3 Tips for Recruiting Top Talent for Your Independent Pharmacy

The staff you hire can greatly impact the overall success of your independent pharmacy. Employees who are knowledgeable, hard working, and caring can give your pharmacy a competitive edge in the marketplace and help differentiate you from other pharmacies. In order to make the most out of your top employees, you have to find them first.

Hiring and retaining the best talent without a well-defined plan can be a challenge. Unlike industry regulations and medication costs, which you have no control over, the hiring and recruiting process is something that you can control. It’s important that you make the hiring process a top priority so you can attract and acquire only the top talent for your pharmacy.

Affording top talent is a common misconception among pharmacy owners. If you currently view your employees as an expense, it’s important that you shift your perception. Your employees should be seen as an investment into the future because they are the moving force behind the success of your pharmacy. Rather than thinking about your payroll costs, focus on the contribution your employees add to to your bottom line while keeping your customers happy.

Are you wondering how to recruit top talent for your independent pharmacy? Here are three tips to get you started:

1) Always Be on the Lookout for New Employees

One of the best ways to reduce the time it takes to recruit new hires is to always be on the lookout for top talent and accept applications year round. Don’t be afraid to recruit people who already have jobs. Just because someone isn’t actively looking for a job doesn’t mean they’re happy in their current position, and they may be open to switching jobs if the right opportunity comes around. Hand out your business card often and invite potential candidates to contact you if they’re ever interested in changing jobs. You never know who might reach out to you for a job in the future.

2) Ask Your Top Employees For Referrals

If you’re looking for top talent, one of the best places to look is within your pharmacy. Ask your superstar employees if they know anyone who may be looking for a job. There’s a good chance that your top employees surround themselves with top performers and high achievers who would make great employees. Maybe they know someone who would make a great technician but just needs some training, or they have a friend who has a bubbly, friendly personality and would make a great cashier. Remember, you can train skills, but you can’t train a positive attitude or strong work ethic. Your top employees want you to succeed, and they want to help you find more top employees for your pharmacy.

3) Check with Nearby Pharmacy Schools

Every year, there are dozens of pharmacy students looking for an internship or pharmacy-related training. Tap into this opportunity by mentoring and serving as a preceptor for pharmacy students. You can introduce pharmacy students to the field, so you can help them get acclimated and find potential job candidates as well.  Plus, it allows you to build relationships with faculty members who can refer graduates to you in the future.

The recruiting process isn’t easy, but by following the three tips above and planning ahead, you’ll be more efficient, waste less time and be more prepared for staffing changes.

Interested in learning more about how you can hire the best and brightest employees? Sign up for our free webinar, Hiring the Best Pharmacy Employees
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