Imagine you've just left university and started your dream job – the work challenges and motivates you, your colleagues are inspirational and you can see yourself moving up the company ranks during your career.
This might be something we all aspire to, but the reality is that few jobs are for life. If you're going to push your career forward you're probably going to need to look beyond the company you work for and those you work closest with.
This is where networking comes in. Networking, or building useful professional contacts, is essential to alert you to, and enable you to make the most of, new job or business opportunities. Speaking to pharmacists with similar interests could help you find out, for example, about events that might improve your knowledge and skill mix, or new services your pharmacy could offer.
It also means you can share best practice, or seek advice on issues you might be facing that others have already experienced. Having that support can be a great asset.
As Jane Lumb, Numark's training manager, says, developing networking skills is 'essential for those looking to develop either themselves or their businesses'.
Ms Lumb says the first stage in successful networking is to think about what you are trying to achieve and take the time to find the people who matter in that area.
For many pharmacists the aim will be to build a network of peers with whom they can share ideas or discuss problems. A good place to start will be local representative groups such as LPCs or RPSGB branches. Ms Lumb says: 'Both will provide access to key pharmacists in your area and should provide valuable insight into local priorities.'
Other ways to network include training events or conferences, and the RPSGB is to pilot an online solution to help groups of like-minded pharmacists. (www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news).
Healthcare professionals outside pharmacy also make valuable contacts If you're considering taking a more specialist qualification, such as becoming a pharmacist prescriber, for example, it could be helpful to talk to GPs or nurses. Ms Lumb says links with GPs are 'one key relationship that pharmacists often forget to invest time in cultivating'.
Relationships with PCTs are also vital. Networking with the trusts is a key way to help ensure pharmacy gets services commissioned and becomes part of the primary care community. This could help your own career too. You'll be likely to hear about local opportunities and it will make you an attractive prospect for pharmacy businesses looking to influence their PCTs.
Kirstie Hepburn, director of the Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man region at Lloydspharmacy, says the company encourages all pharmacists and pharmacy managers to network. She suggests: 'As well as making contacts within healthcare, I encourage pharmacists to go into local schools and nurseries to talk about the services they provide as well as keeping a regular dialogue with local traders.'
Whoever you decide to network with, the key is to get talking. Ms Hepburn rates attending events as a good tactic: 'My advice is to attend events and get involved. It's important to be visible, which means participating. If you volunteer your services and make a contribution it will help you in making those useful contacts.'
Simple things such as asking a question at a conference, making those around you feel comfortable or writing a letter to a magazine can help get you noticed. Or ask mutual contacts to introduce you.
Above all, it's important to go out there and do it, however scary that might be. As Ms Lumb concludes: 'The best networkers are not necessarily those with the most confidence, but those who remember networking is a two-way street and take the time to listen.'
Why network?
Three people with different roles across community pharmacy explain why contacts are key
Tony Mottram, Numark managing director, says networking is 'simply about relationships'. And wherever your career takes you, good relationships with colleagues 'help you to make good decisions, create opportunities and, above all, can help you to achieve your objectives'.
John Evans, superintendent pharmacist at Asda, says: ' I think it's very easy for pharmacists not to network – just going into work, dispensing prescriptions and being quite isolated. [But] pharmacists have to be big people as opposed to just working away in their pharmacies.'
Mike Hewitson, contractor at Beaminster Pharmacy in Dorset, knows just how isolated pharmacy can be – his nearest independent rival is 25 miles away. Mr Hewitson's tactic is to talk to people at the end of any events, and he is also helping to launch a more formal networking programme for independents in the area. The group plans to hold meetings in which they will talk about how to get the most from their businesses. Mr Hewitson says he hopes they will be able to help each other identify possible new services to offer and to save each other time by sharing experiences. For example, Mr Hewitson says, one pharmacist might already have written a new procedure for their pharmacy to comply with new requirements, so they could share that with the group to avoid duplicating efforts.