Erik Qualman, author of Socialnomics, a keynote speaker and expert in social media, once said “Best results are often achieved well before you need a job, by consistently networking so that when you find yourself job-hunting you have a large network to work with.” And when it comes to “consistently networking” there is, in my opinion, no social website that has made it easier and more effective than LinkedIn.
The size and growth of the LinkedIn community is staggering. Launched on May 5, 2003, the professional networking tool currently boasts about 467 million users, 1.5 million groups and employs nearly 10,000 people worldwide. And while it is hard to say exactly how many pharmacists are actively using LinkedIn, if you type “pharmacist” into their people-search it yields just shy of 500,000 profiles. Suffice it to say that the pharmacy community on LinkedIn is substantial.
Many pharmacists and students with whom I interact think of LinkedIn as simply a tool to find a job; a sort of online resume where you parade your skills in hopes of attracting the attention of a potential employer. For that reason, many employed pharmacists seem to think that involvement on this website might be frowned upon by their company as if they were secretly trying to escape. While this may have been the case years ago, today the LinkedIn community is about much more than simply job-hunting.
My own personal network on LinkedIn is far from exceptional. At 4,000+ connections it is larger than average, but not anywhere near the size of some accounts. I will continue to slowly grow this base of pharmacy-focused professionals so that I can enjoy the benefits it brings.
There are at least 3 substantial reasons why I’m personally involved on LinkedIn.
1) Sharing what I’ve learned. I use LinkedIn to share things I’m reading and learning with other like-minded pharmacy folks. For example, I’ve recently been reading a fascinating book entitled “If Disney Ran Your Hospital” by Fred Lee. On LinkedIn I can share quotes from this book and engage in conversations about its content with other healthcare professionals. I have always found that learning and sharing are keys to personal growth, and building a network of people who are interested in the same professional topics enables me to do that.
2) Helping others. Another benefit I have found is that a growing network of LinkedIn connections enables me to offer some help at times to others. Many times I have received a question from a LinkedIn connection that I’m able to answer. I have been a pharmacist for nearly 25 years, and picked up a few tips along the way. It is satisfying to be able to serve as a resource to fellow professionals who need some advice. Another simple way of helping others is just to leave a kind compliment or word of encouragement about something they have shared. As Charles Dickens once wisely said “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another.”
3) Learning new things. I have learned about companies that exist which I otherwise would never have heard of. I learn about career paths that seem new and exciting. News which otherwise might have escaped my notice will pop up on my feed and may provide me with some important perspectives that I can use personally in my own job.
Can anyone join and grow their pharmacy network using LinkedIn? Absolutely!
The most important thing when it comes to growing your network is to have a completed profile yourself. Get a nice, professional-looking head shot for your picture and complete your employment history and education. Completed profiles get far more views than incomplete ones.
Once your profile is complete, connect with a few pharmacy friends, former professors and co-workers. Join a few pharmacy groups. Leave a few positive comments for discussion. Post a link to some important piece of news relevant to your industry. Follow a company, like Pharmaceutical Strategies, for example. Then send some connection requests to other pharmacists and pharmacy professionals that have profiles of interest to you. I think sending out 5-10 such requests daily is a modest goal and will avoid the appearance of being too eager.
My personal advice to pharmacists is to keep your connections focused on your profession. LinkedIn does attract many individuals who simply appear to want more “connections” no matter who they are. I ignore most such requests as I don’t think they bring value to either of us.
Networking is a life skill which takes practice but often yields rich rewards. Getting involved in LinkedIn doesn’t take much time, but can be useful for pharmacists who want to see what their fellow professionals are doing with their careers and expand their personal opportunities.
The below information is provided by NHA, the , to help with Pharmacy Technician certification during these unprecedented times. “As your..
As we all know, nurses and midwives play a vital role in our health services across the world. They are..
As COVID-19 continues to spread across the globe, the current crisis appears to be reaching new territories each day. Thousands..
Emergency rooms are, by reputation, chaotic places, and due to this, the role of an ER Nurse becomes as essential..
Nursing is one of the most crucial and rewarding occupations worldwide; however, it can be extremely demanding and stressful. A..
Transitioning from day to night shifts can be very tough for healthcare professionals, particularly due to the impact it has..
With the decade approaching the closing stages, Medical Recruitment Strategies look back at the year that was 2019 in the..
A career as a pharmacy technician can prove rewarding in many ways. Whether you're already a qualified pharmacy technician, recently..
A resume is often an employer’s first opportunity to assess your suitability for a role, so making a good first..
This month a personal tragedy inspired me to address the “elephant in the room.” Easter Sunday afternoon on the last..
If you're in the middle of a job search, it can feel like you're applying to a million jobs and..
As a leader in healthcare and pharmacy staffing, Pharmaceutical Strategies strives to provide resources to clients and candidates for the..
