Hi, I'm a pharmacist with 5 years experience in community pharmacy. I'm looking to transition into a consulting role associated with health care. Can I get some advice on how go about this?

Absolutely, transitioning from pharmacy to consulting is doable, especially in healthcare consulting. I for example have worked with doctors who made the switch, which tells me its feasible.

Start by :

1. Researching which consulting firms either specialize in pharma (boutique firms) or have offices with a strong pharma presence. You can usually get a feel of this from their websites.

2. Networking : reach out to ex-pharmacists or healthcare professionals now in consulting (Linkedin can help in finding these people)

3. Prepare for interviews: as you don't come from a business background, invest some time and effort in interview prep, and showcasing what matters in your CV and cover letter. I would recommend working with a coach (don't hesitate to reach out to me for a discussion)

hey Tulsi!

This transition is definitely doable, especially with your experience. One of my friends made the same move and now works at BCG—he found mentoring really helpful, and I actually did some coaching sessions with him as well. I think having a coach is one of the easiest ways to prepare well, especially for case interviews and understanding consulting culture.

Besides that, try to highlight your healthcare expertise and problem-solving skills in your application, and start practicing cases regularly. If you want, I can share some resources or help you get started!

Alessa

Hi Tulsi, 

Sure - happy to help. Feel free to reach out. 

I've worked with several people with a background in healthcare and helped them with transitions into consulting. Typically, pharmacists, doctors, chemists, etc. are favourably looked upon by consulting firms because of their strong analytical skills and a proven track record of academic excellence. These need to come across clearly on the CV, while also highlighting any 'consulting-like' experience you might've accumulated. 

You might also find these two articles helpful:

• Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy
• Expert Guide: What Do Management Consultants Do?

Best,

Cristian

It's certainly an achievable transition. In addition to what others have mentioned, I'd suggest also reaching out to anyone you can find on LinkedIn who has pursued a similar path. You might be able to get some extra-helpful tips from them.

I suggest you provide more information regarding your profile and aspiration, otherwise all the suggestions will be generic and not tailored to your specific situation.