Should I stay in pharmacy school?

[Sadapik]

Hi everyone! I desperately need your opinion. My background: I am 28 year old immigrant. I moved to USA 6 years ago. I got my associates from CC and got accepted to PharmD program (the best school in IL). Now, I am about to be a second year pharmacy student and I am afraid of my future. My fiancé is a web developer. Looking at his work/life schedule I feel like I did a mistake. I went into pharmacy because it didn’t require a bachelors degree, and being an immigrant and go to school for full time is extremely hard. That’s why I choice the easier way. Now, thinking about my future and looking at my loans I am thinking of quitting and perusing something else instead. Additionally, I used to work at CVS, but couldn’t take it so I quit. Currently I don’t work at all. And before I start my second year, I wanted to get some advice from you!
Thank you!

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[mentos]

Get out before you get yourself more into debt. If you hate CVS then why did you pursue pharmacy? 75% of new grads end up working in retail if they are lucky to find a job.

 

[confettiflyer]

What are the realistic odds that you can outperform your peers in school and land a hospital/residency or other job-retail position after school is done?

Be honest about your performance skills and ability to pick up an inpatient intern position while in school.

Do any of your first year classes transfer to other non-pharmacy programs toward another degree? Would hate for that first year to be a total waste.

 

[Abby Atwood]

It’s hard to advise on best course of action without knowing why you quit CVS. I love my current job in pharmacy. My previous job was a great opportunity for professional development, but I didn’t like it (not because of the work but because of the people). It was a pretty toxic environment and I resigned from that position eventually. Quitting one job doesn’t mean that you aren’t suited for pharmacy. Even if retail is completely not what you are cut out for, there are other jobs in pharmacy. There are just fewer jobs that are not retail, so it might take time to find the job that you want. It’s also a bit riskier of a career path because there is less job availability if retail is entirely out of the question. If you hate everything about pharmacy and you are miserable, it would be better to get out now than to pay the additional years of tuition.

 

[deleted727644]

get out now when youre in $50k debt as opposed to $200k. Did you do your IPPEs yet? Do you have a backup plan? will you go to something engineering related?

 

[Dred Pirate]

based on the just the title of the thread- I say - no - do not stay in pharmacy school.
It sucks you already paid money - hopefully it was in-state tuition at UIC or SIU
Like was said earlier- most grads end up in retail- you already know you hate that.

 

[PharmtoCS]

Get out of pharmacy before you accumulate more student debt. Pharmacy is a dead end shrinking profession with far more new grads than jobs available.

The best time to drop out was before starting pharmacy school. The next best time to drop out is now.

 

[BC_89]

Hi everyone! I desperately need your opinion. My background: I am 28 year old immigrant. I moved to USA 6 years ago. I got my associates from CC and got accepted to PharmD program (the best school in IL). Now, I am about to be a second year pharmacy student and I am afraid of my future. My fiancé is a web developer. Looking at his work/life schedule I feel like I did a mistake. I went into pharmacy because it didn’t require a bachelors degree, and being an immigrant and go to school for full time is extremely hard. That’s why I choice the easier way. Now, thinking about my future and looking at my loans I am thinking of quitting and perusing something else instead. Additionally, I used to work at CVS, but couldn’t take it so I quit. Currently I don’t work at all. And before I start my second year, I wanted to get some advice from you!
Thank you!

Although your reasons for choosing pharmacy is understandable, it isn't a valid reason to jump into this profession. Unlike many other careers, you get the opportunity to work right alongside a pharmacist from the beginning to the end of school. You did that, you didn't like it, and you quit. That experience should be a strong indicator of what to expect upon graduation.

As far as pivoting away from school: some programs will actually recognize you of having a bachelors degree upon completion of "X amount" of credits. If you study hard and maintain a high GPA, you may consider sticking around, get your bachelors (if offered), and then make a move toward another health profession.

Get in touch with your program and see if this is a viable option.

 

[projektreverb]

Should you stay in pharmacy school? No.

 

[RXDOC1986]

Hi everyone! I desperately need your opinion. My background: I am 28 year old immigrant. I moved to USA 6 years ago. I got my associates from CC and got accepted to PharmD program (the best school in IL). Now, I am about to be a second year pharmacy student and I am afraid of my future. My fiancé is a web developer. Looking at his work/life schedule I feel like I did a mistake. I went into pharmacy because it didn’t require a bachelors degree, and being an immigrant and go to school for full time is extremely hard. That’s why I choice the easier way. Now, thinking about my future and looking at my loans I am thinking of quitting and perusing something else instead. Additionally, I used to work at CVS, but couldn’t take it so I quit. Currently I don’t work at all. And before I start my second year, I wanted to get some advice from you!
Thank you!

