A tough road after graduation

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
F

federerkey

New Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2018
Messages
4
Reaction score
3
Points
1,551
Members do not see this ad.
When I graduated in 2017, I thought I could just pass the NAPLEX, get a job, and my life would be all sunshine and rainbows. Boy, was I wrong. I did not see that saturation was already a problem. I graduated in Maryland, and it took me a while to get licensed because I had to take care of my dad who was very sick. He's doing much better nowadays. Since the beginning of the 2018, I have applied to more than a hundred positions. I usually get no response, and occasionally I received a message saying that the company chose a more qualified candidate. There were positions I don't bother applying since they require at least 1 year of experience or residency.

I finally managed to get a part-time job at an independent pharmacy in July. At first, my pay was decent at 40/hr for a few weeks. Then, my boss suddenly decreased it to 25/hr (this is not a typo). I was shocked to the core. I asked why, and he said is because he just opened a new pharmacy and so the budget is tight. Since I have been unable to find another job, I had no choice but to keep my position for now.

Recently, I have decided to move to the Houston area by the end of this year, with or without a job lined up. In the mean time, I have applied to many positions down there. I know it's saturated there, too, but I think Texas has a bit more opportunities than Maryland. I've also decided to apply to a few PGY1 residencies in Texas, as well. Throughout most of my pharmacy career, I thought I would do retail pharmacy because that's where the majority of jobs are. I avoided hospital pharmacy because I thought all the clinical stuff was complicated. However, when I completed my P4 rotations, I found myself hating retail. I really liked hospital pharmacy. Too bad I knew that when the residency application cycle had already ended.

Now here I am with a crummy retail job and looking for a new career path. I guess it serves me right that I am in the situation that I am now. But at least I am not as naive as I once was, and I hope for the best moving forward.

To all the new grads who have struggled to find a job, I feel your pain and frustration. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to message me.
 
federerkey said:
When I graduated in 2017, I thought I could just pass the NAPLEX, get a job, and my life would be all sunshine and rainbows. Boy, was I wrong. I did not see that saturation was already a problem. I graduated in Maryland, and it took me a while to get licensed because I had to take care of my dad who was very sick. He's doing much better nowadays. Since the beginning of the 2018, I have applied to more than a hundred positions. I usually get no response, and occasionally I received a message saying that the company chose a more qualified candidate. There were positions I don't bother applying since they require at least 1 year of experience or residency.

I finally managed to get a part-time job at an independent pharmacy in July. At first, my pay was decent at 40/hr for a few weeks. Then, my boss suddenly decreased it to 25/hr (this is not a typo). I was shocked to the core. I asked why, and he said is because he just opened a new pharmacy and so the budget is tight. Since I have been unable to find another job, I had no choice but to keep my position for now.

Recently, I have decided to move to the Houston area by the end of this year, with or without a job lined up. In the mean time, I have applied to many positions down there. I know it's saturated there, too, but I think Texas has a bit more opportunities than Maryland. I've also decided to apply to a few PGY1 residencies in Texas, as well. Throughout most of my pharmacy career, I thought I would do retail pharmacy because that's where the majority of jobs are. I avoided hospital pharmacy because I thought all the clinical stuff was complicated. However, when I completed my P4 rotations, I found myself hating retail. I really liked hospital pharmacy. Too bad I knew that when the residency application cycle had already ended.

Now here I am with a crummy retail job and looking for a new career path. I guess it serves me right that I am in the situation that I am now. But at least I am not as naive as I once was, and I hope for the best moving forward.

To all the new grads who have struggled to find a job, I feel your pain and frustration. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to message me.
Click to expand...
In 2015 I was working as a contract pharmacist in San Antonio for Silverscripts owned by CVS. The whole floor was filled with cubicles with pharmacists working on contract(no benefits) doing prior authorizations. Most of the pharmacists were from Houston, some from Chicago. All were promised full time positions after 3 months(this was a reoccuring promise) lol. They gave us little training and then it was sink or swim. I’ve never ever seen people let go like the way people were let go here. You’d show up to work one day and another cubicle was empty (they were quickly filled by the temp companies lol). Had someone told me of something like this I would have never in a million years believed them. I left before my time was up.

