Lab for Pharmacy?

Hi i’m a year 13 student who is looking to do a pharmacy degree for uni this year. however i only recently discovered that i want to do this course so i don’t have any relevant work experience for pharmacy (i did. my year 12 work experience volunteering in a charity )

i spoke to my school and they advised i do work experience with our lab technician, which i agreed to because i’m desperate for some sort of experience.

but now i’m thinking , will this actually help with my application / interview? because pharmacy is working very close to people and interacting, with lab work it’s all behind doors. idk if i’m overthinking but idk i think i’ll be wasting my time possibly? what are other people’s opinions ?

Reply 1

macpatgh-Sheldon

20

Original post by Heylove

Hi i’m a year 13 student who is looking to do a pharmacy degree for uni this year. however i only recently discovered that i want to do this course so i don’t have any relevant work experience for pharmacy (i did. my year 12 work experience volunteering in a charity )

i spoke to my school and they advised i do work experience with our lab technician, which i agreed to because i’m desperate for some sort of experience.

but now i’m thinking , will this actually help with my application / interview? because pharmacy is working very close to people and interacting, with lab work it’s all behind doors. idk if i’m overthinking but idk i think i’ll be wasting my time possibly? what are other people’s opinions ?

Hi there! When you say "this year" I presume you mean Sept 2024 cos unis have already started [or am I mistaken and you already have offers for pharmacy to start in 2023?]. Lab work experience would help cos although pharmacy as a profession does involve dealing with people, the course itself includes a fair amount of lab work e.g. in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutics as well as in pharmacology. If you are also able to [in addition] get a placement in a pharmacy retail outlet for a week or two, that would be extra help. If you happen to be within reach of the London area or near Birmingham, I can probably arrange the latter for you as I know a number of pharmacists in these locations. [I also know the MDs of a couple of pharmaceutical companies in SE UK, so could possibly fix you up with one of them.

Good luck!

M.

Reply 2

McGinger

18

Original post by Heylove

i only recently discovered that i want to do this course so i don’t have any relevant work experience for pharmacy

You dont need work experience for Pharmacy.
If you have any 'dealing with people' experience that's good, but w/ex in a Pharmacy is not needed.

Useful resources for Pharmacy Personal Statements :

Hospital Pharmacy - https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-prof...tal-pharmacist
Community Pharamcist - https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-prof...ity-pharmacist

Careers in Pharmacy - https://careersinpharmacy.uk/
NHS Values - https://www.nhsprofessionals.nhs.uk/...the-nhs-values

Useful MOOC for Chemistry interview questions - https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/...inal-chemistry

Useful info about the difference between Pharmacy and Pharmacology - https://www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/cho...-pharmacology/

Reply 3

Heylove

OP

6

Original post by macpatgh-Sheldon

Hi there! When you say "this year" I presume you mean Sept 2024 cos unis have already started [or am I mistaken and you already have offers for pharmacy to start in 2023?]. Lab work experience would help cos although pharmacy as a profession does involve dealing with people, the course itself includes a fair amount of lab work e.g. in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutics as well as in pharmacology. If you are also able to [in addition] get a placement in a pharmacy retail outlet for a week or two, that would be extra help. If you happen to be within reach of the London area or near Birmingham, I can probably arrange the latter for you as I know a number of pharmacists in these locations. [I also know the MDs of a couple of pharmaceutical companies in SE UK, so could possibly fix you up with one of them.

Good luck!

M.

Hi there thank you so much for your response, this has reassured me an lot! And yes I was referring to September 2024 entry haha.

And it happens that I’m a Birmingham resident! I’d appreciate it greatly if you could help me with finding work experience, thank you for your offer :smile: