If you’re preparing for a Pharmacist job interview, It’s critical to be prepared well and stick answers to the most specific Pharmacist Interview Questions with answers. Some of the most common Pharmacist interview questions include why you want to become a pharmacist, the most important qualities for a pharmacist, how you handle difficult customers, your experience with prescription dispensing and drug interactions, knowledge of drug laws and regulations, and your commitment to the organization with continuing education and professional development.
Based on that we have prepared Pharmacist job interview questions and pharmacist interview tips which are going to be very useful for providing track to your success journey.
Most Common Pharmacist Interview Questions with Answers:
Below are the Most Common Asked Questions for Pharmacist Interviews:
Q. What’s the role of a Pharmacist in a Pharmacy
Ans: The pharmacist’s role includes dispensing medicines
Patient counseling
Educating other healthcare workers
Monitoring of drugs database
Reporting adverse drug reactions
Medicine records keeping
Managing inventory of drugs
Q. Why do you want Pharmacy jobs
Ans: I am a registered pharmacist and my aim is to help the community to their better health.
Q. Tell me about schedule x drug
Ans: Schedules x drugs can not be bought from the pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription.
Q. About yourself and your education
Ans: My self XYZ and I completed my bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from XYZ University in years XYZ.
Q. Why should we hire in our pharmacy
Ans: I am a fast learner and I have knowledge of different medicine classes and their side effects. I believe in smart work rather than smart work. I can dispense medicines after reading prescriptions and guide well the patients.
Clinical Pharmacist Interview Questions
Q. Which of the Antihypertensive drug
Ans: Anti-hyper-tensive drugs are used to cure high blood pressure, for example, enalapril, losartan, valsartan, amlodipine, and doxazosin, etc.
Q. How many types of pulse can be detected in a human body?
Ans: 7 Types
Q. To what degree does an intramuscular injection take place?
Ans: 90 Degrees.
Q. What is the Category of tablet ethambutol?
Ans: Anti-tubercular agent
Q. What is the Category of Antibiotics?
Ans: Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria in our bodies. These antibiotics are classified into different classes based on their work. Some common types of antibiotics include penicillin, cephalosporins, macrolides, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, metronidazole, and chloramphenicol. Each class targets a specific part of the bacteria and fights a certain range of bacteria.
Q. Which category of medicine is furosemide?
Ans: Loop diuretic
Q. The normal value of blood pressure
Ans: The normal range for blood pressure is 80/120
Q. Types of skin layer
Ans: Three types of the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis
Q. What is the expiry date of medicines
Ans: The expiry date is the date after which, medicines are not advised to take due to issues with the drug efficacy rate.
Q. How to dispense medicines
Ans: Take the prescrption→Read patient name and age→Ensure doctor signature and date→ Prescribe medicines as written by doctors.
Q. Explain the narcotic drugs
Ans: Narcotic drugs like opium and codeine are taken to get pain relief
Q. Good interaction with patients
Ans: Know about your paitents→Talk as softly→ Leasen patients carefully→understand the questions first, keep calm don’t be tense, and answer your questions with a smile→ Gain trust→Keep a grip on scheduled drugs and common disease-related drugs→ Be confident with ur answers and keep information about narcotic acts and drugs.
Q. What is Patient Satisfaction?
Ans: To provide patient-centered care creating a culture that accepts people for, who they are and where. they are in the life cycle. by meeting their needs at that point with the health system’s mission to care for the body, mind, and spirit of patients. Patients are the foundation of our medical practice. it is very obvious that they must be satisfied while in or out of the Hospital.
Q. What are Narcotics and anti-neoplastic drugs?
Ans: Narcotic drugs are used as a pain reliever and anti-neoplastic drugs are related to anti-cancer drugs.
Q. Basic IPD functions
Ans: IPD stands for in-patient department in hospitals where the patient is kept and treated by a doctor.
Q. Inventory management
Ans: Inventory management is the knowledge about the stock that is going to end and expire soon inside the store.
Q1. They may ask about the basics of medicinal chemistry and pharmacology
Retail Pharmacist Interview Questions
There are some important Retail Pharmacist Interview Questions including Apollo Pharmacy, Guardian Pharmacy, and 1mg.
Q. How many rounds of interviews?
Ans: Interview rounds depend on the organization types, generally 3 interview round is held, the first for introduction, the second is technical knowledge, and the third and last round for HR.
