The Midyear Checklist - Compound This

With ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting coming around the corner here are a few things to keep in mind so that you can show up confidently. Your goals, a clear intentional path on how to reach them, and your elevator speech should be rolling off your tongue easily by now. If not, make sure you get into the Midyear Mindset with this post.

Now, if you have the right mindset and you are ready to meet with other like minded pharmacists at the biggest gathering this year, then consider the following:

Curriculum Vitae

This is your professional resume and how you will present yourself during your interviews. Personally, I would not print too many. Have a few for your Personal Placement Service
(PPS) interviews and maybe 2-5 extra. There are 2 main things to keep in mind with the CVs. Have about 5 people proofread them for mistakes. Most importantly, make sure you can speak to every bullet point, topic, award, or experience printed on your CV. Anything on there is fair game! Read over it on the plane and be able to tell a story when speaking about it to an interviewer.

For example, I had a unique experience on my CV that I had kind of forgotten about. I helped my school host a health fair during our trip to South Africa for spring break. Had I not refreshed my memory by looking over it on the plane I would have missed the opportunity to connect with my interviewer. My interviewer had studied abroad in the same city and we spent the whole interview talking about Africa and how much fun we had!

Business Cards

I like plain and simple business cards with a QR code and nothing on the back. Please don’t go broke trying to over design and outshine; you have so many other things to do. Link the QR code to your CV. This way if you make a connection they can access your CV. I also like the CamCard app for professional meetings and conferences. With this app you can take a picture of a business card and it can organize that person as a contact.

Outfits

When packing for Midyear make sure to pack timeless pieces that you can mix and match. I was not prepared for how many outfits I would need; this is especially true if you are applying for fellowships. There are alot of secret mixers and receptions. So do not pack just one outfit per day. Plan for professional interview wear, a few fun outfits for receptions, and some casual outfits for secret mixers like brunch.

Ladies, pack suits, dresses, blouses, and comfortable shoes! You may want to make a statement in heels, but you are walking miles in this conference and hustling to get to each meeting. If you insist on heels, carry them in your briefcase or laptop bag and switch them for flats between interviews. Gentlemen, try on everything before packing and even take some pictures of the outfits so you know what to wear on certain days.

Attendance

Plan to attend everything! I want you to go and give it your all at Midyear. Look at the schedule and go through it like you are searching for a missing person! If you are trying to decide what to attend on day 2 of the conference you are already late. I want you to have your itinerary mapped and planned out before you even touch down in Vegas! For example here are a list of things you should be in attendance for:

Arrive early and attend what you can. Show up 5-10 minutes before any scheduled interview. This meeting is large, give yourself a cushion in case you get lost or just have a really long walk. The residency showcases are hectic but just learn the program, meet people, and decide if you get a good first impression. Be respectful and try not to take up too much time from any particular person at the showcase.

Hopefully you get a chance to present at the poster presentations, if not go support your classmates or professors who are. Hint, hint: if a residency or hospital you are applying to is presenting a poster, stop by and chat with them. This is the most relaxed way to speak to directors or residents about their passion and the program.

Attending workshops are a really great networking tool and most always help boost confidence. Go to the presentations as well. Skim through the schedule and see if any topic pops out that you may be interested in. Show up early, sit up front, speak to the speaker, ask questions, and expand your mind. You may meet a resident or director for a program that you overlooked and may want to apply too.

Conclusion

Most importantly, remember to have a good time. Attending the ASHP Midyear Meeting is an opportunity for you to show off all of the amazing skills you’ve acquired during pharmacy school. So when you land in Vegas make sure you take a deep breath and have a great time! Best of luck and Compound This will be back to share what to do after you killed it at Midyear.