resume format for diploma in pharmacy

Pharmacist Resume - Best Examples & Writing Guide for 2024

You’re a pharmacist. 

Your knowledge is vital to the health and well-being of humanity.

In fact, you’re somewhat of a medicinal magician.

Taking care of your resume is no easy task.

Thankfully, this guide prescribes you the exact steps needed to create a job-winning pharmacist resume. 

• An example of a finished pharmacist resume that works
• How to write a pharmacist resume that’ll fill up your interview diary
• How to make a pharmacist resume stand out [with top tips & tricks]

Before we get into the details, here’s a pharmacist resume example, created with our very own resume builder :

Simply follow the steps below to create one of your own.

How to Format a Pharmacist Resume

There is one vital step to take before you can wow the recruiter with your skills…

You need pick a resume format.

Choosing the best format for your specific situation will allow the recruiter to see your best attributes at a glance.

The most common resume format is “ reverse-chronological ”, and it’s no surprise. Essentially, this format puts your best attributes up-top. We recommend most pharmacists to start with this format.

The following resume formats also get our approval:

• Functional Resume – If you’re a highly-qualified pharmacist, but lack work experience, this resume format is recommended. It’s ideal for trained pharmacists that are new to the field or have gaps in their employment history.
• Combination Resume – As the name suggests, this format combines both “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological”. As such, it focuses on both skills AND work experience. Those pharmacists with a wealth of work experience may want to try this format.

Once your format has been selected, you need to pick a resume layout .

Resume Length - keep your resume under the 1-page limit. For guidance, view these one-page resume templates .

Use a Pharmacist Resume Template

The physical creation of a pharmacist resume seems easy.

Just open Microsoft Word and start typing, right?!

Well, you may want to take a slightly different approach.

You see, Word-made resumes have a layout that can fall apart with every small alteration. 

Want to skip formatting issues? Use any of the following resume templates that can be easily tailored for a pharmacist position.

What to Include in a Pharmacist Resume

The main sections in a pharmacist resume are:

• Work Experience
• Contact Information

Want to go a step further? You can also add these optional sections:

• Awards & Certification

Interests & Hobbies

That’s an impressive list, but what should you write for each section?

Read on to find out.

Want to know more about resume sections? View our guide on What to Put on a Resume .

How to Correctly Display your Contact Information

Just like when checking patient’s prescriptions for accuracy, you should also check your contact section for accuracy.

You see, a single mistake can result in the recruiter not being able to contact you for an interview – disaster! 

The contact information section should include…

• Professional Title – In this case, “Pharmacist”
• Phone Number – Check for mistakes
• Email Address – Use a professional email address ([email protected]), not one from your childhood ([email protected])
• (Optional) Location
• Dennis May - Pharmacist. 101-358-6095. [email protected]
• Dennis May - Medicinal Magician. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

How to Write a Pharmacist Resume Summary or Objective

It’s no secret that the top pharmacist jobs are in high demand.

This means your resume will be sitting on the recruiter’s desk amongst dozens and dozens of other resumes. 

And with so many resumes to get through, recruiters don’t have the time or patience to read every resume from top to bottom.

The truth is that you have less than a minute to impress .

Your resume needs to be concise and convey your value within just a few sentences. 

To do this, use a resume summary or objective .

These are both powerful introductions that sit at the top of your resume.

But what is the difference between the two sections?

A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.

• Pharmacist with 5+ years of experience in using strong interpersonal skills and extensive medication knowledge to help patients with their needs. Top achievements include earning 98% positive feedback in patient surveys during 2022.

A resume objective is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of what you want to achieve professionally.

Motivated Pharm graduate seeking to advise patients at Medical-X. Experience includes a placement at a fast-paced private clinic. Proven skills include Inventory management, Pharmaceutical research, and interpersonal communication. 

So, should pharmacists choose a resume summary or objective?

Generally, we recommend that experienced pharmacists use a resume summary. An objective is suited to those who have the skills, but lack experience as a pharmacist (graduates, career changers, or those still studying).

How to Make Your Pharmacist Work Experience Stand Out

Pharmacies need pharmacists that can be trusted to give the correct advice and comply with industry regulations.

With this in mind, what’s the best way to build trust and confidence?

With a pharmacist work experience section that showcases your achievements.

We recommend the following structure:

• Position name
• Company Name
• Responsibilities & Achievements

03/2018 – 12/2020

• Worked in a fast-paced pharmacy to dispense medicines, while advising on dosages and risks
• Managed and trained 6 pharmacy technicians, which increased overall performance by 18%
• Assisted patients with friendliness and enthusiasm, which resulted in 98% positive feedback from patient surveys
• Implemented the pharmacy’s quality assurance program, which provided compliance with HIPAA, CLIA and OSHA regulations

To separate your application from the other candidates, you should highlight your achievements instead of your daily tasks. 