P.S. A sure bet is Alaska. It’s not so bad. It’s laid back and it a different world you can explore.
 
BC_89 said:
I’ll admit: Even for part time, 25/hr is the “newest” low wage I have heard up to this point in 2018.
Click to expand...

25/hr was what I made after graduating in 1994! Some techs (granted, with many years of experience) make almost that much money.

Do you at least get some benefits?
 
federerkey said:
Now here I am with a crummy retail job and looking for a new career path. I guess it serves me right that I am in the situation that I am now. But at least I am not as naive as I once was, and I hope for the best moving forward.
Click to expand...
You have a job at least. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

My friend still has no job in Dallas, TX. 3 months looking.
 
lord999 said:
At those rates, teaching at a good high school pays better with a PharmD. (Teaching at a bad high school pays more than pharmacists in the federal service in the same locality). We've lost pharmacists from Baltimore and Perry Point to teaching in Anne Arundel and Baltimore schools.

http://www.marylandpublicschools.or...SSP/20172018Staff/20172018SalarySchedules.pdf
Click to expand...
Yup. I was a teacher. When people say they don’t make much I just laugh. In the DC schools I was making 50ish before I left for pharmacy school(and teachers get tons of time off) And when I got laid off in Miami. I snapped up a job as an interventionist (tutor in classroom for 40ish an hour. As a teacher you get out early, no weekends and in some ways less stressful. If you teach say kindergarten you don’t have to spend too long preparing lesson plans and if you teach say a chemistry class you’re just teaching the same lesson to about 5 or 4 different classes and tweaking the lesson for each class.
 
Come on. No one actually believes this do they?

First post.

$40/hr down to $25/hr at some two bit independent with no warning.

No human with a backbone is going to accept that and not outright resign.

It's also illegal.

Change of Pay: Employer’s Discretion - The Maryland Guide to Wage Payment and Employment Standards
In the absence of an employment contract, agreement or policy which states otherwise, an employer may lower the pay of an employee at any time following one full pay period advance notice. Prior notice of a pay increase is not required.
 
awval999 said:
Come on. No one actually believes this do they?

First post.

$40/hr down to $25/hr at some two bit independent with no warning.

No human with a backbone is going to accept that and not outright resign.

It's also illegal.

Change of Pay: Employer’s Discretion - The Maryland Guide to Wage Payment and Employment Standards
In the absence of an employment contract, agreement or policy which states otherwise, an employer may lower the pay of an employee at any time following one full pay period advance notice. Prior notice of a pay increase is not required.
Click to expand...
awval999 said:
Come on. No one actually believes this do they?

First post.

$40/hr down to $25/hr at some two bit independent with no warning.

No human with a backbone is going to accept that and not outright resign.

It's also illegal.

Change of Pay: Employer’s Discretion - The Maryland Guide to Wage Payment and Employment Standards
In the absence of an employment contract, agreement or policy which states otherwise, an employer may lower the pay of an employee at any time following one full pay period advance notice. Prior notice of a pay increase is not required.
Click to expand...


I'm not kidding at all. Like I said before, I couldn't find another pharmacist job, so I had to stick with what I have now. I also have a friend who also suggested to file a compliant. Originally, I didn't want to go through with it because it's a long process, and I'll be quitting the job within the next month anyway. Now, I want to file a complaint so that anyone who gets hired at that pharmacy will not have to go through the same situation as I did.
 
$25/hr is practically same as asking a pharmacist to leave ASAP especially for part timer.
Very unwise decision even for a cheap employer. Every pharmacy is different. Training and finding a good pharmacist takes time.
 
Momus said:
4 jobs that are hiring like crazy and pay at least $100,000

Look at these jobs growth.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I suppose the actuary is counted in the math section, but I can say that the coursework and the writing weed out most people I know. I consider pure and applied math to be harder than chemical engineering in terms of intellectual difficulty. NP's and PA's fill the same niche, and software developers have short career lifespans. As a SoA FSA myself, we really need more actuaries, but we just don't have the talent (and we cannot import it as most foreigners cannot deal with the writing and communication requirements for the subject as we found with Singaporean imports).

