Steph’s Note: This week, we’re taking a break from the trees of the clinical world to see the forest of the whole pharmacy. Probably like many of you, I chose pharmacy as a career because I kept hearing about the flexibility of the PharmD and how many different paths one could take with it. But once you actually start down the PharmD journey, it’s easy to become pigeon-holed into thinking those paths come down to just 2 options: hospital or retail. Then you add in the exponentially growing number of graduating pharmacists, and it seems like once you choose one of those 2 paths, that’s all you’ll ever be able to do.

WRONG.

Here to set us straight is AnnMarie Mohan, PharmD, MS, who is going to remind us all that you can indeed break the dichotomous hospital vs retail mold!

It's 2 am. Your exam starts in 7 hours… and Nothing. Is. Sticking.

This exam is BIG. Your future depends on acing it. Panic sets in. You need to get a residency, which lands you the "dream job" of becoming a clinical pharmacist, the crème de la crème of PharmDs.

Does this sound familiar yet?

Most pharmacy school programs tout residency and becoming a bonafide clinician as the gold standard of our profession. However, you've probably also heard, "Pharmacists can do so many things with their degree!"

Yeah, so everyone says… but what ARE those things? All we hear about are hospital and retail. What if these careers don't resonate with you? What if being a clinician isn't your greatest skill? What if retail isn't your thing? What else can you do with this degree? The degree that commands so much of your time and money (and sanity).

These are some of the questions we're going to start answering. So, for my students and pharmacists who know deep down that clinical and retail aren't for them, keep reading.

We are here to tell you that there ARE massive opportunities for non-traditional pharmacists, with roles across numerous industries. While jobs in pharmacy remain competitive, looking outside the box and casting a wider net can help you discover your passion within this profession.

Pharmacists continue to show their value in various industries, such as:

Industry/Pharma
Insurance/PBM
Managed Care
Life Sciences
Healthcare Administration
Informatics

… and many more.

While I'm sure there is a great deal of uncertainty and ambiguity surrounding Industry/Pharma, we want to start dispelling some of the preconceived notions.

Let's get started!

A fellowship IS the path of least resistance but is NOT required.
Pharmacists can do more than Sales, Medical Science Liaison, Drug Information, and Medical Communication.

First, let's talk about Industry Pharmacists in general. Most pharmacists currently working in the Industry started before fellowships were even a thing, with 15+ years under their belt (a pretty good indicator of job satisfaction if you ask me). Typically, once a pharmacist enters the Industry, they stay put. They may shuffle between companies, but for the most part, they aren't leaving to fulfill some deep desire to verify orders at their local hospital.

Someone once told me, "Industry is a clique, and most people don't want to leave once invited." As someone invited, I can absolutely tell you this is true.

Ok, this all sounds great, but you just said that a fellowship is the path of least resistance, but these people have been there for years, and it sounds like they didn't need a fellowship. So how does this apply to me?

Industry fellowships are now a thing. A Big Thing. They are highly competitive and very valuable, with only 10%-15% of applicants landing a fellowship. Why so low? The simple economics of supply and demand. It sounds just like residency, right? Right. But the difference is there are a lot fewer Pharma companies with fellowship programs, and those with programs only have a handful of positions.

Now, I don't mention these stats to make you think it's impossible or useless to try. Many students who fit the mold you're immediately thinking about (3.7 GPA, in 80 clubs, Rho Chi, X-torian, etc.) do NOT get offered a fellowship position. Why? While these factors are essential to make your CV look good, they don't necessarily correlate to a great fellow – and Industry knows this. They are looking for skills beyond your CV – a great GPA ≠ fellowship material.

Look, I will always advocate for fellowship training and its benefits. As a Fellow, some programs allow rotations to different functional areas, increasing your understanding of how these departments all fit together. Once the program is complete, you are almost guaranteed a job (with a nice bump in pay), and you may be able to work in the functional area you excelled the most. Talk about options.

While entering the Industry as a student is the easier path, it is NOT the only path. Many pharmacists, such as myself, transitioned into the Industry without a fellowship. We continue to highlight the value and need for pharmacists in these roles. In short, if fellowship doesn't pan out, don't despair. The road may have twists and turns, but you can get there.

