Career Planning Flowchart
1st Professional Year
2nd Professional Year
3rd Professional Year
4th Professional Year
1st Semester
2nd Semester
1st Semester
2nd Semester
1st Semester
2nd Semester
1st Semester
2nd Semester

Join student chapters of pharmacy associations.

Run for office and take leadership roles in student pharmacy associations.

Start Clerkships.
Mentor the association officers taking office next year.
Start and continue to develop your network of professors, pharmacists and classmates who know you and can give you a good recommendation when needed.
Volunteer to serve on community organizations that contribute to the health, welfare, or safety of those less fortunate.
Make a study plan and stick with it.

Do not try shortcuts to learning.

Do no leave class confused or with questions. Talk to the professor.

Think about a pharmacy research project that might be interesting to do. Contact:

Dr. Paul Sylvester

Dr. Justin Sherman

Dr. Gina Biglane

Work with a faculty member on an undergraduate research project that is interesting to you. The goal is to have the project published.
Attend local chapter meetings of pharmacy associations.

Attend one national pharmacy association meeting.

Take Pre-Naplex exam.
Consider taking electives that are novel or relatively unique to your pharmacy school. Start reviewing for the NAPLEX.
Brainstorm about a forum topic. Present forum topic to your colleagues.
Start APhA Career Pathways Evaluation Program. There is plenty of time to decide. Think about what job characteristics would make a position appealing to you. Continue to assess and modify your pathway as your interest develops.
Start preparing the first draft of your resume. Keep an active resume/CV.

ULM Career Services

Finalize your resume, and write a cover letter prototype.

Interview on Pharmacy Career Day.

Find ways to practice your interviewing skills. Consider the pros and cons of relocation for the right 1st job.
Start lining up your academic and professional references.
Start considering a variety of clerkships. Use your clerkships to decide what type of pharmacy practice is best suited to you.
Use your network to help find the better pharmacy positions.
Start considering what you might do to make your postgraduate background stand out: residencies, fellowships, etc.
If interested in a residency:

See CareerPharm or ASHP for additional information regarding a residency.

Attend ASHP Midyear Clinical meeting.
Click here for a printable friendly version.
Reprinted with the permission of Pharmacy Times. The flowchart is from the September 2006 issue of Pharmacy Careers.


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