Why was it hard being an immigrant AND going to school for a BS degree? I did it, granted it was 100 years ago! You thought getting a Pharm.D. was easier than a BS degree? AND you couldn't take what at CVS? You have to take a close look. Despite all the doom and gloom on this board, there are actually people graduating pharmacy school and working.

 

[Xenophylia]

Pharmacy pretty much sux. Get out while you still have a semblance of a soul.

 

[randompharm]

Why was it hard being an immigrant AND going to school for a BS degree? I did it, granted it was 100 years ago! You thought getting a Pharm.D. was easier than a BS degree? AND you couldn't take what at CVS? You have to take a close look. Despite all the doom and gloom on this board, there are actually people graduating pharmacy school and working.

Doom and gloom on the “board”? Pharmacy is the worst projected profession in existence and worst ranked in healthcare. This is hard data and numbers from reputable organizations who spend day in day out doing this, not an opinion. Just because there’s people working doesn’t mean it’s good or worthwhile. It’s akin to banging a STD ridden “escort” (to be politically correct) - just because others do it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea, on the contrary, it’s a terrible one whichever way you view it. ~200 out of 15,000 got into Industry in 2021 (pretty much out of scope for any student), 80% in retail, PGYs can’t even find jobs. New grad salaries are 75-80k and that’s assuming they get jobs, and that’s now, not when graduating 6-10 years from now. Many schools now have to teach suicide prevention in the curriculum (yes, serious) due to student/pharmacist suicides rates. There is now “holistic grading” pharmacy schools where GPA doesn’t exist, either satisfactory or not. If it’s anything, it’s just facts, and the data is there for anyone to view/confirm but many choose not to (and that’s the ones the schools prey on). It’s largely the fault of the predatory schools and there now being 140+ schools. We’re not even going to get into the 0 ROI and opportunity cost aspect. 10 years ago, it was ok, post 2018 anyone going to Pharmacy school should seriously reevaluate their ability to make adult/adult risk/reward decisions.

OP, If this didn’t answer your question, no you should not stay in pharmacy school. Even without knowing you, i feel comfortable telling you that as many others have, and that’s without taking into account the doubts you already have. You can still leave, do something else that will have you graduate around the same time you would have as a pharmacist, make more money, have a more versatile degree, and stay in healthcare if you choose to with much less debt, happier, etc.

 

[Igra]

Doom and gloom on the “board”? Pharmacy is the worst projected profession in existence and worst ranked in healthcare. This is hard data and numbers from reputable organizations who spend day in day out doing this, not an opinion. Just because there’s people working doesn’t mean it’s good or worthwhile. It’s akin to banging a STD ridden “escort” (to be politically correct) - just because others do it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea, on the contrary, it’s a terrible one whichever way you view it. ~200 out of 15,000 got into Industry in 2021 (pretty much out of scope for any student), 80% in retail, PGYs can’t even find jobs. New grad salaries are 75-80k and that’s assuming they get jobs, and that’s now, not when graduating 6-10 years from now. Many schools now have to teach suicide prevention in the curriculum (yes, serious) due to student/pharmacist suicides rates. There is now “holistic grading” pharmacy schools where GPA doesn’t exist, either satisfactory or not. If it’s anything, it’s just facts, and the data is there for anyone to view/confirm but many choose not to (and that’s the ones the schools prey on). It’s largely the fault of the predatory schools and there now being 140+ schools. We’re not even going to get into the 0 ROI and opportunity cost aspect. 10 years ago, it was ok, post 2018 anyone going to Pharmacy school should seriously reevaluate their ability to make adult/adult risk/reward decisions.

OP, If this didn’t answer your question, no you should not stay in pharmacy school. Even without knowing you, i feel comfortable telling you that as many others have, and that’s without taking into account the doubts you already have. You can still leave, do something else that will have you graduate around the same time you would have as a pharmacist, make more money, have a more versatile degree, and stay in healthcare if you choose to with much less debt, happier, etc.

literally everyone in my graduating class got a job and nobody is making under 100k, just saying

 

[Dred Pirate]

literally everyone in my graduating class got a job and nobody is making under 100k, just saying

where did you go to school? I work with probably 20 students a year or more from two schools - one is one is consistently rated in the top 5 (for whatever those ratings are worth) - and every one tells me how many classmates have struggled to find jobs.