Let's talk about what that looks like…

Getting into Industry if You Don't Land a Fellowship

There are various ways to go about this, but most importantly, market YOURSELF. You are your greatest asset. Leveraging your skills as a PharmD is critical to your success. This small piece of advice will serve you well in ANY industry. Job hunting is all about selling the best version of yourself, making it clear the organization cannot pass the opportunity to have you.

Step #1: Research. Research. Research.

First and foremost, understand your WHY and your WANT.

WHY do you want to get into the Industry? Please have a better answer than, "I want to help people."

WHAT type of work do you enjoy doing? Is it in front or behind the camera, figuratively and literally?

Once you are honest with yourself about what you are looking for, it's time to start researching the various functional areas in Industry. A good starting point is looking at different fellowship roles and digging in a little deeper. Are they clinical? Operational? Patient-focused? Understand the goal of the department and how their work impacts other teams.

Keep in mind that fellowship roles are only a small subset of opportunities for PharmDs in the Industry. It's a great place to get familiar with the scope of work and organization, but don't limit yourself to thinking these are the only places a pharmacist can work. The more time and energy you put into your research, the better you will be overall.

Ask yourself: Which role resonates most closely with your Why and Want?

Having solid answers to these questions will allow you to tailor your approach and focus your efforts on the most meaningful and relevant roles. Research and understanding what you want also saves you a LOT of time in the application and interview process.

I'm sure you've heard someone advise, "Tailor your resume and cover letter." This is still true. But, since you have already spent time thinking about what you want, you may only need to tailor it to 1 or 2 types of roles instead of 5 to 6. I promise this will also help when it is time for the interview.

I want to caveat this – It can be scary to think about starting a role you may not like. And this concern is 100% valid. Most people think/feel this at some point in their career. Keep in mind that you CAN adapt and transition. People change jobs all the time, at any age. The Industry is no different. Remember the 15+ years I mentioned? I don't have exact numbers, but I'd be willing to bet most of those people moved around when given the opportunity.

Step #2: Perfect Your Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Some people on the hiring side of organizations will tell you that this is NOT the essential part of the process. This is partly true.

Most hiring managers will only spend a few seconds scanning your resume/CV (assuming it gets past the ATS, aka Applicant Tracking System). That being said, it is still a vital part of the overall marketing package you are creating to sell yourself. Your resume/CV is the first opportunity to highlight your strengths and abilities to a potential employer. This is your chance to highlight how your past work translates to what you can do.

Step #3: Spend Quality Time on Your Letter of Intent/Cover Letter

Some companies do not require a cover letter, and others make this optional. However, if given the option, always include the cover letter. Why?

Cover letters take a step back from the straight facts an employer sees from your resume/CV and allow you to explain your WHY. Why do you want this role? What can you bring to the table? What do you hope to gain in return? Here is your opportunity to show them the person behind the resume/CV. Working in any company is a mutual benefit, and a well-crafted cover letter allows you to emphasize this.

Step #4: Network

This is probably THE most important part of the process. Fire up LinkedIn and start looking for Fellows and PharmDs who work in the roles you find interesting. Ask them about their journeys and how they transitioned into Industry. What are their days like? What are the goals of their teams?

Start finding answers to questions you may have had while you were researching. Use this time to solidify your understanding of the role and how it fits you. Prepare for your conversations, have a list of meaningful questions, and get the most out of these 20-30 minute convos. (BUT don't drag these out! I once kept someone on the phone for 45 minutes thinking longer was better…the annoyance (rightfully so) was evident by the end.)

Do NOT ask anyone to refer you or review your resume. Actually, please don't ask them to do anything on your behalf. Instead, make the conversation about THEM. People love talking about themselves; allow them to do so.

IF someone asks you to share your resume/CV, please exercise gratitude and humility. (Remember the need for resumes previously mentioned? This is why, right here.) Make sure your resume reflects the role in question – tailor it before sending it!

Follow-up is ok, but don't be a pest. Be patient; something may or may not happen. In Industry (and most companies), TIMING is everything.