For teaching, the job sucks with the children coming from cycle of poverty environments and the bureaucratic politics. Most teachers I know who care end up in the private school system where they are paid less than half of the public schools in the area. For my neighborhood, it so happens to be the wealthiest in the area with some of the lowest paid teachers (paid close but even less than the Catholic system in the city), but the highest test scores in the state. The reason why the district pays so poorly is that they expect the spouse to be really wealthy to offset this, so it is a barrier for anyone who comes from middle class to teach in that district. But for the city itself, most teachers at the senior levels get paid around $110k for a 185 day contract because the students suck so bad and the union is so strong.
awval999 said:
Come on. No one actually believes this do they?

First post.

$40/hr down to $25/hr at some two bit independent with no warning.

No human with a backbone is going to accept that and not outright resign.

It's also illegal.

Change of Pay: Employer’s Discretion - The Maryland Guide to Wage Payment and Employment Standards
In the absence of an employment contract, agreement or policy which states otherwise, an employer may lower the pay of an employee at any time following one full pay period advance notice. Prior notice of a pay increase is not required.
Click to expand...

I actually do, I knew NARD pharmacist owners to be that stupid. What individualism is that the cheated employee screws up the pharmacy hard in those conditions.
 
I do find it very hard to believe you wouldn't negotiate a higher wage.

The job was open in the first place cuz the owner paid like ****. No one is going to take that gig... even more of a reason to negotiate salary.
 
Sorry you are going through with this. Even with some job experiences, it’s still hard to find another one. I only heard back from 7% of the places I applied to. I urge the new grads apply jobs to both rural areas and cities.
 
awval999 said:
Come on. No one actually believes this do they?

First post.

$40/hr down to $25/hr at some two bit independent with no warning.

No human with a backbone is going to accept that and not outright resign.

It's also illegal.

Change of Pay: Employer’s Discretion - The Maryland Guide to Wage Payment and Employment Standards
In the absence of an employment contract, agreement or policy which states otherwise, an employer may lower the pay of an employee at any time following one full pay period advance notice. Prior notice of a pay increase is not required.
Click to expand...
Why is this not believeable
awval999 said:
Come on. No one actually believes this do they?

First post.

$40/hr down to $25/hr at some two bit independent with no warning.

No human with a backbone is going to accept that and not outright resign.

It's also illegal.

Change of Pay: Employer’s Discretion - The Maryland Guide to Wage Payment and Employment Standards
In the absence of an employment contract, agreement or policy which states otherwise, an employer may lower the pay of an employee at any time following one full pay period advance notice. Prior notice of a pay increase is not required.
Click to expand...

This is not really that far fetch tbh. I know a couple of business owners that would not blink to take advantage of the situation and try to pull this sht over an employee. OP was probably desparate and figured that he could just accept that wage for now while he looks for another job.
 
federerkey said:
When I graduated in 2017, I thought I could just pass the NAPLEX, get a job, and my life would be all sunshine and rainbows. Boy, was I wrong. I did not see that saturation was already a problem. I graduated in Maryland, and it took me a while to get licensed because I had to take care of my dad who was very sick. He's doing much better nowadays. Since the beginning of the 2018, I have applied to more than a hundred positions. I usually get no response, and occasionally I received a message saying that the company chose a more qualified candidate. There were positions I don't bother applying since they require at least 1 year of experience or residency.

I finally managed to get a part-time job at an independent pharmacy in July. At first, my pay was decent at 40/hr for a few weeks. Then, my boss suddenly decreased it to 25/hr (this is not a typo). I was shocked to the core. I asked why, and he said is because he just opened a new pharmacy and so the budget is tight. Since I have been unable to find another job, I had no choice but to keep my position for now.

Recently, I have decided to move to the Houston area by the end of this year, with or without a job lined up. In the mean time, I have applied to many positions down there. I know it's saturated there, too, but I think Texas has a bit more opportunities than Maryland. I've also decided to apply to a few PGY1 residencies in Texas, as well. Throughout most of my pharmacy career, I thought I would do retail pharmacy because that's where the majority of jobs are. I avoided hospital pharmacy because I thought all the clinical stuff was complicated. However, when I completed my P4 rotations, I found myself hating retail. I really liked hospital pharmacy. Too bad I knew that when the residency application cycle had already ended.

