A Strange Request...

[loo]

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Alrighty then-

Here's your "challenge" should you choose to accept it.

I'm leaving to go back to school mid-August of this year. I want to maximize the amount of money I make until then. I work retail. I'm probably going to quit my current job next week---they're signing new grads for a lot more money than I'm currently making.

Any suggestions?

 

[Asrai]

I'm confused....you're going to quit your job to maximize your money because they pay new grads more? Let me know how that works out for you...

 

[PharmDstudent]

If you want to maximize how much you make, then you might want to work in retail at another pharmacy. Retail pharmacists, for the most part, make more money per hour than hospital pharmacists. If you don't want to make less than the current grads, then you need to work for a company who will: pay all of their pharmacists the same amount of money or who will pay floaters (relief pharmacists) more per hour than staff pharmacists. You might think about working for a staffing agency PRN.

Unfortunately, retail pharmacists usually have to work 8-12 hours shifts, which means that you will be standing for hours on end every time you go into work.

If you can find a hospital pharmacy that will offer to pay you something comparable to retail, then I would work for them. The benefit of working for a hospital pharmacy PRN is that you can sit down, more often, while working. You will need to have enough energy during vet school to stay awake in class, study, maintain your house, vehicle, lawn, etc.

One more thing to think about... When do you want to work? If you can work a few evening shifts at a retail or hospital pharmacy during the week, then you will make more money, but you will be tired the next morning. I know that when I work until 10pm, I can rarely go to sleep before 12am. If I have an early morning lab class the day after a late shift, then I have to drink coffee or coke for the caffeine, because I get so sleepy.

Perhaps you want to work 8-10 hours per day strictly on the weekends.




...just my two cents.

 

[loo]

I'm confused....you're going to quit your job to maximize your money because they pay new grads more? Let me know how that works out for you...

Nope. I'm just done with where I'm working now...time to move on. I'm just soliciting input on ways to maximize money for the "new" job (s).

Sorry for the confusion...

 

[FruitFly]

Nope. I'm just done with where I'm working now...time to move on. I'm just soliciting input on ways to maximize money for the "new" job (s).

Sorry for the confusion...

What jobs are you considering? It really depends on the individual, sometimes even region of the country. You should go by your own research and your own instincts. Less spending in your first few years out of school, would help you maximize savings. It's not how much you make anymore (there's usually not any great differences, few thousand here and there), it's more about how much you save. An IRA could be useful for some. You should consult a financial planner.

 

[loo]

I guess I'm not expressing myself clearly.

Try to think of it from the perspective of "graduate intern".

What kind of schedule would you work (only for a few months, mind you) to come up with a decent pile of cash for school? Let's just say (for the sake of the argument) that you need to come up with living expense money and not tuition (assume it would be covered by prior savings, loans, etc.).

Does that make more sense? I'm not looking for financial advice, just work schedule advice. I would work retail and not hospital at this point.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I would do a retail overnight position (7 on/7 off). On the off week I'd work somewhere else:

1. Day float with the same chain if they will allow it.
2. Relief service for an independent.
3. Teach pharmacy technician certification courses.

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

I guess I'm not expressing myself clearly.

Try to think of it from the perspective of "graduate intern".

What kind of schedule would you work (only for a few months, mind you) to come up with a decent pile of cash for school? Let's just say (for the sake of the argument) that you need to come up with living expense money and not tuition (assume it would be covered by prior savings, loans, etc.).

Does that make more sense? I'm not looking for financial advice, just work schedule advice. I would work retail and not hospital at this point.

Hmmmm...I'm still a little confused as to why you'd compare the situation to grad intern. You're a licensed pharmacist?

Not sure where you are...and whether this is an option, but have you looked into a veterinary hospital that hires pharmacist(s)? Could be a way to combine both of your interests. Not sure they'd want to take on someone for just a few months, but you may be able to continue part-time during school?

 

[PharmDstudent]

Work as a floater pharmacist. I highly doubt you could work more than 20-25hrs/week while in vet school, especially due to how long pharmacists usually have to work (8-10 hours/shift).

