Career Planning

Creating a strategic and thoughtful plan to help you get your dream job starts the day you enter pharmacy school.

Create a Positive Professional Image

Manage your online image and create a personal brand

Your Online Image from MU Career Center
Join LinkedIn

Use a professional email signature

Student first and last name (larger and distinct font)
University of Missouri-Kansas City (Add "at MU" if in Columbia or "at MSU" if in Springfield)
Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 20XX
Phone number
UMKC email address

Hand out business cards — optional

Templates are available on the OSA Canvas site under Student Business Cards.

Update your resume

Resumes and Professional Communications from MU Career Center

Take Coursework That Will Set You Apart

UMKC Pharm.D. students may complete coursework that will help to set them apart when preparing for residencies and the workforce. You can complete these courses as part of your Pharm.D. electives, or as part of coordinated programs. With the help of your pharmacy faculty advisor, you can create a roadmap that reflects your interests and career goals.

Coordinated programs:

Be Active in Student Organizations

Give back to your community.
Learn about career options and the qualifications to be competitive in that field.
Refine your patient care skills.
Complete co-curricular requirements.
Create personal and professional networks with faculty, professionals in the field, senior students, classmates and students at other sites.
Enhance your qualifications for jobs and residencies.
Advocate for your patients and your profession.

Explore School of Pharmacy student organizations

Explore the Job Market

Job boards administered by professional organizations:

Professional job and networking sites:

Attend the School of Pharmacy Career Fair:

Career fair information

Additional resources:

Learn More About Residencies and Fellowships

Attend the Residency Roundtable sponsored by the Student Society of Health System Pharmacists (PDF) in late September or early October.
Talk to faculty advisors about their residency training.
Join student organizations that can teach you about residencies and fellowships and explore their parent organizations' websites.
Read residency information from professional organizations.
Academy of Managed Care Pharmacists
American Society of Health System Pharmacists
American College of Clinical Pharmacy
American Pharmacists Association
National Community Pharmacists Association

Explore UMKC-affiliated residencies

Prepare for the NAPLEX and MPJE

Download the NAPLEX/MPJE Registration Bulletin

Self-assess your readiness for the NAPLEX and MPJE:

Your academic performance — did you struggle with specific parts of the curriculum, and does that content relate to the NAPLEX competency statements?
PreNAPLEX and PCOA scores from P3 year
History of test anxiety on standardized tests
Slow test-taker or fast test-taker
Top 200 brand and generics knowledge
Pharmacy calculations skills
Preferred learning style when selecting prep materials

Create a study plan for your P4 year:

Use NAPLEX practice tests to assess your baseline knowledge and become comfortable with the NAPLEX testing format.
PreNAPLEX, vendor’s Q Banks
Proactively address test anxiety.
Make an appointment at your campus's counseling center.
Set a study start date and a consistent study schedule. Start early and take breaks — be realistic about how much you can study on a given day or period of time.
- Develop the stamina to sit for the exam. It's like training to run a marathon.
- Select test prep methods that suit your learning style, are up to date, fit your budget and make practice tests available.