Now here I am with a crummy retail job and looking for a new career path. I guess it serves me right that I am in the situation that I am now. But at least I am not as naive as I once was, and I hope for the best moving forward.

To all the new grads who have struggled to find a job, I feel your pain and frustration. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to message me.
Click to expand...

Unsolicited advice:

I would urge you to reconsider moving with no job. In your case the difference between 40 and 25 is quite frankly, not significant. Either way it is a stepping stone position. I would fear many retail DM would pass on an applicant with 5 months independent experience then quitting. Much easier to gain a new job while still employed. Furthermore, it is my understanding that Houston is not the easiest place to get hired on...
 
federerkey said:
When I graduated in 2017, I thought I could just pass the NAPLEX, get a job, and my life would be all sunshine and rainbows. Boy, was I wrong. I did not see that saturation was already a problem. I graduated in Maryland, and it took me a while to get licensed because I had to take care of my dad who was very sick. He's doing much better nowadays. Since the beginning of the 2018, I have applied to more than a hundred positions. I usually get no response, and occasionally I received a message saying that the company chose a more qualified candidate. There were positions I don't bother applying since they require at least 1 year of experience or residency.

I finally managed to get a part-time job at an independent pharmacy in July. At first, my pay was decent at 40/hr for a few weeks. Then, my boss suddenly decreased it to 25/hr (this is not a typo). I was shocked to the core. I asked why, and he said is because he just opened a new pharmacy and so the budget is tight. Since I have been unable to find another job, I had no choice but to keep my position for now.

Recently, I have decided to move to the Houston area by the end of this year, with or without a job lined up. In the mean time, I have applied to many positions down there. I know it's saturated there, too, but I think Texas has a bit more opportunities than Maryland. I've also decided to apply to a few PGY1 residencies in Texas, as well. Throughout most of my pharmacy career, I thought I would do retail pharmacy because that's where the majority of jobs are. I avoided hospital pharmacy because I thought all the clinical stuff was complicated. However, when I completed my P4 rotations, I found myself hating retail. I really liked hospital pharmacy. Too bad I knew that when the residency application cycle had already ended.

Now here I am with a crummy retail job and looking for a new career path. I guess it serves me right that I am in the situation that I am now. But at least I am not as naive as I once was, and I hope for the best moving forward.

To all the new grads who have struggled to find a job, I feel your pain and frustration. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to message me.
Click to expand...

Your boss is essentially telling you that they're forcing you to give them a loan that they'll never pay back so they can open a new store.

I'd tell them to go **** themselves
 
CetiAlphaFive said:
Your boss is essentially telling you that they're forcing you to give them a loan that they'll never pay back so they can open a new store.

I'd tell them to go **** themselves
Click to expand...
No you wouldn’t. A paycheck beats no paycheck. And you should never burn your bridges.

A better option would be to look for a better job or work towards getting another state license and then getting a better job. In the meantime be grateful that you get a check.
 
PharmDBro2017 said:
I do find it very hard to believe you wouldn't negotiate a higher wage.

The job was open in the first place cuz the owner paid like ****. No one is going to take that gig... even more of a reason to negotiate salary.
Click to expand...

I have tried to negotiate twice. But during each time, he just smiles and says that it's complicated and budget is tight because of the new store.


Melazine said:
Sorry you are going through with this. Even with some job experiences, it’s still hard to find another one. I only heard back from 7% of the places I applied to. I urge the new grads apply jobs to both rural areas and cities.
Click to expand...

I am applying to both rural and urban areas in Texas.

quickpic007 said:
Unsolicited advice:


I would urge you to reconsider moving with no job. In your case the difference between 40 and 25 is quite frankly, not significant. Either way it is a stepping stone position. I would fear many retail DM would pass on an applicant with 5 months independent experience then quitting. Much easier to gain a new job while still employed. Furthermore, it is my understanding that Houston is not the easiest place to get hired on...
Click to expand...
BC_89 said:
Some money + experience is better than no job + no experience....

