency-specific resources:
- Blog | "How to Tailor a CV during Residency" - ACCP Experts in Training Newsletter
- Article | "Letters of Recommendation: A Pharmacy Residency Program's Perspective" - Pharmacy Times
- Article | "Professional Pearl: Writing a Pharmacy Residency Letter of Intent" - Calvin J. Ice [pdf]
- Toolkit | ACCP CV Preparation Tips / On-Demand CV Review Service
- Toolkit | ASHP CV Development Resources
