2nd Strength Paper

StrengthsFinder Activity

Professional Job Application

Leadership in Pharmacy Elective

Step 1 – Job Description

Find a job posting for a pharmacist position on the internet. Choose a job that requires a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and is a job that you aspire to. You may choose a pharmacy resident position. You may choose a higher-level pharmacist job or an entry-level position. Cut and paste the basic information from the job posting into a Word document.

Step 2 – Letter of Intent

Insert a page break. On the next page of the document, write a letter of application for the position you chose. Format your document as a formal business letter (not email). In your letter, include the following:

1. Introduce yourself

2. Clarify the exact position you are applying for

3. Explain why you are a good fit for the position

a. State the expectations for the applicant

b. Describe your past experiences as evidence of your future success in the position

Write 500-700 words in your letter. Use proper formatting, grammar, and spelling.

Step 3 - Interview Question Response

Insert a page break. Write a story that you will tell as part of an interview. Go to the VA Performance Based Interviewing website https://www.va.gov/PBI/index.asp. Read all of the pages linked on this website to learn about this strategy for interviewing. Many companies hiring pharmacists use this strategy. Choose two of the following from the list of sample interview questions:

1. Describe a situation where you felt you had not communicated well. How did you correct the situation?

2. Describe a time when you were able to effectively communicate a difficult or unpleasant idea to a superior. What made your communication work?

3. Describe a time when you took personal accountability for a conflict and initiated contact with the individual(s) involved to explain your actions. What steps did you take? What was the result?

4. Describe a time when you've had to work with strong-willed peers. What did you do? How did you handle them so you could influence their decisions?

5. There are times we work without close supervision or support to get the job done. Tell us about a time when you found yourself in such a situation and how things turned out.

6. Describe a time when you received negative feedback and turned it into something positive.

Paste the questions you chose at the top of the page. Write 300-500 words in paragraph format for each question, describing your own experience. Write this the way you would tell it in the interview with professional language, grammar, and spelling.

Step 4 - Recommendation form

Insert a page break and insert the recommendation form (copy and paste from below). This is the ASHP residency recommendation form and you may view the form on the ASHP website. Think of a pharmacist you know, who may someday write a letter of reference for you. Complete the form as if you were that person, writing it for you today. Follow the instructions on the form. You are required to write in at least three of the character fields and three of the narrative comment fields (at least 50 words each for the three narrative comment fields). You may choose which three items to write about in each of the sections. Complete this form as if it is for the job you selected in Step 1. For this assignment, apply the questions to the position you chose in Step 1.

Step 5

Put your name on Page 1. Save the file with your name as the file name. Upload your Word document to the portal. Remember to use page breaks and professional writing style.

Recommendation Form

I have known the candidate for approximately _____ (months)

The relative hours per week of our interaction during that time _____ (hours)

My relationship to the candidate was (or is) in the following capacity:

___Faculty

___Preceptor

___Employer

___Professional organization

If other, please specify relationship_________________________

Please rate this applicant for each of the following characteristics.

Exceeds = the candidate exceeds what is expected for this position

Appropriate = the candidate performs appropriately for what is expected for this position

Fails to Meet = the candidate fails to meet the level expected for this position

N/A = not applicable or not observed

Choose one rating for each characteristic. Also, write comments for at least 3 characteristics and indicate strengths or opportunities for improvement)

Characteristics Evaluated	Exceeds	Appropriate	Fails to Meet	N/A	Comment (Please address at least 3 fields below)
Writing skills (clinical, email, and assigned writings)
Oral communication skills
Leadership/mentoring skills
Assertiveness
Ability to organize and manage time
Ability to work with peers and communicate effectively
Clinical problem solving skills
Effective patient interactions
Dependability
Independence and resourcefulness
Willingness to accept constructive criticism
Emotional stability and maturity
Professionalism (professional attire and professional demeanor)

Narrative comments (Answer 3 out of 4)

Please describe the nature of your interaction with the candidate. Under a period of normal workload or abnormal? What frequency or number of directly observed clinical activities of the candidate? The degree of independence the candidate was given? Was that independence reduced or increased over the duration of a rotation? How did the candidate’s skills compare (in order of preference) with concurrent residents or pharmacists in this role, peer students, or students from other colleges?

________

Please provide 2 strengths of this candidate and how you believe these strengths will be beneficial to his/her success in this position.

________

Please provide 2 areas for improvement of this candidate and how you believe a residency program will be able to work with the candidate’s noted areas for improvement.

________

Please feel free to address any other characteristics or observances of the candidate not mentioned previously.

________

Recommendation (Choose only one)

___I highly recommend this candidate

___I recommend this candidate

___I recommend this candidate, but with some reservation/s

___I do not recommend this candidate