I’ll echo what’s been stated already: Why move to a place that seems just as saturated with no job lined up?
Click to expand...

I have considered staying in MD with what I have now. However, I feel that if I continue to stay in MD, I will stay stagnant both professionally and personally. Yes, it is a risky move, but I have been preparing myself the last two months. Last month, I went to TX and I was able to network with various pharmacists including some pharmacy fraternity brothers. A few of them were able to introduce me to some job openings. A few pharmacists have helped me improved the quality of my CV, letter of intent, and interview skills. I have family in the Houston area, and they are willing to support me. So, it's not like I'm moving down there completely empty-handed. If I don't find a pharmacist job in TX, so be it. I rather be happy with some kind of decent job, and enjoy life with family in TX than to endure the BS that I am facing now.
 
federerkey said:
When I graduated in 2017, I thought I could just pass the NAPLEX, get a job, and my life would be all sunshine and rainbows. Boy, was I wrong. I did not see that saturation was already a problem. I graduated in Maryland, and it took me a while to get licensed because I had to take care of my dad who was very sick. He's doing much better nowadays. Since the beginning of the 2018, I have applied to more than a hundred positions. I usually get no response, and occasionally I received a message saying that the company chose a more qualified candidate. There were positions I don't bother applying since they require at least 1 year of experience or residency.

I finally managed to get a part-time job at an independent pharmacy in July. At first, my pay was decent at 40/hr for a few weeks. Then, my boss suddenly decreased it to 25/hr (this is not a typo). I was shocked to the core. I asked why, and he said is because he just opened a new pharmacy and so the budget is tight. Since I have been unable to find another job, I had no choice but to keep my position for now.

Recently, I have decided to move to the Houston area by the end of this year, with or without a job lined up. In the mean time, I have applied to many positions down there. I know it's saturated there, too, but I think Texas has a bit more opportunities than Maryland. I've also decided to apply to a few PGY1 residencies in Texas, as well. Throughout most of my pharmacy career, I thought I would do retail pharmacy because that's where the majority of jobs are. I avoided hospital pharmacy because I thought all the clinical stuff was complicated. However, when I completed my P4 rotations, I found myself hating retail. I really liked hospital pharmacy. Too bad I knew that when the residency application cycle had already ended.

Now here I am with a crummy retail job and looking for a new career path. I guess it serves me right that I am in the situation that I am now. But at least I am not as naive as I once was, and I hope for the best moving forward.

To all the new grads who have struggled to find a job, I feel your pain and frustration. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to message me.
Click to expand...

If you are going to move to Texas , don’t go to saturated areas like Houston. There are jobs in rural areas of Texas , or smaller cities like Abilene Texas (and it’s only 2 hours away from DFW). That’s what I suggest you do.
 
Mambo#5 said:
No you wouldn’t. A paycheck beats no paycheck. And you should never burn your bridges.
A better option would be to look for a better job or work towards getting another state license and then getting a better job. In the meantime be grateful that you get a check.
Click to expand...
You deserve whatever CVS or Walgreens job you have if this is what you truly believe.

I'd happily burn bridges with such a lowlife boss
 
CetiAlphaFive said:
You deserve whatever CVS or Walgreens job you have if this is what you truly believe.

I'd happily burn bridges with such a lowlife boss
Click to expand...

After you quit this job, would you please out this shop? It's a small world after all, and this deserves some collective community punishment.
 
Mambo#5 said:
Unless you have FU money saved up, in general, you don’t quit a job without having another one lined up, especially when you have bills to pay.
Click to expand...

Please define "in general". When is Mambo#5 quitting without a job lined up?

A salary cut to minimum wage?
Sexual favors to keep job?
Forced to fill fraudulent prescriptions?
 
awval999 said:
Please define "in general". When is Mambo#5 quitting without a job lined up?

A salary cut to minimum wage?
Sexual favors to keep job?
Forced to fill fraudulent prescriptions?
Click to expand...
I’ve quit jobs before with nothing lined up. It takes guts. You can pick up another job; you have to be very positive. It’s easier with support from family if you have one in the area. I was on my own and am very independent. I told myself “I’ll have another job in 2 weeks.” I was close, it was 3. If you believe in yourself and stay positive you can do it.

