Advice with Summer Plans

[PharmGirl22]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi all,

I am just finishing up my P1 year and I am definitely ready for summer. I have a slight predicament/question, and I was looking for some advice and input.

Currently I have minimal pharmacy experience. I volunteered a little bit while in college, but that is pretty much it. I am not too concerned about my lack of experience because starting in August we will begin our retail rounds through school and I know I will gain it quickly.

My question to you all is: am I at a severe disadvantage if I do not work/intern this summer? The problem is that I am going to be gone for a total of four weeks this summer (three through study abroad, and one through a family vacation), so that makes it rather hard to work. I was considering volunteering at a hospital or independent pharmacy (if I can get a position), but I only want to do this if it is necessary. While I am a hard worker and not a lazy person at all, I must admit that the option of relaxing and traveling this summer without other responsibilities is appealing after the rough school year.

Have any of you done nothing pharmacy related the summer after your P1 year? Did you feel this put you at a disadvantage at any point?

Thanks for any input!

 

[bacillus1]

It's fine for you not to do anything pharmacy related after P1 as long as you do something productive (studying abroad is productive I suppose). I really don't believe in volunteering to better your resume unless you have absolutely no way to get pharmacy experience in your 4 years of pharmacy school otherwise. However, you should try to find a retail job once you're back from your study abroad that you could hold down during your P2 year.

 

[StriveForGlory]

Im a P1 as well and I plan on working as much as I can during the summer. Its mostly for money rather than experience though.

Its hard to tell whether working experience is better than volunteering at this point in my opinion. They might have been comparable at one point but that may be changing because of the economy. A future employer might be more interested in someone who would require the least amount of training whereas in the past they might have taken someone with only volunteer experience.

I personally think volunteer experience is just as good. I know a few people who are having a hard time getting into hospital pharmacy as pharmacy students and volunteering is pretty much the only option they have. I cant see myself looking down on people like that as an employer... but what do I know?

 

[jinga]

Employers love experience! In other sectors, experience seems to get people hired before education or grades ANY DAY. Work 🙂

 

[inquirer89]

Does your program have rotations during the summer? We have a mandatory 1 month rotation in community pharmacy after our p1 year, and a rotation in clinical pharmacy after our p2 year. I don't think you should volunteer, especially since you're already in pharmacy school. Maybe work part time as a technician (I do about 10 hours a week plus school, then will work a lot over my off summer months) or just wait for your rotations to get that experience.

 

[PharmGirl22]

Thanks for all the responses. I know experience is beneficial, and trust me, I plan on getting it. If I didn't do anything pharmacy related this summer I would dedicate my next summer to that for sure. I just figured that since I start retail rounds in August I will get that experience soon enough anyways. Then, since I will have some experience, it should be a little easier to land a position next summer.

Another point is that I do not see myself doing retail after I graduate.. therefore, I don't care about building up so many hours with a specific company. I see myself more in a hospital setting (staff or residency not sure) and no hospitals in my area will take an intern until after their second year.