Will I get a job right after pharmacy school? How long will it take to get a job after pharmacy school? I know there are considerations to be made when applying for jobs. Considerations such as the field you’d like to work in, work environment, potential for growth in a company, weekend and holiday work expectations, benefits, etc. If I was speaking to you traditionally, I would push the narrative that you must weigh all the considered factors to find a job that’s the perfect fit for you, but I have to be real. With the saturation in the field of pharmacy, I feel it’s most important to get your foot in the door. This may mean starting off in a different field or with less desirable work conditions like working nights or weekends. However, after you get your foot in the door, you can take the necessary steps to get to your desired career field. And if you optimize your time and resources while there, you may even come out with a new set of contacts from networking and new skills to add to your resume that will make you even more desirable as a pharmacist.
Let’s start with the statistics… that I am sure you have already looked up if you have ever asked or looked into any of the questions listed above. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for 2018 through 2028 is 0%, meaning little or no change between these years. It actually shows a decrease due to a projected decrease in the need for pharmacists in the pharmacies and drug stores. On top of a declining need for pharmacists in drug stores, the number of pharmacy schools have increased and are graduating approximately 14,000 to 15,000 new pharmacists yearly according to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
What about having done a residency? That should look good on a resume and increase the chances of employment, right? Of course, it does. Having completed a residency gives you three to five years of relevant experience. However, with a shortage in job opportunities, there is still less of a chance for you to gain employment. You will still be considered more qualified than the individuals without residencies, but now your competition will be others with the exact same qualifications as you. What will make you stand out from the next person whose resume looks just like yours?
Some people have the advantage of having worked or currently working as a pharmacy intern or technician during school. Unfortunately, this does not include the time you put in working for free and learning during your Advanced Pharmacy Practices Experiences. These people may be able to more easily transition into a pharmacist position if there are any available positions where they are currently employed. Even as a technician, you may have a better chance because you’ve been with the company, know how they operate, and even though your job description and tasks were different, it was known that you were in pharmacy school and could be assumed you have the required knowledge at this point to carry out the responsibilities as a pharmacist. The one thing these people had over me was… (drum roll please)… EXPERIENCE! So, these individuals may also be looked at over you because they have as close to relevant experience as you can get except for having done a residency. Once again, no, all the hours put in working for free and learning during APPEs do not count unfortunately.
Now on to my experience getting my first job as a pharmacist. I applied for positions and went on about three, yes only three interviews (I was a little eager to get work) before I decided I had to try another way. I decided it wouldn’t hurt to try the old school “door to door” approach. Oh, and that was after I realized I got licensed somewhere where there weren’t a lot of job openings at the time. Luckily, I lived in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area. So, I set up an exam date and began studying for another law exam. Any who, I knew of this independent pharmacy next door to the nail salon that my cousin owns. I put on business professional attire, made a trip over there, spoke with the owner/pharmacist, and dropped off a resume. I began working there within a week as a Graduate Pharmacy Intern and took my second law exam maybe two weeks into working there. I checked my results while at work one day early in the week and saw that I had passed. I let my boss know, and his words to me were, “Congrats! See you on Friday,” meaning he would not be back to the pharmacy until Friday, so I was running the show. Oh, and we had a pizza party that day to celebrate lol. During the time all of this was occurring, I had also heard back from another independent pharmacy where I had dropped off a resume. A month into working there I also heard back from another company I applied for informing me that I was progressing to the virtual interview. Long story short, I got that job and began working there initially as a per diem employee, so I was still able to work at the independent pharmacy. I am with this company currently and love my position as a clinical home infusion pharmacist.
Your dream job may not be the first job offer you receive, and it may not come traditionally, but get your foot in the door. You’ll gain new connections, access to free resources via your company, and skill development. Working at the independent pharmacy gave me managerial experience because I was the only pharmacist present majority of the days I worked. We’ll talk about that experience another time. Remain flexible, and don’t ever stop striving and preparing for your dream job!
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[…] Successful women have that “I’ve already got it” mentality, and that’s what’s needed in life. You’ve got to know that you’ve got it and it’s yours before you even arrive. It doesn’t matter who the competition is or whether anyone else thinks you’re qualified. People love to talk about manifesting things, but manifestation doesn’t work if you don’t actually believe it. Don’t give people room to have the thought, “who are you trying to convince, me or yourself?” You have to already know that whatever it is that you want is already yours. Hold your head high, walk into the room, and own it. Whether you’re interviewing, speaking in front of an audience, or even attending a networking event. I definitely had to have confidence when implementing what I did in the post “https://theluxedocs.com/will-i-get-a-job-after-pharmacy-school-how-i-landed-my-first-job-as-a-pharma….” […]