Q. What do you know about Apollo Pharmacy
Ans: Apollo Pharmacy is India’s fast-growing pharmacy store chain.
Q. Who is the CEO of Apollo pharmacy
Ans: P.Jayakumar
Q. How is the work profile of Apollo pharmacy
Ans: Selling medicines in branded and generics segments
Q. Which is the no 1 hospital in India
The forties and AIIMS
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Community Pharmacist Interview Questions
Q. Basic information on pharmacology
Ans: You must know about the basis of pharmacology and its terms used in pharmacy.
Q. IVF and non-IVF drugs Inventory
Ans: You must be familiar with an inventory of IVF and non-IVF medicine and device that is used on a daily basis.
Q. If a patient is holding a red card what does that mean
Ans: RED in medical stands for Request emergency dispatch that card is used to show timely and immediate support following a request for an emergency ambulance.
Q. Where is the registration of a pharmacist done?
Ans: Registration for the pharmacist is done as per national or state-wise pharmacy council.
Q. How will you manage multiple patients in a row?
Ans: Ask them who have a common inquiry prepare a list of patients and filter out to give useful suggestions.
Q. Are u a multi tasker?
Ans: The answer must be Yes because as a pharmacist you must be multitasking.
Hospital Pharmacist Interview Questions
Q. What is the dose form and definition of tablet, syrup, cream, lotion
Ans: Dosage forms are different types, they may be solid dosage (tablets), semi-solid (ointment and cream), and liquid form. the definition is given below in this article.
Q. What is a diuretic, give an example
Ans: Diuretic drugs are used to treat a patient who is suffering from kidney problems. diuretics help in increasing urine flow.
Q. What is renin?
Ans: Renin is an enzyme to controls body blood pressure because it regulates the sodium and potassium in the body.
Q: What is a pharmacy
Ans: The pharmacy is the art and science or practice of the preparation and dispensing of medicinal drugs.
Q: What is a drug?
Ans: A drug is an API (active pharmaceutical ingredients) that is administered into the body to elicit therapeutic effects.
Q: What is medicine?
Ans: Medicine is a substance or preparation used in treating disease, it is the formulated form of a drug.
Q: What is the role of a pharmacist?
Ans: The pharmacist’s role includes dispensing medicines
Patient counseling
Educating other healthcare workers
Monitoring of drug database
Reporting adverse drug reactions
Medicine records keeping
Managing inventory of drugs
Q: What are OTC drugs? gives some examples?
Ans: OTC is a counter drug that is sold directly to the customer without the prescription requirements. For example Paracetamol, Cetrizine, and ibuprofen, etc.
Q: What are branded and generic drugs explain with an example:
Ans: Brand name drugs refer to the name given by the manufacturing company, whereas generic drugs refer to a drug produced after the active ingredients of the brand name drugs, generics drugs will, however, be sold under different brand names, but will contain the same active ingredients as brand name drug. Generic drugs cost is always less than branded drugs.
| Brand Name | Generics Name |
| Dimet, Glucophage | Metformin |
| Dolo-500, Panadol and Fepanil | Paracetamol |
Q: What are the different parts of Prescription
Ans: The prescription mainly has four parts:
1. Superscription
2. Subscription
3. Special instruction
4. Signa
Q: What is idiosyncrasy?
Ans: Genetically determined abnormal reactivity to a chemical eg. Chloramphenicol produces non-dose-related serious aplastic anemia in rare individuals.
Q: What is the difference between drug dependence, drug addiction, and drug tolerance?
Ans: Drug dependence: it is an adaptive state that develops when a patient repeatedly takes a drug and on cessation of that drug, experiences withdrawal symptoms. in other words, the body becomes adapted to functioning normally as long as the drug is consumed. the symptoms may be physical, psychological, or both.
Drug addiction: In contrast, drug addiction refers to an out-of-control compulsion for an individual to take a particular substance. Addictive substances can be defined as one that is both rewarding and reinforcing-even if the consequences of the substance abuse are negative.
Drug tolerance: Tolerance is a phenomenon that refers to the reduced reaction from a drug following repeated use of that drug by a subject. Increasing the dose of the drug may amplify its effects, but this, in turn, reinforces greater tolerance. tolerance is a contributing factor towards drug addiction.
Q: What is tachyphylaxis?
Ans: The rapid development of tolerance when doses of the drug are repeated in quick succession.
Q: What is a prodrug? Explain with an example.
