Professional Development
It's officially fellowship application/interview season and our National Fellows Council has put together a valuable resource to help you prepare to answer the following common interview questions:
Professional Development
Whether you are applying for your first full time role or exploring new opportunities, negotiating a job offer can be a daunting and difficult conversation. In this infographic, learn about the primary components of a compensation package and follow a simple framework to use at your next negotiation discussion.
Note: if you are viewing on a mobile device, access the guide here.
Professional Development
A smooth transition from fellow to full-time industry pharmacist might feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be! The National Fellows Council Marketing Committee put together a short guide with tips to ace your first 90 days on the job. Good luck to all fellows starting their new roles in the coming weeks!
Note: if you are viewing on a mobile device, access the guide here.
Professional Development
Are you currently on the "virtual" job hunt? The IPhO National Fellows Council (NFC) compiled a helpful guide for fellows looking to transition to a full-time role, either within their company or at a different one. Get quick tips to help make sure your application stands out, excel in your interviews, and feel comfortable with salary and benefit negotiation. Check out the link in our bio, and good luck on your job search!
Note: if you are viewing on a mobile device, access the guide here.
Professional Development
Healthcare CEO and Entrepreneur George Zorich offers an insightful three-part video series for pharmacists—including students—and anyone else interested in learning what it takes to be an entrepreneur and build a business. This is excellent content delivered by an industry expert.
The series begins with an introduction to entrepreneurship that explains why it is so important to pharmacists and industry. You'll then move on to cover tips on building a business from the ground up—critical information for every entrepreneur. Finally, the series provides examples of current entrepreneurs in pharmacy, so you can learn from their success stories.
Professional Development
Megan Larison, PharmD
Fellowship Sponsor Company: Merck
Function/Discipline: Oncology Global Medical Affairs Post-Doctoral Fellow
Alma Mater: University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Class of 2020
Are you going into your first rotation at a pharmaceutical company? If so, you are probably feeling a little nervous leading up to your first day stepping into a non-traditional pharmacy rotation.
Don’t let that discourage you. You just need to know these few things to help set yourself up for success!
Before your rotation begins: Research the company and their pipeline. Become familiar with the different functional areas within the pharmaceutical industry but don’t get caught up on people’s individual titles, as they vary at every company.
Professional Development
Working from home as a marketing fellow at the agency RevHealth can be very challenging given the amount of collaboration necessary to design, develop, and gain approval for client medical and/or marketing materials. Whether it’s initial art concepts, copywriting, editorial, or account management; clear and direct communication among colleagues and clients is more essential than ever before during this stressful period in order to meet quality, timing, and financial expectations.
While live medical congresses and other prescriber live symposia have been postponed/cancelled, there has been an aggressive pivot toward the creation of virtual/digital media to engage with KOLs during the COVID-19 era. If there is one thing that life at an agency requires it’s being flexible to change and quickly adapt on the fly to support our clients’ needs. It’s during periods of significant change that an agency has the opportunity to separate itself from the competition! These days, there are plenty of opportunities to “rise to the occasion”!
Adam Elessawi, PharmD
RevHealth, Second-year Marketing Fellow
IPhO Fellowship Program
National Fellows Council
Professional Programming Committee
Professional Development
IPhO would like to thank Nina Johnson, New England Regional Student Officer and PharmD Candidate 2019, for leading the development of this valuable student resource.
The Rutgers Professional Industry Fellowship (RPIF) program will be hosting its annual Fellowship Information and Networking Day (FIND) on November 16, 2018. Hundreds of fourth-year pharmacy students from across the country attend this event to learn more about the nationally recognized fellowship program.
The event is broken down into three sessions: a didactic session, an information session and Q&A panel, and a networking session.
Members of the IPhO National Fellows Council (NFC) and leadership team have provided their FIND insight—including how to prepare for the fellowship application and interviewing processes—to help students make the most of their time at the event.
Professional Development
I put on my jacket and immediately my shoulders went back and I stood up straight.
I think I need to practice in my suit. I feel more “on” when I do.
