When you are looking for staff for your Pharmacy, be it a Supervising Pharmacist or a part-time OTC Assistant, the process of writing a job specification is the single most important thing you can do to ensure success. In the world of Pharmacy advertising is commonly very minimalist, giving very basic information such as “Pharmacist req’d in Dublin. Call X on 087-1234567”

Your advert needs to attract interest, communicate clearly the essential points and provide a clear outline of the process; enabling job seekers to decide whether they are a possible match for the role.

Information to include:

Job title, employer & description of business, location of job, outline of the job role and purpose, job responsibility, outline of ideal candidate profile - qualifications & experience required, salary details, application instructions & contact details.

Writing:  

·         If the organization is well known then show the company information prominently

·         Use language that your reader would use

·         Give text some space, thus attracting the eye and ensuring you write efficiently

·         Use short sentences and/or bullet points

·         Get the reader involved. Refer to the reader as ‘you’ and use the second person; this helps people to picture themselves in the role, involving them

·         Stress what is unique- if a person is reading your advert they are already looking for a change and you need to highlight your job’s USP’s (Unique Selling Points): if the working hours are Monday to Friday, if the store has been recently refurbished or if the position offers career development etc.

·         Ensure the correct contact information is listed- include both an email address and phone number facilitating applicants who wish to ask questions

·         Assume the job will evolve over time and add a statement such as "and related tasks as needed as they arise"

·         Be specific; this will allow jobseekers to identify exactly what the job entails and decide if they are a match

By creating a complete job specification you identify exactly the job you have and the person you need to do it, allowing you to both recruit and retain staff for your Pharmacy successfully.

Should you have any comments/queries please contact Siobhan Ryan by e-mail: siobhananne.ryan@cplhealthcare.com or call 061-208648.

The “Jobseekers Roadshow” is an annual event now in its’ second year; an idea born by an internal competition similar to the now infamous show “Dragons Den”.  This competition was created to encourage all Cpl employees to have a voice, to share their ideas and, if successful, receive the full support of the Cpl management team and external parties to assist in the planning, development and implementation stages.  I believe Richard Branson routinely holds such in-house competitions, valuing ideas from all personnel, regardless of how long they are with the company, or indeed, their rank.

There are so many things that can go wrong in an interview. You could have researched the company really well, you could have prepared answers to the common interview questions and to questions specific to the job and you could be dressed to impress but one weak handshake and the interviewer could be turned off before you finish saying hello!

There would be something wrong if I didn’t start off this blog by mentioning the extreme changes in weather we’ve experienced in Ireland over the last 2 weeks.  Last week was gloriously sunny, and improved everyone’s moods.  Switch to this beginning of this week and we were thrust violently back into the cold, with snow and sleet falling yesterday – what is wrong with Mother Nature??? 

With the clocks having gone forward an hour meaning we wake up to brighter mornings like today, the season of Spring gives everyone hope, and we all begin looking forward to the Summer approaching.  Easter would be considered the official start of “looking forward” – baby chicks and ducklings, fluffy bunny rabbits, being able to gorge on delicious chocolate eggs without feeling overly guilty,  and the opportunity to spend more time with family and friends due to the long weekend off work, what could be nicer?

This period of the year also is associated with new beginnings – green buds appearing on the trees, shoots pushing their way through previously frozen ground to be warmed by the sun, the birthing of baby lambs, etc.  Here at Cpl Healthcare, we continually see a rise in applications after the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, as people begin thinking about new beginnings in their own lives, and decide they want to pursue alternative employment.

With permanent Nursing opportunities currently across Ireland, the UK and Channel Islands, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Australia, now is the time for you, as a Nurse, to start your new beginnings – don’t hesitate to contact me with any queries you may have re working in the above locations.

Have a “hoppy” Easter! J                         

Annmarie Gallacher NRF CertRP | Principal Team Lead Nursing Division | Cpl Healthcare

T: +353 1 4825354

E: annemarie.gallacher@cplhealthcare.com        
W: www.cplhealthcare.com

Candidates with more than one offer on the table should take their time to carefully evaluate offers received, ensuring they are making an educated decision to accept or to reject the appropriate offer.