Adriana Hughes, PharmD Candidate

This article is the author's opinion and is not intended to guarantee, secure, solidify, or assure a successful match.

For fourth-year residency candidates across the nation, January through March can be a whirlwind of presentations, program overviews, panels, and a plethora of questions. It’s a time of clinical skill assessment and communicating how you see yourself aligning with the goals and objectives of the program. You may have the opportunity to interact with the residency program director, residents, clinical preceptors, and more.

I have yet to interview at a place where I’ve interacted with fewer than 10 people throughout the day. Ten people can give rise to both 10 perspectives and 10 or more opportunities to connect.

The goal of the residency interview is to find the right fit. If you’ve been selected for an interview, you’re qualified in the eyes of the program. You ‘look good on paper.’ Those who are selected to interview along with you likely have similar qualifications.

Your hard work over the past 4 years gets you through the doors. However, the factors for granting an onsite interview are vastly different from those considered in the ranking of candidates.

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy

 published results of a survey, completed by 377 residency program directors across the nation, which sought to determine the factors that programs use to select residents for an onsite interview and ranking. The factors which were most commonly considered important for granting an interview were the perception of the candidate’s ability to learn, a recommendation from employers or preceptors in pharmacy practice, and previous work experience. For ranking of candidates, compatibility with the program, commitment to hard work, and ability to work with a team were most often considered critical.

This shift from the objective to subjective is intended to ensure that the time the candidate spends at the institution is mutually beneficial and seeks to identify the right fit.

The concept of ‘fit’ may be difficult for those who have not experienced the process to understand. Well-meaning family and friends may ask which place is ‘the best.’ This can also be subjective for the candidate. Though reputation, history, and values are important, hospitals may be evaluated by different entities each year and rankings should not be the only thing to consider when finding the ideal program.

In the ever-changing field of health care, I consider the best facilities to be those which value an ongoing commitment to patient outcomes and progress. I feel that the best place for me is one which shares my patient-centered approach to care, which is open to embrace changes that enhance patient care, and a place which fosters an environment of professional collaboration.

As an applicant, there are ways to identify which place is best for you. However, this does require some preparation and later introspection.

A common suggestion is to schedule the places which you are most interested in at a later date to allow for practice. However, due to the increasingly competitive nature of pharmacy residencies, applicants are applying to more and more programs. Interviews may be offered from January through March, but programs often offer dates which fall within a much shorter window. Considering timing is good advice, but candidates must also work with the dates offered by each program. In an ideal world, we could interview at our most esteemed institutions when we feel more prepared and polished. In reality, you may have some control, but must also work with the hand you are dealt.

Mock interviews are a great opportunity to shake off some jitters and reflect. However, a true reflection of a pharmacy residency interview would require 4-8 hours with a large team of people. My first interviews were esteemed institutions, and I did not have the luxury of a ‘practice run.’ However, I am genuinely interested in each of the programs I chose to apply to and feel it would be an insult to the institution to deliberately schedule an interview for the sake of practice.

The interview offers you 1 day to assess your compatibility with the program for an entire year. This decision is not and should not be taken lightly by the candidate or the program. My hope is that I will be evaluated on my capabilities as a clinical pharmacist, team member, and educator. I hope to match with a program that values my work ethic, positive attitude, and dedication to optimizing patient care.

In closing, know the program and know yourself. Seek to find an environment where you will be both supported and challenged to grow. Reflect. Be respectful to the program and its people. Be professional. Be yourself. You may fit in, you may not. That is what the interview day is all about. If you’re there, you are qualified to do the job. Ask yourself which program will help you to become the best clinical pharmacist you can be, not just in terms of content knowledge but applicability of this knowledge, transferability to your future career, and personal satisfaction.

Though the matching algorithm may be unequivocally objective and impersonal, it is my belief that passion is what makes the best pharmacists. Better pharmacists provide better patient care. Reflect on the places that motivate and inspire you, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Gair, R. Factors used by pharmacy residency programs to select residents. 

Articles

For fourth-year residency candidates across the nation, January through March is often a whirlwind of presentations, program overviews, panels, and a plethora of questions.

Tips for Finding the Perfect Residency Match

As a 3rd year student with only a few weeks remaining in full-time didactic curriculum, I am sharing a roadmap for the journey. It may not be perfect or complete, but my hope is to provide some insight that students can appreciate.

Start off with a strong foundation. This year will likely challenge your organization and time management skills. Explore different scheduling systems, and determine what works best for you. Relying on memory alone will likely not serve you well when trying to keep track of assignments, extracurricular events, and meetings. Even if you prefer a handwritten planner, learn how to create and RSVP to events using Google Calendar and Outlook. Many students, and faculty members use these calendar systems, and using these systems can decrease unforeseen scheduling conflicts.

Students may choose to focus on academics during the first year with a plan to get more involved later. Though academics should always be a high priority, I believe that students should take advantage of this time to develop skills in communication, patient counseling, leadership, and team building. Attend a variety of events to get a better idea of which organizations you may wish to grow within in the future. Seek out shadowing opportunities in areas that interest you.  

 Though curriculum structure may vary across institutions, this year is notoriously challenging. The P2 year will require you to apply, and hone in on those time management and organizational skills developed throughout P1 year. Approach pharmacotherapeutics with a positive mindset; it will be relevant to practice whether you are practicing in an inpatient, community, or academic setting.

As is always recommended, aim for long-term learning rather than learning for exams. This may require a different style of studying. You are ultimately learning how to treat your future patients. However, students should not expect to learn everything about a disease state the first time they are introduced to it. Learn from mistakes now, when the consequences are a matter of points and not a patient's life.

Consider whether you are motivated by intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Examples of intrinsic factors include an innate desire to learn and personal satisfaction. Extrinsic factors may include outcomes and results. Neither form of motivation is superior, and many people are motivated by both intrinsic, and extrinsic factors.

Continue to engage in extracurricular activities and take advantage of professional development opportunities. Make valuable contributions to the organizations you are involved with. If you haven’t already, try to identify areas in which you might like to improve or grow and don’t be afraid to seek help from others.

: Build and strengthen your network. Pharmacy is a small world, and interpersonal skills, and mentorship can help you effectively work towards your career goals. Ideally, students should start creating professional relationships as soon as possible. Faculty oversee a lot of students, and if you ever seek a letter of recommendation, you will want them to have more to say than what grade you received in their courses.

If you serve in an organization, identify your leadership style. If you have the opportunity to teach, determine your teaching style. These experiences can help you become a well-rounded, and self-aware practitioner. Think about areas in which you might like to practice, while keeping an open mind.

Explore your talents, and seek to leave a legacy by creating something novel at your school, workplace, or rotation site. This semester, I created and delivered a pharmacology review series for nursing students, and it was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in pharmacy school.

Before embarking on rotations, organize material in a way that you will be able to access it easily. Continue the time management and organization systems identified in P1, and adapt them to your future rotation sites. Survey, and update your wardrobe. Create or purchase a pocket reference for yourself.

From 1 pharmacy student to another, I hope that you find some valuable takeaway points to make the most of your didactic training. Three years go by sooner than you think!

As a 3rd year student with only a few weeks remaining in full-time didactic curriculum, I hope to share a roadmap for the pharmacy school journey.