 

[Igra]

where did you go to school? I work with probably 20 students a year or more from two schools - one is one is consistently rated in the top 5 (for whatever those ratings are worth) - and every one tells me how many classmates have struggled to find jobs.

texas tech

 

[randompharm]

texas tech

When did you graduate? I highly doubt that not only do you know every single student in your class (150 students) but that also you know the salary of every one of these individuals. I’m willing to bet that not only did not every single one of them get a job out of school (especially in massively saturated Texas which is one of the most saturated states in the nation), but that majority are floaters earning 50/hr at 28-32 hours. Every year i see students claiming they know what job and pay every single student in their class has (150 in your class) when they know little to nothing.

 

[owlegrad]

When did you graduate? I highly doubt that not only do you know every single student in your class (150 students) but that also you know the salary of every one of these individuals. I’m willing to bet that not only did not every single one of them get a job out of school (especially in massively saturated Texas which is one of the most saturated states in the nation), but that majority are floaters earning 50/hr at 28-32 hours. Every year i see students claiming they know what job and pay every single student in their class has (150 in your class) when they know little to nothing.

Yes, it never fails to impress me how much other people know about other people. I don’t know how they do it. I barely know anything about anyone.

 

[confettiflyer]

Yes, it never fails to impress me how much other people know about other people. I don’t know how they do it. I barely know anything about anyone.

And are we basing this off of the curated Instagram life? Because if that’s the case, all my friends are skinny, eat fancy food, and fly to the tropics every weekend.

 

[randompharm]

literally everyone in my graduating class got a job and nobody is making under 100k, just saying

Also, perhaps you can help this individual who’s also in Texas and has not been able to get a job in months despite tirelessly applying and seeking positions (retail), the same Texas where 150 of your class mates got a job making over 100k, right out of school:

 

[Chrish]

I am in a different camp. You have already paid a year of tuition and spent that time. No point in turning back now since you don’t even have any alternative in place. What else are you going to do? Start all over again?

Finish it and see where it takes you: Mississippi, louisiana, Oklahoma etc.

 

[RXDOC1986]

literally everyone in my graduating class got a job and nobody is making under 100k, just saying

Well, in every situation, there is your truth (Igra), his truth (Random), AND the real truth, somewhere in between. Are there really 0% good jobs or 100% employment out there. Who knows, maybe something in the middle?

 

[confettiflyer]

I am in a different camp. You have already paid a year of tuition and spent that time. No point in turning back now since you don’t even have any alternative in place. What else are you going to do? Start all over again?

Finish it and see where it takes you: Mississippi, louisiana, Oklahoma etc.

I struggled with this a bit, if the OP was 2 years in, I’d say finish and try to piece together a miserable, but bill paying life.

But 1 year? Most of that is general coursework, and maybe they can transfer credits toward another degree? Might be a good time to jump ship if that’s the case. Tuition escalates mightily in P-4 and all it takes is a bad rotation in a field you are disinterested in to derail 3.8 years of tuition paid.

 

[randompharm]

I struggled with this a bit, if the OP was 2 years in, I’d say finish and try to piece together a miserable, but bill paying life.

But 1 year? Most of that is general coursework, and maybe they can transfer credits toward another degree? Might be a good time to jump ship if that’s the case. Tuition escalates mightily in P-4 and all it takes is a bad rotation in a field you are disinterested in to derail 3.8 years of tuition paid.

This, sunk fallacy is not a good reason to continue and OP is only a year in. And then what? What’s at the end of that tunnel? Maybe a job? 75-80k for 150-200k debt? Regret for not quitting when there was doubt? The worst thing to do is live with regret, trust me, it’s better to be out 40k, your peace is worth more than that. OP, you can change careers and remain in healthcare, still graduate around the same time as pharmacy, have overall much lower debt than if continuing, and earn more/be happier. To me, that’s absolutely worth not continuing. OP is only 25% of the way through, and as mentioned there are probably some transferrable credits in there. 40k in tuition lost (and 1 year) is better than 80k (and 2 years), 120k (and 3 years) and 160k (and 4 years) assuming it’s that low for OP, and with every year that debt doubles from the previous. Not to mention the thought of what if is already planted in and unlikely to go away especially if OPs spouse is in something OP believes is a better option/wants to do, having that on a daily basis around you will surely lead to more regret and what ifs.

 

[mentos]

I am in a different camp. You have already paid a year of tuition and spent that time. No point in turning back now since you don’t even have any alternative in place. What else are you going to do? Start all over again?

