Name: Bozhana Deneva
Nationality: Bulgarian
School of Study: Life and Health Sciences
Degree Programme: Pharmacy
Did you undertake a placement year, if so at which organisation? I have nearly finished a 1 year placement in an
independent community pharmacy
Year of Graduation: 2014
Current Job Title/ PG Course: Pre-registration pharmacist
Current Company/Institution: : Yorcare Ltd.
Industry: Pharmaceutical
My Story
Share your story…
Provide a brief overview of your career path and work experience or further study to date including
details of your current role:
After finishing university, I started my pre-registration year in an independent community pharmacy. It was
challenging to change my routine from university and start a full-time job but I feel that I have learnt a lot
about practice after leaving university. I have strengthened my knowledge about therapeutics and overthe-counter medication, as well as prepared for my registration assessment.
The best thing about your current role is…
Each day is different in a community pharmacy because apart from the repeat prescriptions, there are
many walk-ins where you need to think on your feet and ensure that you give the most appropriate advice.
There are various roles that I undertake apart from dispensing, which extend from responding to minor
ailments through disposing of returned or out-of-date stock up to maintaining correct records in the
Controlled Drugs register and measuring methadone.
Most valuable skills…
What do you think are the most important skills/strengths you need to make a success of what you do?
I believe that in order to succeed you need a lot of patience and perseverance. Aston University is a
fantastic place to study Pharmacy because you get to know all of your lecturers and receive a lot of support
from them. This does not guarantee success though because you should work hard for it. However, I have
proved for myself that all the effort pays off and it is worth to focus on building your own bright future.
My golden nugget of advice would be…
What advice would you share with students considering a similar path, or is there one invaluable thing
you have learned, gained or experienced to give your career/further study a boost?
Do not give up once you start because the beginning of this career can be difficult, but the activities and
communities the university provides and the future friendships with people from all over the world are an
invaluable experience. I highly recommend coming to the School of Pharmacy open days at Aston
University because this will give you a chance to meet current pharmacy students as well as some of the
pharmacy lecturers. There are loads of opportunities for pharmacists after graduation so I reassure you
not worry if you have not decided which direction to follow when you start this degree. You will have
numerous occasions during the four years in Pharmacy to arrive at a decision of what you would like to get
involved into during your career.
Give us a quote!
Impart your words of wisdom with fellow students and graduates. Provide us with an inspirational
quotation that we can share with others.
Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, it empties today of its strength.
Have we helped?
Please let us know if you have a used Careers+Placements services to help you gain work experience,
find a job, gain interview support, meet employers, write your CV or anything else in person, online or
via Aston Futures.
The Careers and Placement services at university organised a workshop which helped me create a
successful CV and motivational letter.
aston.ac.uk/careers