You could also look into a staffing agency who might be able to compromise with you a little more --> half shifts, weekends only, 40hrs/week when you're off of school, etc.

 

[loo]

I would do a retail overnight position (7 on/7 off). On the off week I'd work somewhere else:

1. Day float with the same chain if they will allow it.
2. Relief service for an independent.
3. Teach pharmacy technician certification courses.

Thanks---this is sorta what I'm looking at🙂

 

[loo]

Work as a floater pharmacist. I highly doubt you could work more than 20-25hrs/week while in vet school, especially due to how long pharmacists usually have to work (8-10 hours/shift).

You could also look into a staffing agency who might be able to compromise with you a little more --> half shifts, weekends only, 40hrs/week when you're off of school, etc.

Hmmm. That's cool too. Thanks!

 

[PharmDstudent]

Hmmm. That's cool too. Thanks!

That's actually my plan for when I graduate. 😉 I just thought I'd pass it along.

 

[Rumplestiltazepam]

That's actually my plan for when I graduate. 😉 I just thought I'd pass it along.

Are you planning on floating like that because you are going to pursue more school or does it just fit your lifestyle better?

 

[PharmDstudent]

Are you planning on floating like that because you are going to pursue more school or does it just fit your lifestyle better?

More school. I'm not really sure if I'll work relief for retail or at a hospital. I like/dislike both for different reasons. Who knows?... something else entirely different may become available when the time comes.

The most important decision that I have to make right now is what type of schooling I want to pursue after pharmacy school. I've been getting positive feedback from friends and family, so I just need to make up my mind. (Don't worry. I won't drag all of you into this one. 😉)


What are your plans post-graduation Idesiretosling?

 

[Rumplestiltazepam]

Graduation seems so far away.....almost done with P1 year. I am not really sure as of right now. Ideally I would like to work a hospital job full time and also work as a floater picking up hours here and there at community locations.

Continuing school is something I could see myself doing as well. If I grew to loathe pharmacy for some reason then I would consider applying to Veterinary School like Loo, just something I have thought about.

I guess my "plan" as of right now is to get out and find some mix of hospital/community pharmacy that makes me happy and save up for a big purchase.....
That purchase could be...
-My own pharmacy out in the rural NW.
-Buy my parents out of their restaurant so they can retire and I can work part time drug slinger/part time grub slinger.
-Pay for another advanced degree: MBA or Vet School
-Large piece of property >10 acres to have my own mini farm.

So I guess the answer is I really don't know, as of right now I am enjoying school for the most part and I am excited to start my first internship in community pharmacy this summer. Hopefully in 3 years I will have a decisive answer to your question.
What kind of schooling is on the decision block right now for you?

 

[PharmDstudent]

Graduation seems so far away.....almost done with P1 year. I am not really sure as of right now.

Graduation might seem far away right now, but after you finish P2 year, it will seem a lot closer.

What kind of schooling is on the decision block right now for you?

Grad school for management or another professional school.

I wasn't ready to do anything else except pharmacy whenever I applied to pharmacy school. I didn't have a solid back-up plan at that point (besides teaching with my foreign language degree) even though I had started out as a pre-med.
The first professional setting that I had ever worked in was a retail pharmacy, so the transition from pharmacy tech to pharmacy student was fairly smooth. I really wanted to know more about pharmacy, and pharmacy school was the best way to go about doing that. Clinical pharmacy seemed very appealing at the time too. Pharmacy management still appeals to me.

During this past semester of pharmacy school, I started to value other fields that are related to pharmacy. After a good bit of analysis, I was able to cross off vet school, dental school, and the PhD/PharmD route from my list. Therefore, that leaves only one professional doctorate program that I might want to pursue. 😉


A mini farm would be neat. Perhaps you could do something like that when you have more free time on your hands.
My bf's tomato plant has a few tomatoes on it right now. He said that one should be red enough to pick tomorrow. 🙂