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.