These comments, from participants in a recent class on presentation skills, demonstrate that your clothing choices can help you to project confidence and to come across as a credible person – one your audience wants to listen to. Yet attire is one of those little things that presenters often don’t think about, or plan.
Professional Development
IPhO Announces Registration Open for the Comprehensive Industry Certificate Course: Commercialization of Pharmaceuticals From A to Z and the Role of Industry Pharmacists.
Learn more and/or register today: www.industrypharmacist.org/certificatecourse.php
To meet the growing demand in preparing student pharmacists, recent graduates, and young professionals interested in an industry career, IPhO is continuing to offer an Industry Certificate Course. If you don’t have access to an industry elective at your school or are a recent graduate or younger professional interested in transitioning to an industry career, including applying for industry fellowships or full time roles, then this certificate course is for you!
After a very successful first year in 2016 and high interest from many student pharmacists, recent graduates, and younger professionals from all regions of the country, IPhO has expanded and enhanced the program for the summer of 2017!
Professional Development
Authored by Kyle Chan, PharmD, RPh, St. John's University - Class of 2016
With the increasingly prominent impact of social media on the daily lives of today’s society, one would be surprised to find that only a small handful of pharmaceutical companies utilize these new media markets. A major reason for this stems from the FDA’s ambiguous regulation of Internet and social media, leaving regulatory professionals with the task of making unclear interpretations from Draft Guidance documents and Warning Letters. Nevertheless, a recent study has shown that between 2013 and 2016, some of the top Pharma companies have strengthened their Twitter followership by nearly 300% while also increasing the average number of tweets by 530%.1 Clearly, pharmaceutical firms are beginning to embrace social media, and moving forward, it is important to recognize the regulatory challenges that come with the increased scope of these new platforms.
Professional Development
Professional Development
The Midyear is approaching fast! As a service to IPhO Student National Members, the National Fellows Council is collecting your questions and answering them here on the website!
We want to answer YOUR question - please email us here: fellows@industrypharmacist.org
Please click or tap on "Read More" to view current Fellows' answers to the following questions:
As a service to IPhO members, the National Fellows Council is pleased to provide professional guidance related to Midyear. Remember to submit more questions to: fellows@industrypharmacist.org
Are interviewers made aware of what other fellowships you are applying to via PPS, or is this question asked during interviews?
Fellowship programs will not know which other programs/positions you’ve applied to unless it’s within the same fellowship. Bear in mind however that interviewers most likely expect candidates to have applied to multiple programs. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s also nothing wrong with applying for multiple positions within the same fellowship program especially if you are consistent with which functional areas/positions you apply to.
If you don't click with one preceptor/fellow pair for one position at a reception, will that affect your chances of making a good impression with another fellow/preceptor pair (different position or not) at that company?
You might not necessarily click with everyone you connect with at a reception or interview, but remember a decision on which candidates are offered positions will be a collective decision among all the stakeholders involved with the selection process. Hence, the more people you click with, the higher your chances of a favorable interview outcome. In addition, very few final decisions are made at the midyear. Your goal is to get an onsite interview, and that is also a group decision.
Is it appropriate to offer my business card to a fellow/preceptor interviewer after an interview or reception? Or is that too aggressive/unprofessional by any means?
It is appropriate to bring business cards to interviews and receptions and gives candidates a professional polish. Feel free to offer your card or ask for the fellow’s card first.
How long after you request an interview on PPS do you receive a reply?
This varies from program to program and from position to position. It could be immediately, or it could be weeks later.
Can you estimate the time you should stay at a reception if you plan on attending multiple?
It depends on how many receptions you need to attend. If it is more than two in one night you will need to make a plan of action. The most important thing is to stay long enough to have a meaningful interaction with the people you need to. Staying for about 30-45 minutes should be enough time.
For the Rutgers fellowship program, do I submit my letter of interest following the midyear? If so, when is the appropriate time to submit the letter of interest?