Talk is cheap. It’s easy to say just quit. I doubt those saying that they would quit really would. Me personally, though I said one should stay, because after all it easier with money coming in. I’d probably be so bitter, that I would quit. I’d pack up my things and leave. But then again, I love adventure.
 
lord999 said:
After you quit this job, would you please out this shop? It's a small world after all, and this deserves some collective community punishment.
Click to expand...
I hope the OP does.

Btw @federerkey you're making a *huge* mistake by moving to Houston.
The market is ultra-saturated there.
In fact, the only real cities in Texas with jobs are on the border with Mexico.

If youre thinking of working in Houston's rural areas you'd better be white and able to hide the fact that you're a Yankee.
 
Last edited:
federerkey said:
I have tried to negotiate twice. But during each time, he just smiles and says that it's complicated and budget is tight because of the new store.
Click to expand...

Well if you threaten to quit, he wouldn't be able to hire another pharmacist at $25/hr. He needs a pharmacist so I feel like you have the leverage here. Unless he doesn't and he is just using you for cheap labor.

I was making $29/hr as a grad intern, there is no way making $25/hr as a pharmacist is ok

If he wanted cheap labor he should just go for free labor by getting an IPPE or APPE student
 
I'm not really sure what I'm reading on that .pdf that was posted. If I quit being a pharmacist and walked into a public school with a doctorate degree, how much would I get paid? I hate children and I'd never want to be a teacher, I'm just curious.

You only work 180 days a year...you can work as a relief pharmacist in the summer to cover vacations and make bank...you get waaaaay better benefits.

Hell...that might be something to consider for the right person.
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
I'm not really sure what I'm reading on that .pdf that was posted. If I quit being a pharmacist and walked into a public school with a doctorate degree, how much would I get paid? I hate children and I'd never want to be a teacher, I'm just curious.

You only work 180 days a year...you can work as a relief pharmacist in the summer to cover vacations and make bank...you get waaaaay better benefits.

Hell...that might be something to consider for the right person.
Click to expand...

Salary Schedule – Talent Support Services

In Philadelphia, roughly between 52k (at absolute worst for humanities) and 88k for a 185 day schedule without subject adjustment. If you're willing to teach sciences or go into a school with a bulletproof vest (my aunts' and uncles' alma mater of Edison in the Badlands, I'm sure it'd be quite a bit more).
 
federerkey said:
When I graduated in 2017, I thought I could just pass the NAPLEX, get a job, and my life would be all sunshine and rainbows. Boy, was I wrong. I did not see that saturation was already a problem. I graduated in Maryland, and it took me a while to get licensed because I had to take care of my dad who was very sick. He's doing much better nowadays. Since the beginning of the 2018, I have applied to more than a hundred positions. I usually get no response, and occasionally I received a message saying that the company chose a more qualified candidate. There were positions I don't bother applying since they require at least 1 year of experience or residency.

I finally managed to get a part-time job at an independent pharmacy in July. At first, my pay was decent at 40/hr for a few weeks. Then, my boss suddenly decreased it to 25/hr (this is not a typo). I was shocked to the core. I asked why, and he said is because he just opened a new pharmacy and so the budget is tight. Since I have been unable to find another job, I had no choice but to keep my position for now.

Recently, I have decided to move to the Houston area by the end of this year, with or without a job lined up. In the mean time, I have applied to many positions down there. I know it's saturated there, too, but I think Texas has a bit more opportunities than Maryland. I've also decided to apply to a few PGY1 residencies in Texas, as well. Throughout most of my pharmacy career, I thought I would do retail pharmacy because that's where the majority of jobs are. I avoided hospital pharmacy because I thought all the clinical stuff was complicated. However, when I completed my P4 rotations, I found myself hating retail. I really liked hospital pharmacy. Too bad I knew that when the residency application cycle had already ended.

Now here I am with a crummy retail job and looking for a new career path. I guess it serves me right that I am in the situation that I am now. But at least I am not as naive as I once was, and I hope for the best moving forward.

