I'm a P3 now and I've searched forever for a job. I've had 4 interviews so far, have gone in stores and asked for jobs and called every pharmacy I could possibly think of. I even have three intern licenses for three different states, though that hasn't helped at all. Although I will still be looking for a job, I just want to be realistic and know how much of a disadvantage not having a job will put me in, especially considering I want to do residency. I have experience as a first responder, currently work on campus and am an officer for a few organizations and am also active in a professional pharmacy organization. I also just got into the PharmD/MBA program, so I'm considering pursuing that as well. I'm considering even attempting to get my EMT license and do some clinical work there (I'm not sure if I will have time for that) but not being in a clinical/community setting makes me feel so far behind the rest of my classmates in knowing the general protocol of working in a pharmacy and the fact people are having a hard time finding a job is discouraging as well. My IPPE preceptor told me she never had a job at school as well as a grad intern who was there at the time, but everybody in my class has a job. Insight would be helpful. Maybe some encouragement too. lol
Not having a job while in school definitely puts you at a disadvantage after graduation when it comes time to looking for jobs. I know you are asking about residency, but let me tell you, I know first hand that not working is like shooting yourself in the foot.
Take it from me: I graduated from pharmacy school in May and have been licensed since August. I never worked in my 4 years of school simply because I wanted to have time off for myself after dedicating myself to school. I DID work in a retail chain before I was accepted into pharmacy school for about six months. Nothing while in school. While in school, I focused on learning, IPPEs, APPEs, and leisure time. And here I am four months after licensure: I haven't found a job yet anywhere in my state, including rural areas. Sure, I finally had an interview with CVS two days ago and have another one scheduled for this Monday, but this is after four months since obtaining my license. All of my friends and acquaintances who worked while in school have been employed as full-time pharmacists since August. Experience matters. You still have time to find a job while in school. Even if you work for 10 hours a week it's better than nothing.
Yes, I am also very picky and have been fighting to find a job in my location and have no desire to move to a rural area. But then again, as I said, I've also applied to rural areas and have not heard a clue. The odds are now appearing to shift in my favor as I have 2 interviews within days of each other in my desired location. Keep in mind, however, to get to this point, I've had to persevere, not quit, and keep pushing. But it's very difficult.
Don't make the same mistake. I damned myself and sold my soul by not working. Don't doom yourself. It's simple economics: A surplus of pharmacists, like any good or service, causes devaluation of that good or service and shifts the power from your hands to employers. Why should they hire someone inexperienced when they have a multitude of graduates who did work while in school and will not require training? I'll be able to get a job, but the point is, it's much more difficult without experience. This isn't 2007 or 2008: In those times, you could coast through pharmacy school, not work, and have 5 or 6 job offers before making it to your P4 year. Times have changed. A Pharm.D. and a license mean almost NOTHING without experience. Sadly, they may be missing out on some very talented people who are fast learners and could prove to be valuable asset to the company, but this is the way of the world. And these days, you must play by their rules. For more information, read the thread I created titled "Finally have an interview....". Good luck.