Finish it and see where it takes you: Mississippi, louisiana, Oklahoma etc.

This is a losing strategy. OP is not pot committed. Sometimes you have to cut your losses. All these prepharms and pharmacy students act like pharmacy is the only career in the world. OP already knows she hates it so why continue and be miserable her whole life? There are so many better options.

Let's be honest, 95% of us here hate working in a pharmacy. The minute our shift is over, we have one foot out the door. We are only in it for the money. The money is not there anymore, except for 100% of the grads at Texas Tech apparently.

 

[randompharm]

This is a losing strategy. OP is not pot committed. Sometimes you have to cut your losses. All these prepharms and pharmacy students act like pharmacy is the only career in the world. OP already knows she hates it so why continue and be miserable her whole life? There are so many better options.

Let's be honest, 95% of us here hate working in a pharmacy. The minute our shift is over, we have one foot out the door. We are only in it for the money. The money is not there anymore, except for 100% of the grads at Texas Tech apparently.

Lol’d.

 

[letsquitpharm]

Why not staying in pharmacy but doing something else on the side? I picked up coding after P1, and I have like 5 interviews lining up next week.

 

[DagS132]

...I picked up coding after P1, and I have like 5 interviews lining up next week.

Good luck. Is this for entry level position?

 

[letsquitpharm]

Good luck. Is this for entry level position?

Yup for tech roles, campus recruiters have invited me to interview for Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, 3M, Cisco, and Home Depot, and some of them even have multiple roles in multiple functions hiring: software engineer, data scientist, data engineer, and machine learning engineer. I didn't even have to apply by myself, the recruiters will handle everything for me.

Hiring managers in pharma companies and biotechs are also crawling all over to interview me. They have job openings vacant for several months without qualified good candidates to hire. My calendar for the next 2 weeks is pretty much full at this point. Any upcoming interview invites would have to be postponed/scheduled near the end of this month.

 

[Reirrac]

After doing my time at pharmacy school, I'd say the things you learn and apply is not worth the time and tuition spent, especially if you don't enjoy work at retail. Are you looking to work full time or part time? There are many ways to earn a decent living if you know where to look and invest your resources carefully.

 

[DagS132]

Yup for tech roles, campus recruiters have invited me to interview for Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, 3M, Cisco, and Home Depot, and some of them even have multiple roles in multiple functions hiring: software engineer, data scientist, data engineer, and machine learning engineer. I didn't even have to apply by myself, the recruiters will handle everything for me.

Hiring managers in pharma companies and biotechs are also crawling all over to interview me. They have job openings vacant for several months without qualified good candidates to hire. My calendar for the next 2 weeks is pretty much full at this point. Any upcoming interview invites would have to be postponed/scheduled near the end of this month.

Actually this is very realistic. Literally every company I talked to at my career fair I got a job interview with. But I ended up landing a job with the first interview; I was going to just use this as practice.
Just understand they are all looking for someone who has the potential to learn, they aren't really looking for someone who is somehow at senior level knowledge.

 

[letsquitpharm]

Actually this is very realistic. Literally every company I talked to at my career fair I got a job interview with. But I ended up landing a job with the first interview; I was going to just use this as practice.
Just understand they are all looking for someone who has the potential to learn, they aren't really looking for someone who is somehow at senior level knowledge.

People with more than 5 yrs decent exp should be ready to crack MAANG jobs. People with 10+ yrs exp should be staff engineers or directors.

On the contrary, pharma and biotech jobs have director level jobs all over the place, but insufficient entry-level jobs.

 

[DagS132]

People with more than 5 yrs decent exp should be ready to crack MAANG jobs. People with 10+ yrs exp should be staff engineers or directors.

On the contrary, pharma and biotech jobs have director level jobs all over the place, but insufficient entry-level jobs.

I agree but after working for half a year I just want to point out doing internships and developing small projects should not be counted as experience at all. Actually working in the industry should be the only thing that should count as experience.
Maybe I misread your post and understood wrong. If I am, just take my post as a general statement

 

[sunnyandseventytwo]

Let's be honest, 95% of us here hate working in a pharmacy. The minute our shift is over, we have one foot out the door. We are only in it for the money. The money is not there anymore, except for 100% of the grads at Texas Tech apparently.

Is it really that bad? My job is boring and I’d rather be at the beach than at work, but I wouldn’t say I hate it. I wouldn’t recommend my kids get into pharmacy, as I think it’s a profession on its way out, but I’ve never personally had trouble finding a job. And I don’t think it’s just because I have experience/a residency. My employer has hired from the retail ranks a couple of times since I’ve been there. When I try to get friends/neighbors to apply they’re afraid to make the jump to hospital. One of them had only been out of school 4 years, but was afraid she wouldn’t be able to do the work.

