Question:
I've applied to almost every executive/club position offered this year and I did not get a single one. I am nervous this will translate into co-op as well where I won't get the job I want because i'm not strong in creative writing/writing about myself and my goals. Any thoughts or resources to help improve?
Response 1: I completely understand this feeling. The exact same thing happened to me, especially when I was passed over for the same position twice. I encourage you to keep applying for the positions you are interested in and I promise you will get accepted to the right one. I know it sounds cheesy, but it will work out for the best in the end. I thought I had no chance, but now I am an RxPRN exec and loving it. There will be a position for you. And you can always help out with every club and their events and get your foot in the door. Try and stay positive.
Response 2: You’re definitely not the only one that has trouble “selling yourself” on your résumé / cover letter. But don’t forget--you were awesome enough to get into pharmacy school, you just have to tap into a little bit of that confidence! When you’re writing a cover letter, one of my past employers especially loved hearing interesting stories from your experience. Rather than explicitly telling them what skills you have that can translate to the job, describe an example of how you handled a tough customer or your experience with an ODB audit. You’re never going to have exactly the same experience as someone else, so it’s a break from the monotony for the employer to read your letter. As for your resume, showcase your skills but also some of your interests. I like to include that I’m SafeTALK certified and a list of all the conferences I’ve attended. These show a little bit about your initiative as well as your personality. Don’t forget you can also book appointments with the writing center to build on your resume and have someone look through your cover letter AND there’s practice interviews that you can sign up for at Centre for Career Action / Tatham Centre. Good luck!
Response 3: to add on to what has been said already, something that I would recommend you doing is to contact the clubs you applied to and ask them for feedback regarding your application. You never know why you got turned down unless you asked them directly. And I always find it helpful to know where my application went wrong such that next time I can improve. Applying to clubs are very different from applying to co-op such that - even among different employers - everyone is looking for something different when they read an application: one might value a well-written resume, while another appreciates genuinity. Sometimes applications are all about luck. Personally, I got rejected from multiple exec positions in first year, but still managed to get the co-op job I wanted. With that said, please be kind to yourself. Thanks for actively reaching out to us, and do not hesitate to contact us if you ever need any more help!