Yesterday, I received an email from HH, one of my blog readers, who asked for some advice on how to apply for a Provisional Registered Pharmacist (PRP) position at a private hospital or premise in Malaysia. In this post, I’m sharing my thoughts, tips and an email template for a job application.
In the last 3 months or so, we witnessed the world slowing down or coming to a complete standstill. It’s good to the environment, but I guess proved ‘bad’ to human-related activities and trades.
The pandemic has caused widespread disruptions, losses and dramatic changes in many sectors for instance, manufacturing, travels, tourism, education and health. We might think that a country needs to boost their health sectors, but truth be told that the humble virus has led to a huge contraction in the economy.
In other words, we are entering a post-Covid economic recession – with governments putting up stimulus packages to revive the domestic economy. Depending on whom you ask (for starters, you can ask Uncle Google), the optimists predict economic recovery in 6 – 12 months.
So it could be more difficult to secure a job, not just the highly competitive PRP positions, but well-paid jobs during this uncertain time.
Getting a job during an economic recession
Before I answer HH’s enquiries, let me tell you a story about my experience getting a job in a private sector during an economic recession.
HH’s email took me back to the year 1998. At the height of the Asian Financial Crisis. My first job, as a fully registered pharmacist, was at a pharmacy in Padang Serai. After about a month, I realised that I couldn’t stand the daily 2-hour grind – driving to my work place using small but busy country roads that seemed to be full of speeding lorries and daredevil ‘kapcai’ bikers.
As you probably know it, Penang drivers are infamous for our ‘crazy’ way of driving; now… add that to unpredictable behaviours of drivers and riders from small towns of Kedah… tough. I felt it was too early to ‘sacrifice’ my life in order to put food on the table. So I was looking for a retail pharmacist position based in the Penang island.
I remember the day vividly. I was having lunch with my late dad and saw an advertisement in The Star for a retail pharmacist at Watson’s Personal Care Stores in Penang. It’s a big player in the retail industry… I asked my dad, do you think I should apply? He looked up from his plate, gave me a looong stare. Even before he said it, I knew the answer: Just do it. Apply.
Long story short. Thanks to my retail pharmacy experience in the first job, I got the desired position at Watson’s. That was about twenty two years ago.
Two lessons from my story here:
- Always keep your eyes (and ears) open to opportunities. These are often hidden behind the anxieties and worries – like clouds over our eyes and minds.
- If that piece of pizza is meant for you, no one can take it away from you. But don’t lah expect the pizza (aka the job) to be hand-delivered right to your door step…
Securing a job during an economic recession takes a lot of effort, thinking and of course, faith.
Enquiries on applying for a PRP post
So I find it interesting and funny (in a strange but good way) when I received HH’s email. Perhaps it’s a signal to do some sharing in this blog post – in the hope that it would help guide you, fresh pharmacy graduates treading this challenging time.
First of all, let me start by asking you to refer to the website of the Pharmacy Board of Malaysia and this list of approved premises for PRP.
Secondly, don’t let your fear, worries and anxieties ‘freeze’ you from apply for a job. Apply to any job that you feel you can do it. Take the first few steps, walk on the path and keep a realistic, positive outlook.
If you feel lost or unsure which pharmacy careers, read this earlier blog post: Doctor, I’m confused… Which pharmacy career should I choose?
A backstory. HH is a fresh graduate of 2020 from one of the private universities in Malaysia. Her first choice is working at a government hospital but due to Covid-19, so far, she heard no news about PRP intake, therefore decided to attempt applying at private hospitals. In short, she felt a bit lost on what’s her next move.
Here’s the first email from HH:
Followed by my reply below:
Take note: Unless there is a PRP job opening, speed is unlikely be the main factor in your job search or soon you’d feel very frustrated. Patience and confidence are key assets.
Second email enquiry on applying for a PRP post
The second email from HH was a little bit longer. So I select only the questions and, please find my answers as follows:
Q: Another question, because they usually provide contact information for a few preceptors from the same institution, should we sent the e-mail to all of them, or should we only select one of them to send our e-mail to?
A: Contents in digital forms (email, photos, pdf, social media posts) make them easy to share and ‘over-share’. And I think it’s a mistake to ‘over-share’ them by sending one email to multiple potential employers.
Some of my former colleagues, lecturers, were offended when they found out that an applicant sent the same email to all of them in the same department. In the end, no one took in the applicant.
My suggestion is to treat perceptors as individuals. Find out about them, read what they’ve written or posted about or care about – why? Because they could be your boss who would eventually evaluate your PRP and submit the report to KKM. So, note down your impressions about them and list them according to your interests or what you find interesting. Email to 1-2 perceptors to gauge the response(s).
It’s also no harm if you call them and ask about the PRP post.
Q: Should I work at somewhere first and wait for government opening for PRP intake? Or should I not waste my time and just apply to private hospitals?
A: Going into the working world would be entirely different than studying. It would not too dramatic if I say, it’s like 180 degree the polar opposite. There is no timetable like in a university. It’s a routine 9-5 pm but a lot freer and may feel ‘time-wasting’ at workplace due to bureaucracy, co-workers’ and people’s varying attitudes towards many things, values and cultures at work.
Depending on your luck… Your bosses and superiors could be more demanding than your ‘most brutal’ lecturers. Because the mindset is ‘We pay you, therefore…’
And be aware of toxic colleagues. They are not paracetamol – they are bent to make your working life hell and won’t relieve your headaches. Rather, they are like cytotoxic drugs, it’s best to protect yourself and minimise your interactions with them.
For PRP, FRP and beyond… My five top tips for job-seekers:
- Cultivate a realistic, positive outlook. Always ask yourself, what can I learn from this activity? There’s always two sides to a coin. What does this ‘time-wasting’ teach me?…
- Apply to 2-3 jobs first to get the ‘feel’ of the job market. Rejections are normal. Don’t get dis-heartened and look for the silver-lining. Apply for another 2-3 jobs; you are young, venture outside your comfort zone.
- Your first job, post-graduation, may not be a PRP. That is, your career may not be a straight line – it could be a curve with peaks and valleys. Or you may have to do deep-dives (bidan terjun) – just do it and learn from the experience.
- Learn about yourself, your talents and experiences. From there, you know your value and what you could offer to a potential employer.
- Never give up. Keep walking. Never ever give up. Eventually you’d land on your first job which may not be your dream job… yet it could open the doors to your dream job.
If you have any further questions, email them to hello at draisyah.com. If you find this helpful, appreciate if you could spread the word. Thank you for reading this post till this end, and all the best in your PRP job search!
Download an email template below – if you plan to apply for a PRP position at a private sector (or beyond):
Semoga bermanfaat!
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