Ayoub started his trainee pharmacist foundation year in August on a multi-sector split in community, GP and hospital placements and has just moved onto his second GP rotation. Throughout the upcoming year, he’s documenting his journey of the trainee year – from his hopes for the year, how he’s balancing working, revising and wellbeing, to how he’s getting mentally prepared for his assessment … and everything else in between! In this update, he shares his thoughts and experiences of the workload, learning pressure and how snacks and sing-alongs make the days better!
The transition from being a student to working full time as a trainee has definitely been a big change.
Going from the lively, spontaneous atmosphere of university where you’re always surrounded by friends and classmates to a professional setting where you might be the only trainee can feel a bit isolating at first. At the start, I found myself doubting my social confidence in this new “adult” rhythm, but once I started chatting with colleagues, saying yes to plans and joining in small conversations, things quickly became easier and more natural. The workplace began to feel familiar and comfortable.
In terms of wellbeing, I struggled at first to balance everything, like keeping up with friends, going to the gym and spending time with family. I realised pretty fast that neglecting these things led to burnout. Now, I prioritise them in a balanced way. I go to the gym or meet friends if I feel up for it, and if I don’t, I let myself rest without feeling guilty.
It’s all about setting boundaries with yourself and others and taking time for self-care.
Moving between community and GP sectors has been both exciting and challenging because each one has its own rhythm and pace. The saddest part is saying goodbye to the team you’ve gotten close to, especially when the workplace has started to feel familiar.
My biggest tip for others moving into a new sector, is to carry forward the skills you’ve developed, but also give yourself time at the start to get to know the new team. This interpersonal side is just as important as building your clinical knowledge, and it does take some energy, so pace yourself. Taking the time to settle in and build relationships will make adapting to the new environment much easier and more rewarding.
Honestly, it never really feels like I’m fully on top of the workload and learning … there’s always another task waiting!
What helps is taking a step back and recognising what I’ve already done. In pharmacy, we’re so focused on output that we sometimes forget to celebrate progress.
My favourite thing to use now is a handwritten to-do list. There’s something satisfying about physically crossing things off. Seeing how much I’ve accomplished helps me feel more confident tackling the next task. Someone once told me that motivation is a cycle, where action leads to reward which then leads to more action. That’s exactly how my to-do list works!
As for preparing for the GPhC exam, I haven’t properly started yet, and that’s okay. My plan until December is to keep it light, refresh my notes, work on e-portfolio evidence and brush up on calculations and MEP. A lot of the content was covered at university, so now it’s about applying that knowledge in practice and learning from real patient cases.
My most memorable moment so far has to be the karaoke and snacking sessions during my community placement!
None of us could sing, but that didn’t stop us when the shop was quiet. I’m also a big foodie, so I was glad my colleagues were too. Those moments always made the day better. We joked that we spent more time at work than at home, so it’s a good thing the pharmacy started to feel like a second home.
If you’re struggling to settle in or are feeling overwhelmed about the year ahead, my main advice would be to focus on learning through experience.
Every patient interaction, whether it’s counselling, doing a medication review or taking a drug history, is an opportunity to build confidence and skills. Use quieter moments to review cases, guidelines or practice calculations. Progress comes in small steps, and over time you’ll notice how much you’ve learned and how much more confident you feel.
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