How to Market Yourself as a Pharmacist in a Competitive Locum Market

In today's competitive UK locum market, simply being a qualified pharmacist isn't always enough to secure the best rates and most desirable shifts. To stand out, you need to proactively market yourself as a reliable, skilled, and valuable professional. Here’s a guide on how to effectively market yourself and build a thriving locum career.

1. Build Your Professional Brand

Before you start marketing, you need to know what you're selling. Your professional brand is your unique identity as a pharmacist. It’s what makes you memorable and desirable to employers.

• Define Your Niche: Are you particularly skilled in a certain area? Perhaps you're an expert in a specific Patient Group Direction (PGD), highly efficient in a busy dispensing environment, or excellent with patient consultations for the Pharmacy First service. Highlighting a specialism can make you stand out.

• Identify Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP): What makes you different? It could be your flexibility with last-minute shifts, your proficiency with multiple dispensing systems (like ProScript or Positive Solutions), or your experience in both independent and multiple settings.

• Maintain a Professional Image: This applies to your appearance, your communication, and your online presence. A professional, friendly, and proactive attitude is a cornerstone of your brand.

2. Create a Standout CV and Portfolio

Your CV is often the first impression an employer or agency has of you. It needs to be sharp, concise, and impactful.

• Tailor Your CV: Don't use a one-size-fits-all CV. Highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the specific role or pharmacy you're applying to. Emphasise clinical services you're accredited for, such as smoking cessation, travel clinics, or blood pressure checks.

• Use Action Verbs and Quantify Achievements: Instead of saying "Responsible for dispensing," try "Accurately dispensed an average of 300 items per day while maintaining high standards of patient care."

• Build a Digital Portfolio: Consider creating a simple online portfolio. This could be a professional LinkedIn profile or a personal website. Include your CV, accreditations (e.g., for flu jabs, DMS, NMS), links to any professional articles you've written, and testimonials from previous employers.

3. Leverage the Power of Networking

Networking is one of the most powerful marketing tools for a locum. Building strong relationships can lead to direct bookings and a stellar reputation.

• Excel in Every Shift: Your best marketing is doing a great job. Be proactive, integrate seamlessly with the team, and leave the pharmacy in a better state than you found it. A good impression often leads to repeat bookings.

• Engage with Colleagues: Talk to the pharmacy manager, technicians, and counter staff. Be friendly and approachable. They are often the ones who recommend locums for future shifts.

• Attend Local Events: Participate in local pharmaceutical committee (LPC) events or other pharmacy-related training and networking sessions. This is a great way to meet pharmacy owners and managers in your area.

4. Master Your Online Presence

In the digital age, your online footprint is a critical part of your professional brand.

• Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile: This is your digital CV. Ensure your profile is complete with a professional photo, a detailed summary of your skills, and a list of your accreditations. Actively connect with pharmacy managers, recruiters, and other pharmacists.

• Engage with Professional Content: Share and comment on relevant articles about pharmacy practice, new clinical guidelines, or developments in the industry. This positions you as an engaged and knowledgeable professional.

• Join Professional Groups: Participate in pharmacy-related groups on Facebook or LinkedIn. These can be valuable sources of information and shift opportunities.

5. Utilise Locum Agencies and Booking Platforms

While direct bookings are ideal, agencies and modern booking apps are essential for filling your diary, especially when you're starting out.

• Be Selective: Work with a few reputable agencies that understand your needs and offer good support.

• Communicate Clearly: Keep your availability updated and be clear about your desired rates and travel limits. Respond to offers promptly, even if it's to decline.

• Explore Modern Platforms: Several apps and online platforms now connect locums directly with pharmacies.¹ These can offer greater transparency and control over your bookings.

  
  

6. Never Stop Learning

The pharmacy landscape is constantly evolving. Demonstrating that you are keeping your skills and knowledge current is a powerful marketing tool.

• Stay Clinically Updated: Keep on top of the latest NICE guidelines and clinical developments.

• Embrace New Services: Be accredited and confident in delivering the latest NHS services. Being proficient in services like Pharmacy First makes you highly marketable.

• Develop Business Acumen: Understand the business side of community pharmacy. If you can show that you're not just clinically competent but also commercially aware, you'll be a far more attractive prospect to pharmacy owners.

By combining a strong professional brand, an impressive CV, effective networking, and a commitment to continuous learning, you can successfully market yourself in a competitive locum market and build a rewarding and flexible career.