To all the new grads who have struggled to find a job, I feel your pain and frustration. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to message me.
Click to expand...

First off I see this is your first post welcome to the community. Also sorry to hear about your father being sick.

"I have applied to more than a hundred positions" This is the new normal. I expect it to take around 300 job interviews to get a job for new grads in 2020. As for your "low" pay I think 25 an hour is an acceptable wage for pharmacists. That is more than 50k a year! but of course if you have loan payments and after taxes it can amount to much less. Have you considered downgrading your lifestyle to save money? I'm talking about getting roomates or maybe eating ramen with tuna a few days a week. I find rent to be the most expensive thing so I live in a trailer behind my car but some people find that to be extreme. There are many ways to cut out expensives in your life. I think you will be fine as long as you are earning at least 15 USD an hour. So I would keep working there to get good job experience unless your boss cuts your wage to below 15 USD / 30,000 USD an hour. Then maybe starting looking for work.

I would not do PGY1 or PGY2 as these are not financially positive endeavors.
 
Doktor_dud3 said:
Leave the city/metro area.
Click to expand...
The issue with leaving the city/metro area is you lose all the amenities of the city. I find that living in a wealthy area is the best as you can be in Starbucks all day getting free electricity and Wifi all day and sometimes ppl will even feel bad for you and give you the "messed up" drinks 😉. Once you move out of the city core it becomes a lot more fend for yourself and there goes your free bathrooms / electricity / WIFI . Also many male pharmacists are under a state of reproductive starvation and moving out of a city means lowering their chance significantly of finding their future wife. I am still looking for my future wife so I want to look in an area that has many females to increase my chances.

just food for thought.
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
I already work night shift North of Philly... Being a potential armed robbery victim is already part of my everyday.
Click to expand...
Do you get nevrous when the young thugs come in your store after dark with hoodies and caps on? I know it's bad of me but I can't help but tense up when a young man comes into the store alone or with other young men and they arn't talking and head straight to the counter. Of course they never cause any real trouble (maybe stealing some some small corporately packaged confections) so i feel bad that i feel this way)
 
Modest_anteater said:
First off I see this is your first post welcome to the community. Also sorry to hear about your father being sick.

"I have applied to more than a hundred positions" This is the new normal. I expect it to take around 300 job interviews to get a job for new grads in 2020. As for your "low" pay I think 25 an hour is an acceptable wage for pharmacists. That is more than 50k a year! but of course if you have loan payments and after taxes it can amount to much less. Have you considered downgrading your lifestyle to save money? I'm talking about getting roomates or maybe eating ramen with tuna a few days a week. I find rent to be the most expensive thing so I live in a trailer behind my car but some people find that to be extreme. There are many ways to cut out expensives in your life. I think you will be fine as long as you are earning at least 15 USD an hour. So I would keep working there to get good job experience unless your boss cuts your wage to below 15 USD / 30,000 USD an hour. Then maybe starting looking for work.

I would not do PGY1 or PGY2 as these are not financially positive endeavors.
Click to expand...

It's good to see you're back, I'll let the local independent know you'll work for $25/hour I guarantee you'll get a job offer
 
Just to reiterate, OP really means $25/hour and not 25 hours a week? Especially considering OP said $40/hour was decent. Or things have really gotten that bad...
 
Last edited:
wagrxm2000 said:
It's good to see you're back, I'll let the local independent know you'll work for $25/hour I guarantee you'll get a job offer
Click to expand...
I'm not like hoping to get paid less. I'm just saying I would be okay getting paid less bc I don't really have expenses and I live frugally.
 
Modest_anteater said:
First off I see this is your first post welcome to the community. Also sorry to hear about your father being sick.

"I have applied to more than a hundred positions" This is the new normal. I expect it to take around 300 job interviews to get a job for new grads in 2020. As for your "low" pay I think 25 an hour is an acceptable wage for pharmacists. That is more than 50k a year! but of course if you have loan payments and after taxes it can amount to much less. Have you considered downgrading your lifestyle to save money? I'm talking about getting roomates or maybe eating ramen with tuna a few days a week. I find rent to be the most expensive thing so I live in a trailer behind my car but some people find that to be extreme. There are many ways to cut out expensives in your life. I think you will be fine as long as you are earning at least 15 USD an hour. So I would keep working there to get good job experience unless your boss cuts your wage to below 15 USD / 30,000 USD an hour. Then maybe starting looking for work.

