Typical interview questions

Adapted from The Pharmacy Professional's Guide to Resumes, CVs & Interviewing,by Thomas P. Reinders, Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Services, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy.

Your ability to answer questions clearly and thoughtfully is an important aspect of any interview. Some of the questions will likely be tailored to the organization and the opportunity you are applying for. Others will be generic questions designed to probe your background, communication skills, and personal style. There's no reason to plan out detailed answers to each question. Focus on those that are most likely to be asked given your qualifications and the type of position you are seeking. It's fine to jot down thoughts and rehearse answers, but don't memorize your responses.

Accomplishments

• What do you consider to be the most important idea or suggestion you have made that was implemented by your current employer?
• Tell me about your most satisfying accomplishment as a pharmacist [or pharmacy student or pharmacy technician].
• Tell me about a quantifiable outcome from one of your efforts at work.
• How do you measure your success t work?

Career development

• What would you like to accomplish during the next five years?
• What made you choose pharmacy as a career?
• Who had the greatest influence on your choice of pharmacy as a career path?
• Describe the ideal position based on your long-term career plan.

Coping with change

• How do you handle change at work?
• Do you prefer a structured routine in your daily work, or frequent change?

Communication skills

• How do you routinely communicate with your subordinates [or superiors]?
• How would you rate your writing abilities?
• How would you describe your listening skills?

Dealing with conflict

• Do you prefer to confront conflict or tactfully avoid it?
• Have you ever lost your temper at work?
• Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an irate patient. How did you handle the situation?
• Describe a time when you successfully resolved a conflict between yourself and one of your colleagues.

Creativity

• If you were to be a drug, what drug would you be?
• How would you like to be remembered?
• What is the most interesting work assignment that you have received?

Handling criticism

• What is your approach for dealing with constructive criticism?
• Describe a situation where your work was justifiably criticized
• Has any of your professors ever assigned a grade lower than you deserved? If so, what did you do?

Decision-making skills

• What kind of decisions are most difficult for you to make?
• What is your approach to making important decisions?
• Tell me about a time when you made an unpopular decision. How did you handle this situation?

Educational experience

• Is your GPA an accurate reflection of your academic ability?
• What subjects did you enjoy most [or least] in pharmacy school?
• If you had it to do over again, what changes would you make as a college student?

Issues related to the employer or position

• What do you find most [or least] appealing about this position? Why?
• What skills do you think are most critical for success in this position?
• How would your most recent supervisor describe your work habits?
• What did you like most [or least] about your most recent job?
• What were the limitations of your most recent position?

Management skills and abilities

• Tell me about your supervision of other individuals in past positions you have held.
• What type of management style do you think is most effective in managing health professionals?
• Give examples of your ability to delegate.

Personal attributes

• How do you measure personal success?
• Tell me about a time when your persistence paid off at work.
• Tell me about the last book you read.
• How would you describe your personality?

Problem-solving skills

• Tell me about a recurring problem at work that you were able to resolve.
• What is your usual approach to solving problems?
• Where do you turn when your usual problem-solving approaches are not successful?

Stress management

• How do you respond to deadlines?
• How do you manage stress in your daily work?
• What do you do to avoid burnout?

Technical knowledge and skills

• What is the latest computer software application that you have learned to use.
• Review the following case describing a common drug interaction. How would you resolve the problem?
• Review the following case of a patient with [disease x]. Outline a plan for drug therapy management.

Time management skills

• How do you organize your daily assignments and activities?
• Give me examples of how you prioritized work assignments in your most recent position.
• Give me an example of a time management skill that has increased your productivity at work.

Concluding the interview

• In what respects do our position and your needs appear to be a good match? In what respects do they differ?
• Is there anything else I should ask?
• How does this position compare with others you are considering?

The Pharmacy Professional's Guide to Résumés, CVs & Interviewing, by Thomas P. Reinders, contains dozens of tips for effective interviewing. More info about this book >>