Temp Work Leads to Full Time Job for this Pharmacy Technician

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I'm a pharmacy technician, working for the University of Washington Medical Center in their in-patient pharmacy. My exact position within the pharmacy is medication reconciliation technician. I'm the one who updates patient medication profiles based on the current medication lists provided to their doctor. I've been a pharmacy technician for 10 years. Prior to working for U.W., I spent several years in retail.

When I realized I was tired of retail and struggling with insurance companies and cranky customers, I decided it was time to branch out. A friend suggested I try working for a staffing agency for a while to get experience in different areas of pharmacy. I liked the idea and decided to try it out. I contacted the staffing agency and mentioned that I was a friend of one of their former employees. This quickly secured me an interview.

I was sent to a number of different and interesting places, and then I was placed at U.W. I worked there, through the staffing agency, for about a year. It was completely different than any other pharmacy position, and I loved it. I was sorry when my time there came to an end.

About three months after the contract ended, I received a phone call from the pharmacy manager. They were looking to expand the medication reconciliation project, and he remembered me and my work. He was offering me a full-time, permanent position at U.W. The starting pay was far more than I'd made working in retail pharmacy.

The most important thing I learned through this whole experience is that it's not just what you know that lands you a job, but it's not solely who you know either - both play a part. I got the interview with the staffing agency easily because I was able to directly contact a recruiter thanks to my friend. But once I had the interview, I had to prove that I would be a good employee. I had excellent references, and I was quite knowledgeable about the pharmacy field, so I really was the perfect candidate for the job.

The pharmacy manager at U.W. never would have thought to give me a call if I hadn't done an excellent job while I was there. They measured the output of the medication reconciliation technicians, both to see where we stacked up against our coworkers and to see how much total work was being done. Even though I wasn't technically a U.W. employee at that time, I was still one of their top producers. While I was working for them, I was named Employee of the Quarter for the staffing agency. These achievements made a strong impression and kept me on the manager's mind, even months after I had left.

I've learned a lot about successfully searching for a job throughout my life. One of the first lessons I learned, and one that has always stuck with me, is that confidence is key when you are interviewing for a position. How you speak and how you carry yourself are immediately noticeable, and an interviewer will pick up on them. A former manager of mine once told me that the reason I got the job was because I knew I already had it when I walked through the door. I wasn't arrogant, but I was comfortable and friendly. The job was a good fit for me, and I knew it.

I was also told by a different manager that the reason I got hired over another candidate who had almost the same qualifications was because I was the one who called to follow up. It might be taking a chance, since there are managers out there who don't care for follow-up calls from interviewees, but it landed me a job, so I stand by it. It doesn't have to be intrusive. I just called briefly to say thanks for the interview. I think an email or a nice letter would serve the same purpose.

Before I tried out the staffing agency, I was very hesitant. I thought of them as a place for people who couldn't get a job anywhere else. The truth is that they are a fantastic way to gain extra experience in your field and develop new skills. These people have contacts and contracts at a wide variety of companies, from smaller family-owned businesses to national corporations. I strongly recommend them to anyone who is looking to make a change in their job or gain additional skills.

I've continued to implement these strategies throughout my work life. I still show up to interviews well-prepared and confident, I still follow-up after interviews and I am still on the staffing company's mailing list. I've maintained good contacts who I know will be helpful to me in the future. I believe these strategies have served me well.

Who You Know and What You Know Both Affect Your Job Search

Networking with friends can help you score an interview, but after that, it's up to you. Highlighting your skills and knowledge and making a strong impression will help you get a great job.