I would not do PGY1 or PGY2 as these are not financially positive endeavors.
Click to expand...

This was the most ridiculous post I've ever read.
 
AlwaysContrary said:
This was the most ridiculous post I've ever read.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry you feel that way. Trolling of all forms is illegal/against the TOS of SD so I assure you I am completely serious as I am in 99% of my posts. Sorry you were not able to find value in my post.
 
I think $40-50/hr is the new floor for new grads. I don't think anyone with half a brain will want to work for less unless you have 0 pride and desparate to pay your rent. You might as well be a tech if you get paid $25/hr with 0 responsibility.
 
animalsasleaders said:
Just to reiterate, OP really means $25/hour and not 25 hours a week? Especially considering OP said $40/hour was decent. Or things have really gotten that bad...
Click to expand...

Yes, I meant $25/hr in all seriousness.

Momus said:
I think $40-50/hr is the new floor for new grads. I don't think anyone with half a brain will want to work for less unless you have 0 pride and desparate to pay your rent. You might as well be a tech if you get paid $25/hr with 0 responsibility.
Click to expand...

Actually, I do have pride. I was just hoping that my situation would get better, but it never did. Money has not been a problem since I live with my parents. But since I really want independence, I will leave my current job soon, leave MD, and continue my search for a better life.

awval999 said:
Come on. No one actually believes this do they?

First post.

$40/hr down to $25/hr at some two bit independent with no warning.

No human with a backbone is going to accept that and not outright resign.

It's also illegal.

Change of Pay: Employer’s Discretion - The Maryland Guide to Wage Payment and Employment Standards
In the absence of an employment contract, agreement or policy which states otherwise, an employer may lower the pay of an employee at any time following one full pay period advance notice. Prior notice of a pay increase is not required.
Click to expand...

I noticed that my employer rarely pays me on a biweekly basis. Usually there is a ~3 week gap. I'm not on the payroll, so he pays me by written checks. Usually when I go to him every 2 weeks, he just says that he'll pay me next week. In my head, I'm like, "WTF?"
 
Modest_anteater said:
I'm not like hoping to get paid less. I'm just saying I would be okay getting paid less bc I don't really have expenses and I live frugally.
Click to expand...

If you can't find a job and want to come to the Midwest let me know.

I might even ask for $10k a year as a finders fee. You get 50k and I get 10k sounds fair.
 
animalsasleaders said:
When is Amazon coming to save us all?
Click to expand...
By “save us all” you mean consolidate the 10000 retail jobs into 1000 remote order verification jobs and put 90% of retail pharmacists out of jobs?

I suppose you can “save” a dying horse by shooting it to put it out of its misery— same goes for pharmacy. Hope the bubble breaks already.
 
Modest_anteater said:
I'm not like hoping to get paid less. I'm just saying I would be okay getting paid less bc I don't really have expenses and I live frugally.
Click to expand...
"I live frugally"
"Austin, TX"
So which is it?

federerkey said:
I noticed that my employer rarely pays me on a biweekly basis. Usually there is a ~3 week gap. I'm not on the payroll, so he pays me by written checks. Usually when I go to him every 2 weeks, he just says that he'll pay me next week. In my head, I'm like, "WTF?"
Click to expand...
OK, this guy just jumped the shark.
You have to be memeposting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
CVS’s Omnicare Files Bankruptcy After $949 Million Judgment
Replies
1
Views
998
clarkbar
C
S
i wonder .... what is after BCSP ?
Replies
4
Views
2K
nickw2401
N
Dred Pirate
The myth of a tough preceptor
Replies
31
Views
4K
naseuy
N
S
Pharmacist salary after graduation?
2
Replies
54
Views
16K
radio frequency
radio frequency
mrjbb
Applying to Pharmacy Schools and Becoming a Licensed Pharmacist with a Criminal Record
Replies
9
Views
3K
CetiAlphaFive
CetiAlphaFive
Top Bottom