For the Rutgers Fellowship Program, you should submit your letter of interest immediately following Midyear. Ideally, you could upload it on the Wednesday or Thursday after the program receptions. Candidates submit one letter for the Rutgers Program, even if applying to multiple companies.
Is it necessary for women to wear suits at interviews or is it ok for women to wear other business professional attire (not a jacket)?
Students sometimes wear business professional attire other than suits to their interviews, depending on how it looks and how comfortable you are. However, please keep in mind that packaging is important. Your attire is a reflection of how you are as an individual and how serious you are regarding the position. Appearance matters!
If I have a brief phone call interview scheduled, and I'm not sure what to expect. What's the purpose of phone call interviews?
For most programs, there is a finite number of interviewing slots at midyear, and the number interested candidates exceeds it. The purpose of a phone call interview/screen is for the interviewer to assess whether or not you are a serious applicant. The questions will more likely be more general in an initial screening interview. Remember that your goal is to come across as enthusiastic and committed so that you are invited for more interviews!
Professional Development
Have you ever left a meeting or conference thinking, “I wish I had said something?”
You are not alone. People often come up to me and confess that they are hesitant to speak up at meetings. Others mention that when they do say something, no one responds. 
In a recent article in the New York Times, Sharon Napier, CEO of Partners + Napier, stressed the importance of voicing your opinion when she said: “Don’t sit quietly and think about things and maybe whisper to somebody or tell people afterward. Put yourself out there, and get involved in the conversation.”
Check your behavior against this list of 10 key assertiveness points to make sure your voice is heard. Do You:
1. Prepare ahead of time? It is easier to say something when you have practiced. Think about the meeting and what may be discussed. Familiarize yourself with what you want to say so that you can say it with confidence when the topic comes up.
2. Establish your presence? Walk into the room as though you belong there. Greet people. If you feel comfortable being in the room, you will feel more confident about saying something at the meeting.
3. Understand the consequences of not speaking up? You want your bosses, colleagues, and customers to view you as competent and credible. If you don’t speak up, they don’t know what you know, and you can become overlooked and irrelevant. Jenny Ming, chief executive of the clothing chain Charlotte Russe, was also quoted in the New York Times article. She said: “What I learned is that you can’t assume that people know what you’re thinking or what you want in your career. You have to speak up.”
4. Speak early? The longer you wait to give your opinion, the harder it will be to speak up. Make a comment or ask a question near the beginning of the meeting.
5. Make your point without asking permission? Do you say, “May I make a point?” When you do, it’s easy for others to think, “No.” Either say, “I have a point,” or simply speak out with your comments.
6. Speak loudly enough to be heard? If you speak softly, your comments may not register with others. Practice increasing your volume. Initially, you may feel that you are shouting, but the chances are that you are finally speaking loudly enough to be heard. Additional information on verbal and nonverbal communication can be found in my latest two books, The Power of Positive Confrontation and The Essentials of Business Etiquette.
7. Know how to interrupt? Yes, I know, interrupting is generally frowned upon. Yet, in some situations, if you don’t interrupt you won’t get to speak. The easiest way to interrupt is when the other person takes a breath. You then speak up quickly, acknowledge what the person said, and add your thoughts.
8. Avoid giving too much detail? If you belabor your points, people will tune out. Say what you need to say in as few words as necessary.
9. Control your body language? Do not wring your hands or play with paper clips or rubber bands. They become distractions, and take away from what you are saying. Make sure you look people in the eye. You appear more confident when you make eye contact.
10. Eliminate self-discounting statements? Don’t start your comments with, “It’s only my opinion,” or similar statements. Don’t conclude with, “I don’t know. What do you think?” If you discount yourself, it’s easy for others to discount you as well.
Pachter & Associates provides training and coaching on presentation skills. For additional information, contact Joyce Hoff at 856.751.6141 or joyce@pachter.com
Professional Development
The ability to make an effective presentation is an important business skill. As a presenter, you need to get your point across. And if you do so effectively, not only does your audience gain information, but you look good.