When it comes to social media, it can be hard to see and know where the line between professional and..
There are about a million - not a hyperbole at all - articles on the internet about how to prepare..
As a leader in healthcare and pharmacy staffing, Pharmaceutical Strategies strives to provide resources to clients and candidates for the..
As a leader in healthcare and pharmacy staffing, Pharmaceutical Strategies strives to provide resources to clients and candidates for the..
As registered nurses we have a duty and responsibility to provide the best possible safe care to our patients and..
Applying to jobs can be a tedious activity. Sometimes the application process can involve just uploading your resume, but sometimes..
Julius Caesar once said “No one is so brave that he is not disturbed by something unexpected.” I think that’s..
It's the week of Super Bowl LIII and the week of Tom Brady's ninth career Super Bowl appearance. Whether you're..
Communication in the healthcare environment can be very challenging amongst healthcare providers especially in the high tech world that is..
If you’re coming into the job search unexpectedly, or after a few years, you probably haven't even thought about your..
I follow a recruiter named Adam Karpiak on LinkedIn and Twitter, and he is constantly posting the real truths about..
'Tis the Season to be jolly, and also find a new job! Being unemployed or in a job that doesn't..
It may seem like a small thing, and to some recruiters and hiring managers it won’t matter too much, but..
Something that a lot of people, recruiters especially, forget is that everyone is not taught the same resume format. Recruiters..
If you're working with our staffing agency or another, building a relationship with your recruiter is going to be a..
Whether you’re unemployed, graduating, or just looking for a new job, starting a job search can be daunting, some may..
With October almost over, we are at the end of our third quarter and gearing up for the fourth quarter..
I was scrolling through LinkedIn this morning and came across a video posted by Business Insider on . The video..
Send your resume as a PDF or Microsoft Word Document With almost any job application you can guarantee that some..
You've prepared for the interview, you figured out what you need to bring and what should stay at home, now..
Staying organized is the name of the game if you’re trying to balance a career, a social life, and everything..
You have probably never visited Madawaska, Maine. It is a tiny, rural town at one of the most northern peaks..
Are you looking to up your professional image on Social Media? We've compiled a list of LinkedIn tips that will..
Last week our employees went to Fenway Park to show their Boston pride and support the Boston Red Sox! It..
5 Tips for New Pharmacy Grads In May of 2018 thousands of pharmacy students from the 130+ pharmacy schools in..
Your Pharmacy Career in Changing Times George Bernard Shaw once said that “Progress is impossible without change, and those who..
Pharmacy Careers in Specialty Pharmacy The number of accredited specialty pharmacies in the U.S. is growing. According to..
Managing Pharmacy Job Insecurity Talking about job insecurity is a delicate, personal and often very emotional subject. As a result,..
Get Licensed in Another State When I graduated pharmacy school I was just excited to have 1 license and 1..
Insights from the Latest Pharmacist Demand Indicator Rene Descartes once said that “perfect numbers like perfect men are very rare.”..
Tips for Retaining Top Pharmacy Talent According to Mark Horstman, author of The Effective Manager, all managers have two and..
Is Pharmacy Ownership Just a Dream? Do you dream about the possibility of owning your own pharmacy? Pharmacists thinking about..
Choosing between Retail and Hospital Pharmacy Careers When I graduated pharmacy school back in 1993 there were virtually just 2..
Kmart Pharmacy Settles Fraud Case for $32 Million Kmart Pharmacy and The Bobby Fuller Four have something in common. They..
Keeping Current on Pharmacy News “It’s amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world every day always..
Improving Your Pharmacist Resume When is the last time you pulled out your resume and revised it? Are you 20..
Building a Meaningful Pharmacy Career There is a world of difference between just being a pharmacist and building a meaningful..
Walgreens to Close 600 Rite Aid Stores Walgreens, the second largest pharmacy chain in the U.S., is about to acquire..
The Chicago Proposal for Pharmacist Workload The windy city is stirring things up in the pharmacy world. A proposal is..
The Latest Pharmacy Workforce Center Data Are there still jobs for pharmacists? According to data from the Pharmacy Workforce Center..
A Pharmacy Management Career Pharmacists today are looking for ways to diversify their skills and broaden their experience to provide..
Pharmacies Deliver Satisfaction – But Less Than Before “I can’t get no satisfaction.” So sang The Rolling Stones in their..
Combating Frustration in Your Pharmacy Job Search Sometimes the search for a new pharmacy job, especially if you are currently..
6 Ways Opioids Impact Your Pharmacy Career With approximately 142 Americans dying every day from a drug overdose, and almost..
Pharmacist Salaries and Your Career Francis Bacon is credited with having said that “money is a great servant but a..
Pharmacists: Choosing WHO to Work For When it comes to your pharmacy career, choosing who to work for is even..