Ans: A prodrug is a medicine or compound mixture that, after administration, is metabolized into a pharmacologically active drug. example Levodopa is metabolized into Dopamine and Valacyclovir is metabolized into Acyclovir.
Q: What is teratogenicity?
Ans: Teratogenicity is the capacity of a drug to cause fetal abnormality when administered to the pregnant mother example: Thalidomide causes phocomelia.
Q: What is carcinogenicity?
Ans: The capacity of drugs to cause cancer. example, anticancer drugs, radioisotopes, etc.
Q: Water soluble vitamins?
Ans: Vitamin B & C
Q: How to calculate the dose of children?
Ans: The child’s dose is calculated by the following methods:
A. Dose calculation related to age:
1. Young’s rule= Child’s dose= Age (year)/age (Year)+12x adult dose
2. Dilling’s rule= Child’s dose= Age (Year)/20x adult dose
3. Fried’s dose= Child’s dose= Age (month)/150x adult dose
Dose calculation related to body weight:
Clarke’s rule= Body weight (lb)/150 adult dose
Dose calculation related to body weight:
Clarke’s rule= Body weight (lb)/150 adult dose or
Body weight (kg)/70 adult dose
Note: 1kg= 2.2 lb
Q: What are Diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus?
Ans: Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by excessive levels of the sugar glucose in the blood. It is commonly caused by a deficiency of the pancreatic hormone insulin, which results in failure to metabolize sugars and starch results in urine containing glucose
Diabetes insipidus is a condition characterized by excessive thirst and excretion of large amounts of severely dilute urine. it is commonly caused by a deficiency of the pituitary hormone vasopressin, which regulates kidney function resulting in urine not containing glucose.
Q: Drug schedules according to drugs and cosmetic act
Ans: Read here: Drugs and Cosmetic Act
Q: Clinical trial phases?
Ans: 1. Early discovery and ongoing research
Phase 1– Safty and best dosage levels are determined, the first phase includes 1-2 dozen participants
Phase 2- Response to new treatment is recorded and analyzed, the second phase includes <100 participants
Phase 3- Results studies may include a placebo submitted to regulatory agencies for approval. the third phase includes 100s of participants.
Phase 4- Treatment is marketed. fourth or last phase includes 1000s of people involved.
Q: Dose of acetaminophen in children?
Ans: 10-15 mg/kg/dose
Q: Tablets definitions
Ans: A tablet in pharmaceuticals is a solid oral dosage form, consisting of a mixture of active ingredients (API) and excipients pressed or compacted into a uniform shape by using a compression machine, often round or oval. It is designed to be taken orally and is commonly used for the delivery of medications. Tablets may contain a variety of active ingredients, including prescription and OTC drugs, vitamins, and dietary supplements.
Q: Capsules definition
Ans: A capsule is a type of oral dosage form that contains a mixture of active ingredients (API) and excipients inside a soft or hard shell. The shell is usually made of gelatin (Hard or soft gelatin) and is designed to dissolve in the digestive system, releasing the active ingredients for absorption into our bloodstream.
Capsules can be used to deliver a variety of medications, including prescription drugs, vitamins, and dietary supplements. capsules are an easy way to take medication and can also help mask unpleasant tastes or odors associated with certain active ingredients. Compared to tablets, capsules can offer a more precise dose of active ingredients and may allow for a faster and more efficient release of the medication into the body system.
Q: Ointment definition
Ans: An ointment in pharma is a semi-solid preparation applied topically to the top of the skin for various therapeutic or cosmetic purposes. It is typically composed of a mixture of active ingredients (API) and excipients, including oils, waxes, and other substances that help to form a smooth and spreadable consistency.
Ointments are used to treat a range of skin conditions, such as dry skin, rashes, cuts, and burns, as well as to deliver medication through the skin for systemic effect. They are also used to protect the skin, provide a barrier to environmental conditions, and relieve itching or pain. Unlike creams, ointments are thicker and more occlusive, making them useful for treating conditions where a high level of hydration is needed.
Q: Emulsion definition
Ans: An emulsion is a type of topical preparation that consists of two immiscible liquids, such as oil and water, and an emulsifying agent stabilizes it. Emulsions are used to deliver active ingredients through the skin and into the bloodstream, where they can have a therapeutic effect.