Yet many people, at all levels, are unsure how to appear confident and credible when speaking in front of others. Over the past few months, even seasoned professionals have been among those I have coached on presentation skills.
Whether you are a manager explaining new programs to your employees, a chief financial officer giving a financial update to the media, or a vice president speaking in front of your board of directors, following these 10 suggestions will help you achieve presentation success:
1. Know your audience. Learn as much as you can about your audience before the presentation. How much do they already know about your topic? What more do they want to know? If you address the needs and concerns of the people in your audience, they are more likely to listen to you.
2. Practice out loud. You want to hear how the presentation sounds. Saying it in your head isn’t good enough. Is it structured logically? Are you using transitions between points? Does the presentation make sense? Hearing the speech as your audience will hear it helps you to clarify the areas you need to work on.
3. Dress for the presentation. Your attire can help you appear as a self-assured person. Think about your audience members and what they will be wearing. Dressing slightly better than your audience adds to your credibility.
4. Mingle before the presentation. When you can, meet the participants. Go up to people, shake hands, introduce yourself, and welcome these individuals to the presentation. This rapport-building helps people connect with you, and allows you to feel more comfortable with them.
5. Establish your credibility. Make sure the audience knows why you are qualified to talk about the subject. If you are not already known to the audience, or if nobody introduces you, give a self-introduction at the beginning of your presentation.
6. Pay attention to your nonverbal communication. Use good posture, and look at people in the audience. Remember that gestures bring your words to life, but avoid nervous fiddling, such as playing with a pen or rubber band. Speak loudly enough to be heard. (Additional information on communication can be found in my new book, The Essentials of Business Etiquette.)
7. Don’t discount yourself. Avoid comments that belittle you or your talk. These include such statements as, “I hope I don’t bore you, but I am going to talk about…” or “I know you didn’t come here to hear me.” Be careful with filler words. If the audience is counting the number of times you say um, they are not listening to what you have to say – and too many filler words make you appear unprepared and nervous, too.
8. Tell stories. Stories bring your presentation to life. When discussing a specific point, concept, product or service, tell a story about someone who proves your point or benefits from your service. Your audience will remember the story, and as a result your presentation. (See my previous blog, Tell Tale: Bring Your Presentation to Life, for additional information on using stories.)
9. Use slides to enhance your presentation. Slides should supplement and support your talk, not supplant it. They are not your presentation! Limit the information on each slide.
10. Anticipate the questions. Think about the questions that you may be asked, and know how you will respond. If you prepare ahead of time for every negative or harsh comment you can imagine, you are less likely to be caught off guard.
Pachter & Associates provides training and coaching on presentation skills. For additional information, contact Joyce Hoff at 856.751.6141 or joyce@pachter.com
Professional Development
-- But, I didn't mean it that way.
-- I don't understand why he responded so negatively.
-- People always tell me I have a tone. I don't get it!
A common concern people have expressed in my writing classes is that they appear (inadvertently) harsh in their emails. As the above quotes indicate, they don't realize that their word choice and what they include in their emails affect how people interpret their comments.
In an email, you can't rely on nonverbal communication to soften harsh wording, since recipients don't see your face or hear your voice. Following these seven suggestions will help you to eliminate any unpleasant tone in your writing:
1. Include a salutation. Though not technically required in an email, a salutation is a positive way to begin. It makes you sound friendlier. A simple "Hi Sally” or Dear Sally" will start your message on a more pleasant note. Also use a closing comment, such as “Best regards” or “Thanks.”
2. Use positive, not negative, wording. Many emails acquire a harsh tone simply based on the writer's choice of words. Avoid negative words such as failure, wrong, blame, or neglected. Use please and thank you. Emphasize the positive. Listen to the difference in these two statements: “We will be able to finish the work by December 1” versus “We won’t be able to finish the work until December 1.” The meaning is the same, but the second statement makes the information sound negative.
3. Don’t use all caps. Occasionally, I will have someone in my class who doesn't know that writing emails in all capital letters is the equivalent of shouting. People don't like to be yelled out. STOP DOING IT.
4. Go easy on emphasis techniques. Using bold or bright-colored fonts (red, purple, etc.), large fonts, or too many exclamation marks can make you appear aggressive.
5. Make your document easy to read. Do not include too much detail. Don’t keep repeating the same information – you may insult your reader. Use only as many words as necessary to convey your meaning. You want to maintain your reader’s interest so that he or she reads the whole document. Have margins. Use short paragraphs, and vary the length of your sentences.
6. Eliminate any curse words. This is so obvious a point that I shouldn't have to mention it. Unfortunately, my experience has taught me otherwise.
7. Read the email out loud before you hit send. If what you have written sounds harsh to you, it will sound harsh to your reader. Review the above six items, and change whatever is necessary in your email to make it sound less severe. Make sure you do this step – it is important.
Numbers 2 and 6 also apply to eliminating a harsh tone when you speak. Additional information on “polite and powerful” wording can be found in my latest books, The Power of Positive Confrontation (Da Capo, 2014) and The Essentials of Business Etiquette (McGraw Hill, 2013).
Pachter & Associates provides training and coaching on communication skills. For additional information, contact Joyce Hoff at 856.751.6141 or joyce@pachter.com
Professional Development
Contributed by Lauren Bartolome, IPhO Student Pharmacist Intern and President, University of Florida IPhO Chapter
Sometimes the more novel approaches to career development are approached cautiously. Students, fellows, industry and experienced pharmacists of all practice settings are not accustomed to utilizing experienced coaches in order to achieve their career goals. As a consequence, many aspiring and experienced industry pharmacists are missing out on a valuable resource: the IPhO coaching service.
One of my assigned intern projects was to begin measuring the effectiveness of the IPhO Coaching Service in a pilot outcomes study. Under the guidance IPhO’s VP of Professional Development & Coaching, I developed a ten- question survey to measure satisfaction of participants including: achieving their career goals, assistance in customizing their resume, identifying their strengths and weaknesses,removing any obstacles to advancing their industry career, and providing honest feedback and practical guidance.
One IPhO Coaching credit is redeemable for a 45-minute online video session. Pricing varies and is heavily discounted for IPhO student and experienced industry pharmacist members. Non- members can also participate, however the cost is not discounted. The coach meets with the participant online through SKYPE or Face Time and this method works very efficiently and easily. The agenda of the session depends on the participant’s priorities, which may include an evaluation of strengths and weaknesses and developing a personal career action plan. The coach is dedicated to providing honest feedback and practical guidance in order to assure the participant’s coaching objectives are met. For those with less experience in the industry, a coach may assist in resume review; those experienced in the industry may receive executive coaching to remove obstacles to higher performance.
Participation in the IPhO Coaching Service has been brisk especially for students, fellows, and early onset professionals in industry or those interested in making a career change. There are multiple coaches to select from based on the level of experience of the participant. Coaching participants have utilized as few as 1 and as many as 5 coaching credits.
A separate follow –up report will be forthcoming to describe the findings of this initial pilot outcomes study.
As a student pharmacist intern and being assigned to working on the initial measurement of this unique professional pharmacy organization service, I was very interested in participating myself.
I found that the IPhO coaching service exceeded my expectations. As a student pharmacist, my coach worked with me to customize my resume with industry specific language that relates to industry employers. Here in Florida, we do not have direct access to major pharmaceutical companies, and industry rotations are extremely rare. In lieu of industry rotations, my coach identified rotational experiences that would provide transferable skills to industry to improve my chances to gain direct entry into industry or secure an industry fellowship.
Having a professional and confidential industry coach in which I can use to assist me in preparing to pursue an industry career is invaluable and boosts my confidence that I will be able to achieve my professional goals.
Professional Development
In a recent New York Times article, “Pass the Word: The Phone Call Is Back,” reporter Jenna Wortham wrote that her friends had started “…picking up their cellphones for an unusual purpose: They wanted to talk. And I started answering when they called.”
Her article highlights that the need for vocal contact is still alive and well. And for some of us, of course, the phone call never went away.
