Case Study: Resolving pharmacist staffing challenges

Finding skilled candidates can be like finding a needle in a haystack, especially in such a tight market.

One of our clients, a prominent player in New Zealand’s South Island’s retail sector, faced such a predicament when confronted with a shortage of quality pharmacists.

Tim Shepherd, agency owner of our Retail South Island office, was asked to assist filling two pharmacist roles after having previously filled multiple roles with them including, a Regional Manager, dispensary managers, pharmacists, and technicians for the client.

The Challenge

With the shortage of quality pharmacists, Tim’s client was struggling to fill roles quick enough, in turn placing increased pressure on already stretched teams. Prolonged vacancies led to burnout among existing staff members, while the frequent use of locums incurred additional costs at higher daily wage rates.

To understand his client’s specific requirements, Tim engaged in extensive conversations with key stakeholders including the General Manager, Regional Managers and Business Managers.

They were looking for candidates with a long-term career path, aligned with their commitment to development and support through management training courses. “I was looking to bring them candidates that would now have a career path with them, more than just a job.”

The Solution

By drawing on Frontline’s extensive database and tapping into the networks he’s built in various cities, Tim quickly identified suitable candidates to step into key roles. In turn, Tim helped to significantly reduce the client’s monthly wage bill by diminishing reliance on locums.

The recruitment process, averaging around three weeks per placement, was intensive, involving close collaboration with both the client and the candidates. Tim says, “I dedicate a lot of time, understanding what the client can offer candidate candidates on a long-term basis, ensuring that each candidate is one our client would readily invest time and resources into.”

Final Thoughts

To Tim, the key to success is about creating a close-knit circle between his client, candidates, and himself, ensuring there is very robust, transparent, and honest continuous communication. In this case, after the job offer, he also ensured there was a smooth relocation process for his candidates, offering support in finding accommodation and facilitating a seamless transition.

As he looks ahead, Tim envisions creating a lasting partnership with the client, one founded on honesty, loyalty, and integrity, fostering mutual growth in their respective businesses.

Client Testimonial

“I recently engaged with Tim Shepherd to fill two pharmacist positions in Nelson and Blenheim, and I am extremely satisfied with the service he provided. Tim was very professional and quickly provided two well qualified candidates for us. His attention to our specific requirements and commitment to communication made the process smooth and efficient. I highly recommend Tim and Frontline Recruitment Group for their outstanding recruitment service in this very competitive environment.”

If you’re facing challenged in finding suitable candidates to fill specialised roles, reach out to our team to see how we can help source the right people.