 

[Igra]

When did you graduate? I highly doubt that not only do you know every single student in your class (150 students) but that also you know the salary of every one of these individuals. I’m willing to bet that not only did not every single one of them get a job out of school (especially in massively saturated Texas which is one of the most saturated states in the nation), but that majority are floaters earning 50/hr at 28-32 hours. Every year i see students claiming they know what job and pay every single student in their class has (150 in your class) when they know little to nothing.

I graduated in May. Everything you seem to post is based on assumptions, I am only going on the facts that I know, I'm a pretty social person and I happen to know a vast majority of my class, nobody took a job paying less than 50.00 that I know of. I happen to know the starting pays in Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, San Antonio, San Angelo, Waco, and Texarkana for CVS, Walgreens, HEB, Kroger, and Market Street/United. I myself graduated with 3 hospital job offers all full-time, all >53.5/hr. Not only that but little doomers like yourself have been on these forums since I was a little baby p0 claiming I would never get a job and if I do that I will only make 35/hr, now that I've graduated and gotten 3 hospital offers you guys claim that "I'm a unicorn". There really is no pleasing you and you're just a doomer.

Not only did most every in my class get a job, but most everyone in the last 4 classes since I was a P1 got a job. Even the dumbest of the dumb students got jobs, the cringiest of the cringe students got jobs, walgreens just had another pay increase to pharmacists in Texas again.

Only thing I will say on this thread is that OP should drop out because they won't cut it in pharmacy if they cant even handle it right now. I was a technician for a while before school, I knew what pharmacy was like before school and knew that I would enjoy it. I didn't just google good paying jobs, or think of the easiest thing to do.

 

[randompharm]

I graduated in May. Everything you seem to post is based on assumptions, I am only going on the facts that I know, I'm a pretty social person and I happen to know a vast majority of my class, nobody took a job paying less than 50.00 that I know of. I happen to know the starting pays in Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, San Antonio, San Angelo, Waco, and Texarkana for CVS, Walgreens, HEB, Kroger, and Market Street/United. I myself graduated with 3 hospital job offers all full-time, all >53.5/hr. Not only that but little doomers like yourself have been on these forums since I was a little baby p0 claiming I would never get a job and if I do that I will only make 35/hr, now that I've graduated and gotten 3 hospital offers you guys claim that "I'm a unicorn". There really is no pleasing you and you're just a doomer.

Not only did most every in my class get a job, but most everyone in the last 4 classes since I was a P1 got a job. Even the dumbest of the dumb students got jobs, the cringiest of the cringe students got jobs, walgreens just had another pay increase to pharmacists in Texas again.

Only thing I will say on this thread is that OP should drop out because they won't cut it in pharmacy if they cant even handle it right now. I was a technician for a while before school, I knew what pharmacy was like before school and knew that I would enjoy it. I didn't just google good paying jobs, or think of the easiest thing to do.

Now you know most of everyone and their work status from the last 4 classes too? Lol

No, it’s not assumptions, it’s hard numbers you can verify yourself. 45-50hr is the nationwide rate based on extensive nationwide salary spreadsheets, actually lower if you account for COL. The only assumptions here are that you know everyone and what their salaries are, now adding the last 4 classes to that list. So you know 750 people and their salaries/wether they got jobs? That’s probably why they gave you 3 job offers, you must posses social supernatural powers beyond any other individual, much less a PharmD, and as such you are by definition a unicorn.

Doomers? You mean the people who were’t ignorant to the facts and said this would happen? And then pharmacy became the worst projected and worst ranked profession in healthcare? And schools became 90%+ acceptance rates with no standards for admission, moving to “holistic grading (no GPA)” in fear of having to close due to no students? These are facts, visit BLS/HRSA/NABP and verify for yourself. If you feel that’s not the case, visit www.200challenge.com, no one’s been able to collect yet but give it a try.

Walgreens has been decreasing salaries for quite some time, 40s is very common. That maybe they increased in your circle because no one would take the job? 100% possible, but it’s an exception to the rule, not the rule. 53/hr you mention is barely 100k and that’s full time 40hrs, many can’t even get 28-32 hours and even PGYs can’t get jobs. Yet somehow the 750 that you know have all gotten jobs above 100k and hospitals are begging you to work for them, meanwhile there are countless posts of PharmDs not being able to get jobs in Texas/your area. Sorry but it’s a lil sus, and by a lil i mean a lot.

 

[Igra]

Now you know most of everyone and their work status from the last 4 classes too? Lol

No, it’s not assumptions, it’s hard numbers you can verify yourself. 45-50hr is the nationwide rate based on extensive nationwide salary spreadsheets, actually lower if you account for COL. The only assumptions here are that you know everyone and what their salaries are, now adding the last 4 classes to that list. So you know 750 people and their salaries/wether they got jobs? That’s probably why they gave you 3 job offers, you must posses social supernatural powers beyond any other individual, much less a PharmD, and as such you are by definition a unicorn.

Doomers? You mean the people who were’t ignorant to the facts and said this would happen? And then pharmacy became the worst projected and worst ranked profession in healthcare? And schools became 90%+ acceptance rates with no standards for admission, moving to “holistic grading (no GPA)” in fear of having to close due to no students? These are facts, visit BLS/HRSA/NABP and verify for yourself. If you feel that’s not the case, visit www.200challenge.com, no one’s been able to collect yet but give it a try.

Walgreens has been decreasing salaries for quite some time, 40s is very common. That maybe they increased in your circle because no one would take the job? 100% possible, but it’s an exception to the rule, not the rule. 53/hr you mention is barely 100k and that’s full time 40hrs, many can’t even get 28-32 hours and even PGYs can’t get jobs. Yet somehow the 750 that you know have all gotten jobs above 100k and hospitals are begging you to work for them, meanwhile there are countless posts of PharmDs not being able to get jobs in Texas/your area. Sorry but it’s a lil sus, and by a lil i mean a lot.

well, dude go play with your little "nationwide spreadsheet" that is probably just as well backed as my anecdotal evidence, but once again, I think you're wrong and the job outlook isn't quite as grim as all the doomers here love to make it out to be. The jobs are 100% out there, I got an offer for an interview with a 4th hospital literally yesterday...

 

[sfachine]

Show me data and numbers

 

[randompharm]

well, dude go play with your little "nationwide spreadsheet" that is probably just as well backed as my anecdotal evidence, but once again, I think you're wrong and the job outlook isn't quite as grim as all the doomers here love to make it out to be. The jobs are 100% out there, I got an offer for an interview with a 4th hospital literally yesterday...

Lol, just stop. Hard data that is just as good as you saying you know the salaries and job status of 750 people? That’s not anecdotal nor is it just as good, it’s wishful thinking.

It isn’t as grim as the “doomers” make it out to be? Go to HRSA and look it up, 60,000 oversupply in the next 10 years, and that’s after the hospital jobs and new positions are filled that the schools keep BSing about. It’s an entire report by an organization that spends its entire time making sure data is thorough and accurate. -2% job loses, worst of any profession through BLS (you know, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics…), but that’s not good enough for you and you would rather take you “anecdotal” evidence that’s “just as good”, where you personally know the salaries and job positions of 750 individuals? Lol…

You are severely disconnected from reality and confused about what “shortage of pharmacists” vs “shortage of pharmacists willing to work” is. There has not been a shortage in almost a decade, there is a massive saturation (worse of any profession), and the few jobs you’re referring to are 1) due to luck 2) due to no one wanting to work (not due to any shortage of pharmacists) 3) limited to your small geographic sample of what’s likely ~5-10 miles, unless you’re somehow more qualified, right out of school, than the thousands of PGYs trying to get hospital jobs who are unable to, while you’re seemingly getting hospital job offers on the daily?

 

[sunnyandseventytwo]

Lol, just stop. Hard data that is just as good as you saying you know the salaries and job status of 750 people? That’s not anecdotal nor is it just as good, it’s wishful thinking.

It isn’t as grim as the “doomers” make it out to be? Go to HRSA and look it up, 60,000 oversupply in the next 10 years, and that’s after the hospital jobs and new positions are filled that the schools keep BSing about. It’s an entire report by an organization that spends its entire time making sure data is thorough and accurate. -2% job loses, worst of any profession through BLS (you know, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics…), but that’s not good enough for you and you would rather take you “anecdotal” evidence that’s “just as good”, where you personally know the salaries and job positions of 750 individuals? Lol…

You are severely disconnected from reality and confused about what “shortage of pharmacists” vs “shortage of pharmacists willing to work” is. There has not been a shortage in almost a decade, there is a massive saturation (worse of any profession), and the few jobs you’re referring to are 1) due to luck 2) due to no one wanting to work (not due to any shortage of pharmacists) 3) limited to your small geographic sample of what’s likely ~5-10 miles, unless you’re somehow more qualified, right out of school, than the thousands of PGYs trying to get hospital jobs who are unable to, while you’re seemingly getting hospital job offers on the daily?

I’m with Igra. We’ve had an opening for months. I suspect HR is poor at actually screening applications and getting them to my boss…that’s a problem everywhere I’ve worked. For anyone who can’t find a job, I’d suggest finding out where the hospital pharmacist watering hole is and make some friends.

 

[randompharm]

I’m with Igra. We’ve had an opening for months. I suspect HR is poor at actually screening applications and getting them to my boss…that’s a problem everywhere I’ve worked. For anyone who can’t find a job, I’d suggest finding out where the hospital pharmacist watering hole is and make some friends.

On which part? Because 80% of it was blantant lies and wishful thinking, 20% was the job references/discussion. I’m not disagreeing there are some openings here and there, especially now when nobody wants to work, but remember that there are 15,000 students pushed out every year. People seem to have forgotten how bad it was right before COVID when everyone stopped working in pharmacy due to the conditions/low pay, you could barely get PRN or 28-32 hours. COVID opened up some temp positions because no one wants to work in those conditions, but it’s starting to get back to pre COVID times as they’re cutting hours again (and yes i know some places have openings but they’re generally stores no one wants, or in the case of hospital jobs a luck or timing thing).

 

[sunnyandseventytwo]

On which part? Because 80% of it was blantant lies and wishful thinking, 20% was the job references/discussion. I’m not disagreeing there are some openings here and there, especially now when nobody wants to work, but remember that there are 15,000 students pushed out every year. People seem to have forgotten how bad it was right before COVID when everyone stopped working in pharmacy due to the conditions/low pay, you could barely get PRN or 28-32 hours. COVID opened up some temp positions because no one wants to work in those conditions, but it’s starting to get back to pre COVID times as they’re cutting hours again (and yes i know some places have openings but they’re generally stores no one wants, or in the case of hospital jobs a luck or timing thing).

We’ve had a contract pharmacist here for as long as I can remember. And a permanent opening at least since 2021. Every time I’ve had the itch to go somewhere else, I’ve had no trouble getting interviews/soft offers. This is pre-covid and during covid. 3 of us here want to go down to part time, but our employer won’t let us. Where are these 28-32 hour a week jobs everyone keeps talking about? I’d kill for one of those.

Curious: People on this forum who are happy with your jobs: How much trouble do you think you’d have finding another one?

 

[Igra]

We’ve had a contract pharmacist here for as long as I can remember. And a permanent opening at least since 2021. Every time I’ve had the itch to go somewhere else, I’ve had no trouble getting interviews/soft offers. This is pre-covid and during covid. 3 of us here want to go down to part time, but our employer won’t let us. Where are these 28-32 hour a week jobs everyone keeps talking about? I’d kill for one of those.

Curious: People on this forum who are happy with your jobs: How much trouble do you think you’d have finding another one?

spoiler alert: 99% of the pharmacists that post here aren't happy with their jobs

 

[owlegrad]

We’ve had a contract pharmacist here for as long as I can remember. And a permanent opening at least since 2021. Every time I’ve had the itch to go somewhere else, I’ve had no trouble getting interviews/soft offers. This is pre-covid and during covid. 3 of us here want to go down to part time, but our employer won’t let us. Where are these 28-32 hour a week jobs everyone keeps talking about? I’d kill for one of those.

Curious: People on this forum who are happy with your jobs: How much trouble do you think you’d have finding another one?

Speaking as someone who has job hopped twice in the last year, it wasn’t as hard as I first expected. It was definitely harder getting out of retail initially than it was jumping around after that.

 

[RXDOC1986]

We’ve had a contract pharmacist here for as long as I can remember. And a permanent opening at least since 2021. Every time I’ve had the itch to go somewhere else, I’ve had no trouble getting interviews/soft offers. This is pre-covid and during covid. 3 of us here want to go down to part time, but our employer won’t let us. Where are these 28-32 hour a week jobs everyone keeps talking about? I’d kill for one of those.

Curious: People on this forum who are happy with your jobs: How much trouble do you think you’d have finding another one?

