IPhO is the organization whose pharmacist members are universally recognized within the pharmaceutical industry as being the most professionally equipped to contribute to the development, commercialization, promotion, and optimal use of medicines.
We are quickly approaching the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting! For fellowship candidates, this is a career flashpoint, and the industry fellowship receptions are high-stakes networking events. Unlike formal interviews, these receptions are your chance to make a personal and professional impression. They are fast-paced and crowded. The largest is the Rutgers Pharmaceutical Industry Fellowship (RPIF) reception as it represents a huge consortium of top companies—often over a dozen in attendance. It requires a targeted, highly efficient strategy.
1. Hyper-Target Your Research
With 10+ companies present, you cannot treat them all equally. You need to narrow your focus based on your application and interview status.
Prioritize Existing Interviews: If you have PPS interviews scheduled with any Rutgers partner companies, those groups should be your first priority at the reception. Many candidates have already completed an initial phone screen and perhaps even one or two rounds of online interviews. Use the reception not just to introduce yourself, but to leverage those prior conversations and reinforce your interest. Connecting with current Fellows or Preceptors in this informal setting allows you to reference a topic discussed in your earlier interview, demonstrating continuity and genuine enthusiasm for their program, which can significantly boost your standing before the on-site interviews begin.
Alvina Okafor, PharmD Sanofi/HUPIF Global Regulatory Affairs Labeling Postdoctoral Fellow
Talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the pharmaceutical industry; what should companies be doing to continue making progress?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the pharmaceutical industry are essential for fostering innovation and ensuring that therapies meet the needs of diverse patient populations. To continue making progress, companies should invest in regions with high disease burdens, deeply study how those conditions affect local populations, and use those insights to develop more effective, equitable interventions.
As a career coach, I'm constantly asked this key question: What is the real difference between interview preparation and a mock interview?
The difference between interview preparation and conducting mock interviews is primarily the distinction between knowledge acquisition and performance simulation.
Think of it as learning the strategy of interviewing and understanding what industry employers are looking for in candidates and how that needs to connect with your responses, while mock interviews allow you to practice using these interviewing strategies.
