If you don't get it this year, you can always try again next year. I had a few friends from my class that didn't match last year and tried again this year. They matched because they were able to show growth from their applications last year that made them much more competitive. The hard part is giving up the salary that you will be earning in the real world.
Take it from someone that didn't get a single residency interview last year and thought there was no hope for becoming the specialist I had dreamed of becoming since my first year of pharmacy school:
Just because you didn't get a residency doesn't mean that you can't be a clinical pharmacist or whatever career you had set for yourself. Pharmacy really is a learn as you work profession. It is also VERY small. The more time you spend in the real world, the more you're going to learn - so, I don't think it's fair of you to say that you won't get more schooling or training, because you definitely will! Networking will be a KEY goal for you too.
You can't give up on your dream job just because you didn't match or what have you. All a residency does is give you a foot in the door. If you're really passionate about something or dead set on working with a specific patient population, do your best to excel at whatever opportunities that are given to you and express your interests to whoever you can. No mediocre "I'm stuck working for retail chain XYZ/small, unexciting hospital/etc. and I hate my life" attitude. You are not stuck. You are helping people. And you have been given the same tools that everyone has been given to be the best pharmacist possible, and so you should be THE BEST PHARMACIST POSSIBLE! Our goal is to improve our patients' lives, our communities, and to make sure that people take medications safely and effectively. We are the medication specialists, so keep your eye on the overall prize. It really helps put things into perspective.
Connections are made everyday and you want to ensure that you have a fantastic reputation from where you're coming from. You never know when a little networking might throw something in your lap. Many of my classmates had that happen, and actually, one of the girls I used to go to school with is an oncology pharmacist her first year out of school without residency training and she does an AMAZING job at it. Personally, I didn't think I was going to get a residency last year, so I made it a point to find a job that would get me into my specialty area eventually if I didn't find a position as a resident.
Utilize all of your contacts. That was what ended up being my saving grace last year. I knew the RPD for my program, found out that they had very little applications because it was brand new, and I did my research. The goals of the residency were exactly what I was looking for and it gave me ample opportunity to work in my practice area. I asked the RPD if I could apply late to the program and was granted permission to do so. I had an interview a week later, found out I got the job two days after the interview, and the rest is history.
So the point of this: Don't get bummed out. Work hard. Play hard. And most importantly: don't give up on the dreams you've set for yourself. You just had a road block on your path to getting to where you want to be. After all, no one can say life is easy, right? And the best things are worth the wait.
EDIT: Holy moly, sorry for the novel. I promise to get off my soap box…maybe.
You are amazing. Thank you for this uplifting message