My favorite illustration of the importance of phone calls comes from the television show The Big Bang Theory. In one episode, the star character, Sheldon, is having trouble getting in contact with his girlfriend, and says to his roommate, “I’ve tried email, video chat, tweeting her, posting on her Facebook wall, texting her…nothing.”
His roommate asks, “Did you try calling her on the telephone?
Sheldon replies, “Ah, the telephone.”
As he starts to dial her number, he says to his roommate, “In your own simple way, you may be the wisest of us all.”
Talking to someone on the phone is still an important way to communicate in business – you can get immediate feedback/acknowledgement, you can eliminate the back-and-forth aspects of texts or emails, and you can have the sound of your voice enhance your message.
You can also have more in-depth discussions. My former social media intern always calls me when she needs to discuss her next career move, although she usually emails or texts me with her regular communication updates.
Here are six suggestions for using smartphones smartly in business:
1. Use a greeting, and give your name when answering the phone. Remember, it is a business call – you want to sound professional. Say “Hello” or “Good morning,” and then your full name, rather than just your first name. You also need to include a verb – as in “Brittany Jones speaking,” or “This is Jake Jones.” (Of course, if you know it is your colleague, you can simply say “Hi.”)
2. Don’t place your phone on the table when meeting with someone.Since the smartphone has become so much a part of people’s lives, the phone is always “at the ready.” People put it on the table and don’t even think about it. This is rude. How does it look to the other person? It tells the person with whom you are meeting that you are so ready to drop him or her to talk with someone else, or to respond to an email or text! Research has shown that the presence of the phone inhibits conversation. (Additional guidelines for smartphones can be found in my new book, The Essentials of Business Etiquette.)
3. Do not use a Bluetooth headset in the office. It looks like a cockroach in your ear. (Yes, I do have strong opinions about this.) I am not talking about the hands-free headset that receptionists use. I am talking about headsets often used when people are walking and talking, making you think they are talking to themselves. Or even worse, you think they are talking to you, and may start to respond. This thoughtless behavior by the headset-wearer is just rude.
4. Use voicemail professionally. Many people don’t leave messages when making personal calls. They know that people will see that they called, and call them back. In business, people do leave messages. If you are the one leaving the message, make your points in as few words as necessary. If you ramble, people are likely to stop listening. Also, the outgoing message on your system – the one asking people to leave a message – needs to be appropriate. Saying, “Hey, you’ve reached me. You know the drill,” is not okay. Let people know the name of the person they have reached, and that you will call them back.
5. Don’t speak too loudly. People still need to be reminded to speak in a quiet, conversational voice when they are on the phone. If the people around you are giving you evil stares, chances are you need to lower your volume.
6. Do not make blanket excuses. When sending emails from their smartphones, some people add a generic message at the end, such as: Please excuse typos and the brevity of this message. Sent from my mobile device.Mentioning possible mistakes only seems to highlight any that you have made. Take the time to proof and correct your messages before you send them.
Pachter & Associates provides training and coaching on business communication. For additional information, contact Joyce Hoff at joyce@pachter.com or 856.751.6141.
Professional Development
A vice president recently told me that when he acknowledges his employees’ accomplishments, many of them belittle their success with such comments as “Oh, that was no big deal” or “What a fluke.”
Many business professionals negate compliments, often because they don’t want to be perceived as braggarts or as suffering from too big an ego.
Bragging is obnoxious boasting, and is usually done by people who want to let you know how great they think they are. This includes the technique known as “humblebrag” – its practitioners still brag, but try to disguise it as being humble or mildly self-deprecating. This is usually achieved by admitting to a minor flaw while really drawing attention to the big-brag item. (My favorite example: “I am such a klutz. I just spilled wine on my new book contract.”)
Bragging of any kind is not the way to impress colleagues, or bosses. However, I do believe that tactful and appropriate self-promotion is a business skill. Learning when and how to speak well of yourself is a key to getting and staying ahead.
Listed below are 10 ways to toot your own horn, including accepting compliments, without being insufferable:
