Section 1: 7 Essential Questions to Discover Your Why

Reflect on What Matters Most

Answer these seven essential questions to uncover your priorities and motivations:

1. Will my career support my financial goals?
   • Think about your day-to-day expenses, student loans, and long-term financial plans like saving for retirement or hobbies.
2. What hours and work schedule do I want?
   • Be honest about the schedule that fits your lifestyle—whether it’s working nights and weekends or having predictable hours.
3. Where do I want to live?
   • Consider how your career choice aligns with your geographic preferences. Do you need flexibility to move, or are you tied to a specific location?
4. What am I passionate about in pharmacy?
   • Explore areas of pharmacy that excite you, from clinical specialties to industry roles or public health initiatives.
5. What am I good at?
   • Evaluate your strengths, such as solving complex problems, working independently, or communicating effectively.
6. Do I want to work directly with patients or impact on a larger scale?
   • Decide if you’re more drawn to patient care or broader roles like managed care, business, or tech.
7. What growth opportunities are available?
   • Consider roles that align with your goals for lateral or vertical growth, such as gaining new skills or advancing into leadership.

Section 2: Aligning Your Passions and Strengths

Your strengths and passions are key to finding a fulfilling career. Whether you enjoy patient care, solving public health challenges, or leading teams, there’s a pharmacy role for you.

1. Identify Your Passions
   • Ask yourself: What excites me about pharmacy?
   • Consider these categories to uncover your passions:
     • Pharmacy Subject Areas: Are you drawn to clinical specialties like cardiology or infectious disease, or do you prefer broader areas like public health or pharmacy administration?
     • Work Styles: Do you enjoy problem-solving, creating strategies, or hands-on patient care?
     • Work Environment: Would you thrive in a hospital, corporate office, tech company, or research lab?
2. Evaluate Your Strengths
   • Think about what you’re naturally good at or have developed as a skill over time. Here are key categories to guide your reflection:
     • Problem-Solving: Do you excel at analyzing complex situations and finding solutions?
       • Example Careers: Managed care, regulatory affairs, or health policy.
     • Communication: Are you skilled in educating others, writing, or public speaking?
       • Medical science liaison, clinical educator, or pharmacy consulting.
     • Leadership and Organization: Do you enjoy leading teams, managing projects, or driving innovation?
       • Example Careers: Pharmacy operations, business strategy, or tech startups.
3. Find the Overlap Between Passions and Strengths
   • Your ideal career lies where your passions and strengths intersect. Reflect on questions like:
     • Which pharmacy topics excite me most, and do I excel in them?
     • What type of problems do I enjoy solving, and where can I apply those skills?
     • How can I use my communication or leadership abilities to contribute meaningfully to my field?
   • Example Overlap Scenarios
     • Passion: Public health; Strength: Problem-solving → Role: Population health pharmacist.
     • Passion: Patient advocacy; Strength: Communication → Role: Patient engagement specialist.
     • Passion: Technology; Strength: Leadership → Role: Health tech product manager.
4. Start Exploring Career Paths that Align
   • Once you’ve identified your passions and strengths, start exploring career paths that align with both. Use our Career Exploration section to discover roles like:
     • Clinical informatics pharmacist.
     • Medical science liaison.
     • Pharmaceutical industry leader.
     • Telehealth pharmacist.

Understanding your passions and strengths is the first step to building a fulfilling pharmacy career. By focusing on what excites you and where you excel, you can confidently take the next step toward a career that aligns with your unique talents. Ready to explore the possibilities?

Section 3: Map Your Career Goals

Building a fulfilling pharmacy career starts with a clear vision of where you want to go. Mapping your career goals helps you focus your efforts, make informed decisions, and stay on track as you explore new opportunities. Whether you’re considering a nontraditional role or advancing in a current position, this guide will help you create actionable steps to achieve your aspirations.

1. Define Your Vision
   • Start by asking yourself:
     • What does success look like to me?
     • What kind of lifestyle to I want my career to support?
     • What type of work excites me the most?
   • Visualize your ideal career and write down key elements such as:
     • The types of roles you see yourself in (e.g. managed care, pharma, health tech, informatics)
     • The level of responsibility or leadership you want to achieve
     • The lifestyle your career should enable (e.g. flexible hours, financial security, opportunities for growth)
   • Actionable Tip: Create a “Vision Statement” summarizing what you want your pharmacy career to look like in the next 5-10 years
2. Break Down Your Goals
   • To make your vision achievable, break it down into short-, medium-, and long-term goals:
     • Short-Term Goals (6 months to 1 year)
       • Update your resume and LinkedIn Profile
       • Attend networking events or reach out to mentors
       • Explore nontraditional career options that align with your interests
     • Medium-Term Goals (1-3 years)
       • Gain experience in a new role or field of interest
       • Develop key skills or obtain certifications (e.g. BCPS, Six Sigma, or pharmacogenomics)
       • Expand your professional network in areas relevant to your goals
     • Long-Term Goals (5+ years)
       • Transition into leadership or specialized roles
       • Build a reputation as an expert in your field
       • Align your career with broader life goals, such as financial independence or work-life balance
3. Align Goals with Your Priorities
   • Make sure your goals align with your personal and professional priorities:
     • Financial Goals: Does this role meet your income expectations or support debt repayment?
     • Work-Life Balance: Does this career path follow the flexibility you need?
     • Professional Growth: Are there opportunities to learn, grow, and advance?
   • Actionable Tip: Use a simple decision matrix to rank potential roles or paths based on how well they align with your priorities
4. Take Action and Track Progress
   • A plan is only useful if it’s actionable. Here’s how to stay on track:
     • Set Deadlines: Assign specific timelines to your goals
     • Track Milestones: Regularly review your progress and adjust your plan as needed
     • Stay Flexible: Be open to unexpected opportunities or changes in your interests and priorities
   • Example Milestones:
     • Complete a certification program within 6 months
     • Schedule 3 informational interviews in your field of interest within 1 month
     • Apply for 5 roles in your target career path by the end of the year
5. Use Your Resources
   • You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Leverage the free resources available on our website, including:
     • Networking guides to connect with professionals in your field
     • Resume tips and templates tailored towards nontraditional roles
     • Insights into pharmacy career paths that align with your goals

Mapping your career goals is a powerful way to take control of your professional journey. By defining your vision, breaking it into actionable steps, and aligning it with your priorities, you’ll be ready to confidently pursue the pharmacy career you’ve always wanted. Ready to take the next step?