Instead of saying:

“Managed staff members”

“Managed and trained 6 pharmacy technicians, which increased overall performance by 18%”

Although the first statement shows you held a management role, it doesn’t go into any more detail. Who knows if your work had a positive effect or not?

The second statement shows that your work resulted in an 18% performance increase. This is very attractive to other pharmacies that want to increase performance. 

Use Action Words to Make Your Pharmacist Resume POP!

You want to separate your resume from the competition, which means using power words to make your achievements stand out:

• Coordinated
• Inventoried

How to Correctly List your Education

As a pharmacist, you spent many years studying your craft.

This section is where you show the rewards of that hard work.

There’s no magic medicine here, just simply enter your education history in the following format:

• Degree Type & Major
• University Name
• Years Studied
• GPA, Honours, Courses, and anything else you might want to add

B.S. in PharmD

Boston State University

2012 - 2016

• Relevant Courses: Pharmacology, Pharmacy Law, Pharmacy Technology, Introduction to Accounting

Now, you may have some further questions that need answering. Here are the answers to some of the most frequent questions that we get:

• What if I haven’t completed education yet?

Regardless of whether you’re a graduate or still studying, you should still mention every year of education to date

• Should I include my high school education?

The general rule is to only include your highest education. So, don’t include it if you have a Pharm degree

• What do I put first, my education or experience?

Experiences take priority in any pharmacist resume, other than recent graduates, who you will likely start with their education

Need more advice? Check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top 10 Skills for a Pharmacist Resume

It may seem obvious, but the recruiter wants a highly-skilled pharmacist.

This means they will be looking for certain skills as they flick through your resume.

List the wrong ones, and your resume will be thrown into the trash like a used face mask. 

Here are some of the most common and desirable pharmacist skills...

Pharmacist Hard Skills:

• HIPAA trained
• Inventory management
• Medication distribution
• Quality assurance
• Pharmaceutical research

Pharmacist Soft Skills:

• Detail-orientated 
• Communication
• Time-management

Here’s a more comprehensive list of 100+ must-have skills this year .

What Else Can You Include?

Your medical assistant resume is finished and ready to be administered .

Well, nearly…

Your resume needs to be the best it can be . 

Following the above tips should be enough to get you shortlisted, but adding the following sections could be the deciding factor that your future depends on. 

Awards & Certifications

The medical industry is ever-evolving with new rules and regulations. 

As such, you should showcase that you’re up-to-date and correctly qualified.

Have certifications that you’re proud of? 

Then add a separate section to your resume, just like this:

• Critical Thinking Masterclass – MadeUpUniversity
• Health Care Delivery – Coursera Certificate
• Drug Development – Coursera Certificate

As a pharmacist, you shouldn’t need to know multiple languages.

However, no one can deny how impressive it is to be bilingual, so add a language section if you have space.

Rank the languages by proficiency:

• Intermediate

Now, why would the recruiter want a pharmacist with personal hobbies?

Don’t worry, there are no special hobbies in particular, but including a hobbies section is an easy way to add a personal touch to your resume.

Here’s which hobbies & interests you may want to mention.

Include a Cover Letter with Your Resume

A cover letter is like a secret remedy for taking your application to the next level.

You see, a cover letter shows the recruiter that you care about working for this specific pharmacy.

Here’s how to structure a pharmacist cover letter:

No cover letter is complete without the following sections:

Personal Contact Information

Your full name, profession, email, phone number, and location.

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, email.

Opening Paragraph

The recruiter doesn’t have much time to read your application. As such, the first paragraph should briefly mention:

• The position you’re applying for
• Your experience summary and best achievement to date

With the recruiter interested, you can get deeper into the following specifics:

• Why you chose this specific pharmacy
• What you know about the pharmacy
• How your skills are relevant for the job
• Which similar industries or positions have you worked in before

Closing Paragraph

Just like a conversation, you shouldn’t finish abruptly. You should…

• Conclude the points of the application
• Thank the recruiter for the job opportunity
• Finish with a simple call to action to continue the conversation at a later date. A simple “At your earliest opportunity, I’d love to discuss more how I can help pharmacy X” will work

Formal Salutations

End the letter in a professional manner. We recommend something like, “Kind regards” or “Sincerely”.

For more inspiration, read our step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter .

