Hiring for Pharmaceutical Jobs

Rx for recruiting and hiring for pharmacy careers
By LaRita Heet, Freelance Writer, Journalist, IBT Designer LMH Communications

Selecting and hiring employees to fill pharmaceutical jobs is a challenging task, because of the need to hire top quality employees who possess the specialized skills to meet governmental requirements, and to ensure that these employees are intelligent enough to understand and quickly grasp ongoing changes in the industry, new drugs, and ongoing regulatory issues.
 

There is more to hiring for jobs in pharmaceuticals than choosing the right pharmacist. Depending on your company’s needs, you might also need to hire additional employees within the pharmaceutical employment field, such as pharmacy support staff, pharmaceutical technicians, pharmaceutical sales, and more. Hiring to fill pharmacist jobs means knowing where to look, and how to attract pharmacists and other pharmaceutical employees.

The top three things to know about filling open jobs in pharmaceutical careers:

1. Conduct thorough reference and background checks on all pharmaceutical employment candidates – whether to fill pharmacist jobs, or pharmacy support staff – to hire those with the highest of ethics.
2. Hire through pharmaceutical employment agencies.
3. Negotiate mutually beneficial employment terms for new pharmacist jobs or others pursuing careers in pharmaceuticals.

Go to employment agencies to find candidates for careers in pharmaceuticals

Because it’s vital to take extra care when filling your pharmaceutical jobs, many small (and large) businesses prefer to leave this to the experts – pharmaceutical employment agencies. These agencies specialize in one thing and one thing only – finding qualified, legally accredited, and high-quality candidates for your pharmacy careers.
Try: 

InPharm.com does one thing and they do it oh-so-well: give you the top candidates from around the world. No wonder they call themselves “life support for the pharmaceutical industry.” Business.com gives you a full listing of pharmaceutical employment agencies and recruiting  services to check out.

Recruit for open jobs in pharmaceuticals through campus and other hiring events

Want to find those looking for a career in pharmacy? Check out college campus career fairs and other industry events for new hires.
Try: 

Find a list of U.S. schools and colleges of pharmacy at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Check Business.com’s directory of pharmacy organizations for event listings.

Negotiate mutually-beneficial employment terms with candidates for pharmaceutical jobs

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average salaries for pharmacists are in the $90,000 range; salaries for pharmacy technicians are about $25,000; and pharmacy aides earn about $20,000. Pharmaceutical sales reps are typically paid a base salary plus commission or commission only.
Try: 

Business.com gives you a goldmine of great pharmaceutical industry salary tools and resources. PayScale, which boasts the world's largest database of individual employee compensation profiles, gives employers accurate, reliable compensation details based on several factors.

Post your pharmaceutical jobs on the Web

Rather than using a “general” job board, post your pharmaceutical employment openings on Web sites that are geared to the pharmaceutical industry.
Try: 

Go to iHirePharmacy for their many benefits, including the fact that their niche focus in the pharmaceutical industry means that their candidates have the right work experience and skills. RxCareerCenter is the “largest job board” for pharmacist jobs and other pharmacy careers, and provides employers with a complete back-end management system for loading their open jobs and tracking resumes. Post jobs by specific job titles within the career in pharmacy or by state.

Check credentials of candidates applying for a career in pharmacy

Conduct thorough background checks on all candidates to ensure that you fill your pharmacist jobs with people who are properly licensed and trained.
Try: 

Check pharmacist licenses in your state at the Health Guide USA site. Screen Now Employment is a background search firm that searches for healthcare sanctions in addition to basic background.

• Chemistry is key: Make sure your new hires for pharmacist jobs and support staff have good chemistry with existing staff.
• For some professionals who are looking for pharmacist jobs, benefits such as vacation time and preferred parking, can make your company more attractive.
• When looking to fill jobs in pharmaceutical careers, ask your best, most trusted employees for referrals of other graduating classmates or others looking for a career in pharmacy.
• Take your time and carefully select those for pharmacist jobs, rather than rushing to fill a position immediately – and possibly making a costly hiring mistake.