Transform Your Pharmacy Career with These 5 Networking Tips

When it comes to career growth, there is one fact I would stake my life on, and that is...

And on that note, if you have not read the book by Rob Moore, titled Opportunity, and networking is a skill you want to grow, then it's a must-read.

The concept of the book revolves around how he became a millionaire from one networking event, that he had declined numerous times, and when he finally accepted to attend it, it turned his life from a struggling artist to a billionaire entrepreneur. It is the ultimate guide to unlocking and creating opportunities in life and business through mindset, action, and strategic thinking.

Without further ado, I will talk about why networking is essential for pharmacy career growth and share my 5 tips to help you get started.

How networking changed my career..

The best way to explain why networking is essential is to use my career path as an example.

Networking on LinkedIn:

• allowed me to connect with pharmacists around the globe and learn about pharmacogenomics, and then I created my consulting practice.

• allowed me to learn from pharmacists a few steps ahead of me as entrepreneur and follow their steps.

• provided the medium to connect with digital startups and create my role as a digital pharmacist with collaborative agreements.

• allowed me to contribute to pharmacy publications by meeting editors on LinkedIn who saw my published articles.

And so much more...

I would not have achieved ANY of the above if I hadn't had the courage to network with people from around the globe.

So if this isn't a testimony to the power of networking, I don't know what is!

Hear it for me, networking is essential for growing your career, whether you're at the beginning of your career, or looking to make a change, and here is how to do it.

5 Steps to Networking Effectively

Step 1: Identify your networking goals

Open a doc/note, and type/write:

• What do you hope to achieve by networking?

• Do you want to find a mentor, a new job, or simply expand your professional circle?

Once you've identified the goals, it will be much easier to find the right people to network with (or events to attend) to help you achieve that goal.

If you have no idea or clarity on what you want to achieve, don't let that be a reason why you don't reach out and connect with colleagues. Honestly, you will learn so much, and you have nothing to lose.

Step 2: Build your network

You can do this by:

• Attending industry events, whether virtual or in-person

• Reaching out and connecting to people on LinkedIn

• Joining professional online groups

Introducing yourself is essential when you are connecting with new people, and you should explain why you are interested in connecting with them. (I did this for the first 1000 people I connected with and as people started following me it became harder to reach out to every person, but it is an essential step at the start of your journey).

Here are some examples of DMs I used when I sent a connection request:

• Hi [Name], I came across your profile and was impressed by your experience in [industry/specialization]. I'd love to connect and learn more about your career path.

• Hello [Name], I noticed we have some mutual connections and thought it would be great to connect and expand our professional networks.

• Hey [Name], I'm currently exploring career opportunities in [industry/specialization] and saw your profile. I'd love to connect and learn more about your experience.

Step 3: Nurture your relationships

Follow up with your connections from time to time, if not via messaging, then:

• engage with their LinkedIn posts by commenting

• look for opportunities to offer value (e.g. share a resource that may be helpful to them or something they're working on)

• nurture your network by posting regularly so you become a 'familiar' face

• share industry insights/news relevant to your network

• 'Connect your connections' - this is perhaps the most valuable contribution on LinkedIn; it is when you connect two people who may benefit from connecting to each other, e.g. they share similar interests, or could collaborate on a project, etc.

Step 4: Attend and create events

LinkedIn is the best platform for this. Every day, there are numerous virtual events taking place. I have attended and created (LinkedIn Live events) these events and they are a great connection hub. It is a great way to expand your network and meet new people.

• Look for events in your industry: go to the LinkedIn search bar > type your industry (pharmacy) > click on Events. This will list all events taking place, and you can enroll by clicking on the event that interests you.

• While attending the event, note down the names of people you want to connect with.

• Don't be afraid to approach someone and strike up a conversation; just remember to introduce yourself.

Step 5: Give Back

Finally, remember to give back to your network.

Offer your time and expertise to others, and look for opportunities to help them achieve their goals. By being a valuable member of your network, you'll build a strong reputation and increase your own visibility in the industry.

But don't wait until you get before giving... it doesn't work that way!

I've learned that the 'abundant' mindset prevails when it comes to sharing information and giving online and in person. Even when you don't feel you're getting much back, you'll be surprised at how abundant the universe is.

You may not necessarily get back from the people you give to, but trust me, life gives you abundantly in ways that you would not have imagined. Just give—give knowledge, give information, share tips, share resources, build others—give without expecting back, and you'll be surprised!

That's networking in a nutshell.

Yes, it is hard, especially if you're an introvert like me.

But it is the reason why I am writing this to you today because it feels selfish to know how much power networking has had over my career and not share it with those who don't feel confident enough to do so.

Go on, reach out to pharmacists across the globe.

-Katrina