I am absolutely ecstatic about my job. I have always enjoyed and been proud of my profession. I am a Pharm.D. (1986) W/ Residency (1987) BCNSP, long before most of the posters here were in diapers. I have been a pharmacist for over 36 years, Home Infusion, oncology, clinical and staffing @ hospital. Pharmacy has provided me and my family with a VERY comfortable lifestyle. This is the only job I have ever wanted to do, and will continue to do as long as I am able. I just can't see how anyone with 3 or 5 years of professional experience can be knowledgeable and speak as to the state of Pharmacy. Raise your hand, which one of you has been in the pharmacy job market for 3+ DECADES? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
I think I am qualified to speak about the profession! Things are not rosy and promising as some of you are saying (well maybe @Texas Tech). It's also not the end-of-the world, end of pharmacy bad!
I just started a new hospital job, 4 months ago, my 4th hospital, 8th overall job. I know I would have trouble finding another "good" job! The job market is saturated (maybe not @Texas Tech), it is becoming harder and harder to get a job. Too many graduates from too many pharmacy schools. The profession is on a steady decline, the future looks bleak. If you disagree, come back and let everyone know in 30 years.

One thing that seems really odd, based on my experience, is how anyone can say they know where ALL of their classmates went and how much they all make. I couldn't tell you where most of my graduating class went or what anybody makes (even close friends)! At the hospital, I couldn't tell you what any of the 40 pharmacist working with me make. In fact at most workplaces, discussing salary with coworkers is grounds for dismissal.

 

[BidingMyTime]

Also, perhaps you can help this individual who’s also in Texas and has not been able to get a job in months despite tirelessly applying and seeking positions (retail), the same Texas where 150 of your class mates got a job making over 100k, right out of school:

To be fair, the individual you are talking about here requires a work visa, and in almost all cases, employers don't do work visas for pharmacists. Why would they, when there are so many unemployed pharmacists looking for jobs who don't need a visa?

 

[randompharm]

To be fair, the individual you are talking about here requires a work visa, and in almost all cases, employers don't do work visas for pharmacists. Why would they, when there are so many unemployed pharmacists looking for jobs who don't need a visa?

Agreed lol.

 

[AC3_PharmD]

Wow been a minute since I posted here!

I will raise my hand too and say I love my job. It's rewarding, I get to be hands on as an ER pharmacist and I have to stay up on the latest data/knowledge given that I do a lot of teaching of both medical and pharmacy residents + students. It's afforded me a great lifestyle, a schedule that I manage for myself, and I'm respected and consulted by the doctors I work with. I get constantly told by them how much they value what I do in terms of helping teach, helping the docs themselves learn and growing with my team. It's good enough that I'm looking for an additional job not because I need the hours but because I get bored on my 7 off and can use the extra money to support the two cats I have now lol.

I will say though it was a journey to get to this point and it is not for the faint of heart. I had to battle to get where I am in spite of multiple naysayers, failing to match for PGY2 and a ****** job just prior to this one that was discriminatory and stressful AF. I cannot, based on my experience, recommend pharmacy to those coming in because I feel that a lot of incoming pharmacy students look at the money and assume it's a done deal. I was guilty of this in 2015 when I went in (never worked or shadowed in a pharmacy but did a lot of going in and asking questions of staff....I'm sure I was a real treat for the slammed CVS pharmds because I had a lot of questions🤦‍♀️).

In terms of people getting jobs off the bat I will say that was definitely not the case for my pharmacy class or school. We had people from my class and the prior 2 years struggling to find jobs and I went to per the rankings the best school in the nation.

I would probably cut my losses and get out at this point as a P2 but that's just me.

 

[Dred Pirate]

Why not staying in pharmacy but doing something else on the side? I picked up coding after P1, and I have like 5 interviews lining up next week.

I think if you were already a pharmacist, or just a year away, this might make sense, but they are literally onlu 25% of the way through - cut your losses, and then pick up coding or something else now vs later

 

[projektreverb]

Curious: People on this forum who are happy with your jobs: How much trouble do you think you’d have finding another one?

So I’ll bite. I’m fairly happy with my job. Steady predictable hours and workload for the most part. Sure, I stay late every now and again. But nothing like my old retail job. Full background I work from home for a PBM.

I’ve been trying to find a similar job in a different state and I can tell you it hasn’t been easy. Only reason I’ve been floating this idea is to be in an area of low cost of living and to be closer to family. Otherwise job satisfaction is there. Only reason I’m doing this is because our department has some geographic limitations on WFH. I don’t know if I’ve been looking in the wrong places, but it’s been a struggle.

 

[steveysmith54]

literally everyone in my graduating class got a job and nobody is making under 100k, just saying

Seems like 20% of grads can't even pass the boards, or at least in CA. Did your classmates who didn't pass the exam get jobs outside of pharmacy profession?