Five years of sleepless nights, hundreds of coffee cups and dozens of panic attacks later, and you're finally done with university – and the pre-registration exam.

So you’re a pharmacist. Now what?

I’ve created a list of helpful tips and must-dos that I wish I had known when I first got my name on the General Pharmaceutical Council register and began looking for work in community pharmacy.

Indemnity insurance

Indemnity insurance is an insurance policy designed to protect professionals and business owners when they are found to be at fault for a specific event. If you’re working as a locum, it’s essential that you get an indemnity insurance policy to cover you while you’re at work.

The National Pharmacy Association and the Pharmacists’ Defence Association both provide indemnity insurance. You should read through their policies and find out what services they provide, what their cover entails, and any associated costs, before making your decision.

Medicines use reviews and other accreditations

This is a necessity for most, if not all, employers in community pharmacy. If you haven’t got your certificate already, there are a few course providers who offer the learning materials and e-assessment for this.

Have a look at which one you would feel works best for you. They all have different time requirements and slightly different question formats.

The MUR certificate is a must, but there are a few other accreditations that are really useful. In fact, some have even become a necessity when looking for work at larger chains. These are:

• Emergency hormonal contraception
• Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults (level 2)
• Repeat dispensing
• Summary care records
• Becoming a Dementia Friend.

Courses such as flu vaccine training are also sought after by some employers, but usually aren’t essential.

Applying and working in community pharmacy

If you’re looking for a full time job, you will need a CV and cover letter. You can have a look at the C+D Jobs website to view some of the latest vacancies.

Some places will ask that you have experiences as a pharmacist before applying. The good news is you can sign up to some locum agencies or join groups on social media platforms – such as Facebook or WhatsApp – and start working as a locum to build up your CV.

Some employers and locum agencies insist on a disclosure and barring service (DBS) check (previously know as a ‘CRB check’). Many of these agencies also sell the checks – but it’s best to compare the prices first.

Even after singing up to agencies and being part of Facebook groups, depending on where you live, it isn’t always that easy to find locum positions. When I first started, I had to travel around an hour for some of my bookings. But as you build up your experience, it becomes easier to find locum shifts closer to you.

Locum pay is a big – and often contentious – issue, and rates are variable. C+D produced an article in May outlining how average locum rates vary across the UK. These rates can depend on many factors – including locums negotiating their rate with employers (on which C+D has provided another relevant article here).

I have been qualified for a year, but I still haven’t forgotten my first day as a pharmacist. It’s exciting and you have a sense of relief that all the hard work over the years has led to this moment. You get a feeling of pride putting your ‘responsible pharmacist’ sign on display.

As a locum, you might find yourself feeling a bit out of sync with the rest of the pharmacy. It’s normal, but it’s important to familiarise yourself with the pharmacy at the start of the day.

This includes reading through the standard operating procedures (SOPs), governance information, health and safety information, and speaking to your support staff to find out how they like to work.

Reece Samani is the director of social platform The Locum App. Email him at [email protected]