Pharmacy

This page has been designed to give a starting point for those looking into careers in the area of pharmacy, this includes hospital, community and retail pharmacy. This page also contains information on Medical Sales.

• What is pharmacy?
• How do I get into it?
• How do I find a job or employers in this sector?
• Further information and useful links

What is pharmacy?

In addition to careers in hospital, community or retail pharmacy, pharmacy graduates have a wide range of transferable skills.

Career opportunities exist in scientific research; technical support; analysis and investigation; patent work; health care; scientific writing and journalism; management; management consultancy and accountancy.

There are currently around 40,000 practising pharmacists registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB). Although the number of pharmacists has grown steadily over the past few years, there is a shortage, particularly in hospitals.

• Prospects
  Prospects is a graduate careers website with a range of job profiles relating to pharmacy including:
  
  • Hospital Pharmacist
  • Community/Retail Pharmacist

• The Royal Pharmaceutical Society
  Information and support for newly qualified pharmacists and other professionals.
• NHS hospital pharmacy
  Information on working in hospital pharmacy from the NHS hospital pharmacy recruitment website.

How do I get into it?

In addition to completing the Pharmacy degree accredited by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, a year must be spent in pre-registration training before becoming a registered member of the RPSGB.

• Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries
  Includes an education, training and careers section . You can also order the following publication free of charge: Life-Enhancing Careers - A Career in the Pharmaceutical Industry (information for graduates).

How do I find a job or employers in this sector?

• Advance Medical Sales Jobs UK
  Specialists in medical sales recruitment and medical marketing reps recruitment for healthcare and ethical pharmaceutical companies within the UK.
• All About Medical Sales
  Opportunities for sales managers, medical sales representatives, healthcare sales professionals, graduate trainees and those seeking their first position within the UK pharmaceutical industry.
• Medtech jobs
  Vacancies for field-based professionals in sales of medical equipment and disposables.
• NHS Jobs
• Pharmajobs
  Jobs in medical sales.
• Pharmacareers
  Pharmaceutical jobs.
• PharmiWeb.com
  News and developments in the pharmaceutical industry for a global audience. Has a worldwide job search facility.
• Pharmaceutical Jobs
  Pharmacy, Science, Medical Device and Biotech job listings, and career resources.
• PJ Careers and Pharmaceutical Journal (login required)
  Part of the Pharmaceutical Journal website with a comprehensive section on careers including vacancies. Pharmaceutical Journal is the official journal of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and can be read in hard copy at Aldrich Library.
• ProClinical
  ProClinical is a specialised recruitment consultancy and employment business for the Pharmaceutical industry. 
• STAR Medical
  Specialist recruitment agency for Pharmaceutical Sales jobs.
• Team 24
  Healthcare recruitment specialist for the NHS and private sector

 Further information and useful links

• The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
  The trade association for approximately a hundred companies in the UK producing prescription medicines. Includes a section on education, careers and training.
• British Pharmaceutical Students Association
  Represents pharmacy students and pre-registration trainees.
• Chemist and Druggist
  News, education and tools for the pharmacy community.
• Hospital Pharmacist Journal (login required)
• The National Pharmaceutical Association
  The national body of Britain's community pharmacy owners. Offers news and guidance information for pharmacy owners.