Need for both high CGPA and soft skills

community pharmacists.

Fresh pharmacy graduates can opt to serve in local community pharmacies while waiting for the job interview to gain exposure to the management of prescription medications, dispensing of medication and counselling patients. They may be given the opportunity to assist the pharmacist in conducting basic preliminary health screening, given their skills and expertise, for instance monitoring blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol. The stint in the community pharmacies can increase their level of professional competency and build work readiness prior to working in government hospitals.

Soft skills can be gained and developed when students are involved in community outreach programmes offered by for instance non-profit, non-governmental organisations. There are plenty of volunteering opportunities available in the country for pharmacy graduates to address the needs of orphans and disabled children, and be part of support groups for people recovering from substance abuse. Working with people from various backgrounds can help to develop positive attitude, improve interpersonal skills and problem-solving ability.

With the recent restricted number of Provisionally Registered Pharmacist training placements coupled with an increasing number of pharmacy graduates, one must strive to be competitive and be indispensable to secure a job.

There are various methods to improve spoken and written English. For example, one can enrol in English communication and/or writing classes. Setting up a blog to practise writing articles in English pertaining to pharmacyrelated subjects can also be useful in recalling the theories learnt during the undergraduate years. Surrounding themselves in an all English-speaking environment may also help to improve students’ command of English.

The pharmacy faculty can organise a workshop for fresh graduates and invite experienced pharmacists to share their insights and updates on employment trends and internship opportunities. Lecturers and faculty members can also provide support by offering them work as tutors for undergraduates or as research assistants. Lecturers can act as mentors to guide them through exposure to different sets of teaching or research skills and the culture of their disciplines, particularly for those who wish to pursue academic careers.

Both high CGPA and good soft skills are important for pharmacy graduates to excel in their future job hunt and, therefore, should be prioritised. With the recent restricted number of PRP training placements coupled with an increasing number of pharmacy graduates, one must strive to be competitive and be indispensable to secure a job. It is envisioned that the integration of soft skills with pharmacy practice can be improved as one of the core modules in the pharmacy curriculum via concerted efforts from pharmacy academicians.