They are also used as vehicles for various cosmetic and dermatologic products. The stability of an emulsion is dependent on the type and amount of emulsifying agent used, as well as the ratio of oil/water. Some common types of emulsions include oil-in-water (o/w) and water-in-oil (w/o) emulsions. The choice of emulsion type will depend on the intended use and the desired properties of the product, such as skin feel and appearance
Q: Elixir definition
Ans: An elixir is a type of liquid oral medication that contains active ingredients dissolved or suspended in a sweet-tasting syrup base. The syrup base is usually flavored and sweetened to make the drug more palatable. Elixirs are commonly used to deliver medications that are poorly absorbed or poorly tolerated in solid forms, such as certain antibiotics, cough syrups, and iron supplements. They are also useful for delivering medications to children or individuals who have difficulty swallowing pills or tablets. The active ingredients in an elixir are absorbed into the bloodstream through the digestive system, just like with other oral dosage forms.
Q: Liniment definition
Ans: A liniment is a type of topical preparation applied to the skin for therapeutic or medicinal purposes. It is usually a liquid or lotion that contains active ingredients dissolved or suspended in a carrier, such as alcohol or petroleum jelly. Liniments are used to treat a range of conditions, including muscle and joint pain, sprains, and strains, and to relieve soreness and stiffness.
The active ingredients in a liniment are absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream, where they can have a therapeutic effect on the affected area. Some liniments also contain counterirritants, such as menthol or capsaicin, which produce a cooling or warming sensation and help to relieve pain. Unlike ointments, liniments are typically more fluid and are intended for application to large areas of the skin.
Q: What is the difference between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics?
Ans: Pharmacokinetics is related to absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination and Pharmacodynamics is related to efficacy and toxicity.
Q: What do you mean by antibiotics and how are they classified?
Ans: Antibiotics are drugs that fight bacterial infections in patients and animals. they work by killing and inactivating the bacteria or by making it difficult for bacteria to grow and multiply.
Q: What is the FIFO method?
Ans: FIFO is first in, First out, it is a safe practice that ensures your product does not expire or go bad. with FIFO, the oldest products are used or picked first, ensuring product quality and safety.
Q: How you will dispense an inhaler (instructions to be given to the patient)?
Ans: Steps involve:
1. Shake the contents well
2. Remove the cap
3. Hold the inhaler upright
4. Tilt the head back slightly
5. Breath out slowly
6. Open the mouth with the inhaler 1 to 2 inches away or in the mouth with lips tightly sealed around it
7. Begin with taking breathing inside slowly and deeply via the mouth and actuate the canister once
8. Hold your breath for 10-20 sec.
9. Exhale & wait one minute before the sound dose
10. Shake again before the second dose
11. After use, replace the mouthpiece cover
Conclusion:
In conclusion, being well-prepared for a pharmacist job interview is key to successfully landing the position. Understanding the most popular Pharmacist Interview Questions and having thoughtful responses ready can allow you to demonstrate your abilities, expertise, and passion for patient care, increasing your chances of standing out from the crowd. Remember to stay calm, professional, and confident throughout the interview, actively listen to the interviewer’s questions, and provide relevant examples of your experiences to back up your responses. You may ace your pharmacist job interview with the appropriate preparation and attitude and secure a rewarding career in the area of pharmacy.
FAQs on Pharmacist Interview Questions:
What kind of Questions can I expect in a pharmacist job interview?
You must be ready to answer questions related to what motivates you to become a pharmacist. prescription dispensing and drug interactions, your knowledge of drug laws and regulations, and your ability to handle difficult situations like; customer handling.
How can I prepare for a pharmacist job interview?
You can prepare for a pharmacist job interview by doing research on the company where you going to attend an interview, Reviewing your job summary as per your resume, and preparing well by using our article “Pharmacist Interview Questions with Answers”.
What skills are important for a pharmacist?
Attention to detail, good communication skills, awareness of drug interactions, capacity to handle challenging customers, and a dedication to continued education and professional growth are all important abilities for a chemist.
How can I stand out in a pharmacist job interview?
In a pharmacist job interview, you can differentiate yourself by highlighting your relevant skills and experiences, presenting real-life instances of how you have delivered excellent patient care, demonstrating your understanding of drug interactions and best practices, and showcasing your passion for the area of pharmacy.
What are some common mistakes to avoid in a pharmacist job interview?
Common mistakes to avoid in a chemist job interview include providing false information, lacking expertise in the industry, appearing unprofessional or indifferent, and showing a lack in your development and organization programs.