You might want to check out our related resume examples if you're looking for a different position in the medical field:

• Nurse Resume
• Medical Assistant Resume
• Dentist Resume

Key Takeaways

So, this section marks the end of our guide…

But this also marks the start of your new pharmacist role.

Simply follow the advice in this guide to create a job-winning pharmacist resume that will have every pharmacy competing for your skills.

Let’s quickly recap the main talking points:

• Format your pharmacist resume correctly. Use the reverse-chronological format, and then follow the content layout recommendations
• Start your resume with a summary or objective to hook the recruiter
• Highlight the best achievements from your work history, rather than your responsibilities
• Attach a convincing cover letter to make your application stand out

Suggested Reading:

• 19+ STAR Interview Questions - Complete List
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) Format Guide - 21+ Tips & Templates
• Use Resume Keywords to Land the Job [880+ Keywords]

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9 Pharmacist Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

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• Pharmacist Resumes
• Pharmacist Resumes by Experience
• Pharmacist Resumes by Role
• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

Whether you’re a retail pharmacist or a hospital pharmacist, it can be a challenge to know what to put in your resume , highlight your accomplishments outside of medication fulfillment, and properly  format your resume  to attract the attention of a recruiter or hiring manager. 

We analyzed hundreds of resumes from different service settings and learned what works to help you get more interviews in 2024. We created nine pharmacist resume samples to help you  build a professional resume or generate a cover letter .

The hardest part is getting started.  These resumes are successfully helping pharmacists find jobs in retail and hospital settings . 

Pharmacist Resume

or download as PDF

Mirror the job description

• Look out for things like state-specific pharmacist licenses, certifications, and most importantly, the daily duties employers expect you to undertake.
• Once you’ve done this, align your pharmacist resume to include everything that the job expects from you. This lets you meet the job’s minimum requirements and flaunt any additional pharmacy-related talents under your sleeve.

Registered Pharmacist Resume

Show your credibility

• This license will help employers understand that you’re a verified candidate who is registered with the respective state.
• Getting one isn’t easy since candidates must have at least a degree in pharmacy and pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPEX) examination. Hence, having one shows your dedication to the field.

Pharmacist Manager Resume

Quantify bullet points

• Skip listing down the usual job duties and instead focus on quantifying the kind of impact your work as a pharmacist had on previous workspaces.
• For instance, don’t say “Dispensed accurate medicine dosages to customers.” Instead, try something like “Consulted physicians to dispense accurate medicine dosages to patients, leading to an 82% customer retention rate.”

Pharmacist Student Resume

Leverage a career objective

• Pharmacy employers won’t always be patient with every resume so including your best skills and drive for the role will give them a quick look at your profile.
• But here’s the important part, tailoring to the hospital or pharmacy store you’re applying to. Look at this example for inspiration: “Dedicated professional with a passion for creating memorable patient experience via high-level pharmacy practices eager to join your hospital and foster better health.”

Clinical Pharmacist Resume

Radiate leadership

• Ditch using personal pronouns to talk about your daily duties such as dispensing medications, cross-referencing drug interactions, and overseeing inventory count.
• Instead radiate confidence and leadership by using action words like Led, Initiated, Streamlined, Fostered, etc at the start of your work experience bullet points . E.g.: Led the integration of Epic Willow, reducing medication data entry errors by 19%.

Compounding Pharmacist Resume

Unleash relevant skills

• However, make sure you don’t go overboard and overwhelm employers with a laundry of skills. It’s best to add skills that are directly mentioned in the job description like Omnicell, DoseEdge, or Cerner Millennium.
• Check your resume and if space permits, include a few additional skills like Communication or Bilingual (if applicable) to prove you’re valuable for various types of patients!

Hospital Pharmacist Resume

Highlight your education

• Remember to include your Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D.) degree and the one you achieved before it like a Bachelor of Science (Biology) to show your academic understanding of drugs and the human body.
• Try using a resume builder to get extra space and mention relevant courses from your degree like Human Anatomy and Physiology, Medicinal Biochemistry, or Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry.

Community Pharmacist Resume

Show career growth

• While it’s good to include your present role, don’t let it be the only thing you talk about. Rather, use a reverse-chronological resume format to show your career growth.
• Include all junior/internship roles from your early days at the bottom and your most current role at the top.

Retail Pharmacist Resume

Add certificates to impress

• If so, make sure you use a resume format that lets you add all certificates that prove you’re a trusted candidate who can take such specialized roles.
• Consider including (or obtaining) certificates like Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist (BCPPS), Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP), or Certified Specialty Pharmacist (CSP).

Related resume guides

• Pharmacy technician
• Medical Assistant
• Physician Assistant

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