Step #5: Nail the Interview

It is finally time to showcase all your hard work and research. This is your shot. You need to set yourself apart. Remember that package we talked about? THIS is where you deliver it on a platter.

Don’t let this be you during an interview!

Make sure you fully understand the basics of the role and use the interview to ask more profound questions. This will show the interviewer you are interested in knowing the gritty details. Be prepared to talk about anything and everything on your resume. You may be asked to elaborate on something you did or how it relates to a larger goal. Understand the STAR method of interviewing and be comfortable with this approach. Have solid examples of managing various situations.

Research the company. I don't mean read the mission statement and what is on their website. REALLY dig into the company and see what is happening. Are they in the news? What are their annual goals? What is most vital for them at the moment?

Above all, BE PREPARED. Interviewers can tell the difference between nervousness and unpreparedness. Being nervous is ok; being unprepared is not.

This is excellent info, but can you share more information on different roles in Industry?

Of course!

Industry Jobs for Pharmacists

If you're like most pharmacists, when you think of roles in Industry, your immediate reaction is Medical Science Liaison (MSL), Sales Rep, and Medical Communications. Am I right?

Yes, these roles are heavily pharmacist-based, but they are far from the only options. Industry pharmacists are integral in…

Marketing,
Regulatory,
Analytics,
Clinical Research,
Pharmacovigilance, and
Many more functional areas! Your PharmD makes you a drug expert, and Industry (the drug kingpins) is always looking for more experts.

This is interesting, but what’s your background and what do you do?

I get asked this a lot, and it should be noted that I really enjoy my job (finally). I spent 6+ years working for a large health plan (i.e., insurance) and a retail pharmacy. Neither made me happy or fulfilled. I felt like I was wasting my potential and becoming an unhappy person in the process. So, I did something about it.

I did every step I outlined above and eventually landed a role with my dream company. I now work in Market Access Strategy. What does that even mean? In a nutshell, I help develop the strategy, tactics, and tools used by various teams working with customers (aka providers, insurers, etc.).

I spend ~50% of my day in meetings with my internal and external team. We discuss any of the ~15 projects we are working on simultaneously. In addition, I present tools and concepts daily to showcase how/why something is valuable. When not in meetings, I am building and designing those tools. This is where I can use my clinical knowledge as a PharmD and function as a problem solver (the strategy portion of my job title).

Before landing this role, I had zero clue it existed. Moreover, I had no idea they wanted PharmDs in this area (clinical backgrounds are necessary). As I mentioned, cast a wide net. Look at opportunities outside of fellowship roles. Determine what you like and what you're good at. I always knew clinical wasn't for me, but I didn't think about Industry as a student (remember the residency gold standard…). At my previous company, I spent my time trying to move into operations, which I slowly and painfully realized wasn't going to happen, so it was time for a change.

I researched heavily – you should see what my notes looked like.
I revised my resume/CV at least 20 times until I learned to focus and narrow.
I had a cover letter and gave it my all - not sure it was read, but I had it ready.
Network – I lost count of the number of people I spoke with. I prepped for each call like it was a phone interview. I used these calls to learn until the day someone asked that I send them my resume (which is how I got my current job).
Interview – I prepped for three weeks (not exaggerating). I researched the company, its goals, and everything in between. I practiced potential questions and PREPARED. My core interview (not including the phone screen) took place over 2 days and involved 10 people. It wasn’t easy, but I was ready.

After seven years post-grad, I can finally sit here and tell you I am happy and enjoy my job. It is everything I was looking for, and I see many growth opportunities. I am challenged (in a good way), I feel appreciated, and I think my work has an impact. If and when I outgrow this specific role, I already see numerous open doors to change that.

Well, folks, that's all for today. Hopefully, this gave you something to mull over and realize you really CAN do many things with your degree (aside from residency, no offense).

The Industry is just one additional opportunity, but many more exist, and with any luck, we can help you figure those out.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in industry, but don’t know where to start…check out our intensive cohort Roadmap to Industry

Learn More About Roadmap to Industry

How to Work in Pharmacy Industry without a Fellowship