Becoming a Pharmacist at this Job market

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Tonya

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My question is that what pharmacists do then after graduation? How come some find jobs while finishing PharmD?

Is it a good idea to become a pharmacists now?

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Unless you are a non-native English speaker, if you really do write that poorly, you won't have to worry about it because you won't be able to get into pharmacy school.

Otherwise, most of us are going to tell you not to pursue it. It's not the career it was a few years ago, and it's not worth it.
 
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Corrected:

Even if you really do write that poorly, you won't have to worry about it because pharmacy schools will take anyone who has a pulse and is willing to sign away $200k+ in student loans.
 
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Unless you are a non-native English speaker, if you really do write that poorly, you won't have to worry about it because you won't be able to get into pharmacy school.

Otherwise, most of us are going to tell you not to pursue it. It's not the career it was a few years ago, and it's not worth it.
I am a non-native English speaker:/
Sorry for my English
 
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I am a non-native English speaker:/
Sorry for my English

Don't be sorry for your English. I am sorry that you were attacked here. However, your question has been answered OVER AND OVER AND OVER in two different forums. Why not just do a simple search and read the hundreds of responses that already exist?
 
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The highschool kids that decide to become pharmacists don't have the life experience to fully consider the risk involved. Many posts about the job market here have a similar theme, where they assume things will be better by the time they graduate. Funny, because I was a pre-pharm around 2006/2007 or so and saw many of the same warnings about market saturation. I had just assumed things would be better by the time I graduated. Then I entered a job market with mostly stagnant wages, lowered starting salaries, and very diminished job opportunities. My senior year career fair consisted of Walgreens, CVS, and a few extremely rural hospitals, and none had many jobs to offer. I was lucky and managed to land a great hospital job, but it required moving out of state. The hospital that was willing to hire me as a new grad has recently changed their position, and only wants residency trained pharmacists with experience. The job market is getting more competitive every day, and the rewards are dwindling. I really cannot understand the thought process of someone who would willingly enter pharmacy school at this point unless they have no other options. It's going to be grim, and I don't envy new grads over the next decade.
 
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The job market is bleak. Don't go to pharmacy school unless you are OK with working in retail. Going to pharmacy school to become a hospital or clinic pharmacist is like going to medical school to become a dermatologist--the odds are not in your favor. There are far far fewer residency spots than there are applicants (go ahead and look up the numbers). And without a residency, well, most people will be stuck in retail for the remainder of their pharmacy careers.

Actually, I think many prospective students actually DO want to go into retail, but don't really know what it's like - they probably envision it as an easy job with good pay.
 
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Actually, I think many prospective students actually DO want to go into retail, but don't really know what it's like - they probably envision it as an easy job with good pay.
That's what my friends say.
 
Don't be sorry for your English. I am sorry that you were attacked here. However, your question has been answered OVER AND OVER AND OVER in two different forums. Why not just do a simple search and read the hundreds of responses that already exist?
Sure. Thanks:)
 
My question is that what pharmacists do then after graduation? How come some find jobs while finishing PharmD?

Is it a good idea to become a pharmacists now?

It depends what your priorities are. Pharmacist unemployment rate is still very low, most pharmacists have jobs, and jobs with high compensation, caveat being IF they are willing to move and IF they are willing to take less than desirable jobs. If you want to live in a big city like New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, it will be extremely hard to find a job (people in these cities who do get jobs, usually take a job in the middle of nowhere until they get experience, and then move back to their big city.) If you don't mind working in a rural area in the middle of nowhere, then most likely you will find a job after graduating.
The other thing that must be considered is the amount of loans you will have to take out. If you can only get accepted into a high-price for-profit school, then the risk is probably not worth it, unless you are independently wealthy and don't have to worry about loans.
Of course, the job market today is not necessarily reflective of the job market 6 - 8 years from now.
 
It depends what your priorities are. Pharmacist unemployment rate is still very low, most pharmacists have jobs, and jobs with high compensation, caveat being IF they are willing to move and IF they are willing to take less than desirable jobs. If you want to live in a big city like New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, it will be extremely hard to find a job (people in these cities who do get jobs, usually take a job in the middle of nowhere until they get experience, and then move back to their big city.) If you don't mind working in a rural area in the middle of nowhere, then most likely you will find a job after graduating.
The other thing that must be considered is the amount of loans you will have to take out. If you can only get accepted into a high-price for-profit school, then the risk is probably not worth it, unless you are independently wealthy and don't have to worry about loans.
Of course, the job market today is not necessarily reflective of the job market 6 - 8 years from now.
I worked in a very unstable and small company in the middle of nowhere in Wisconsin for 2.5 years as a research associate. I did that just for money and I was very depressed.
 
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:/ if you truly want to pursue pharmacy, PURSUE IT.
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
It is not impossible to find a job- just difficult. It really annoys me when people switch fields because of the job market.
 
:/ if you truly want to pursue pharmacy, PURSUE IT.
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
It is not impossible to find a job- just difficult. It really annoys me when people switch fields because of the job market.

It annoys you when people make informed decisions about their future? I admire your youthful idealism, but in matters of livelihood you must absolutely consider the job market.
 
:/ if you truly want to pursue pharmacy, PURSUE IT.
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
It is not impossible to find a job- just difficult. It really annoys me when people switch fields because of the job market.

I completely agree with this. If pharmacy is your calling, you should do it no matter what anyone else tells you. If you are truly passionate about this field, you will find experiences that will make you stand out and help you differentiate yourself from the crowd and become a successful pharmacist.
 
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It annoys you when people make informed decisions about their future? I admire your youthful idealism, but in matters of livelihood you must absolutely consider the job market.

Yes. It makes no sense when someone will give up on their passion because of the job market. How bizarre.

Sure the person may choose a career with a better job market like PA or nursing but I am sure they will regret not sticking to their dream career down the road.
 
I completely agree with this. If pharmacy is your calling, you should do it no matter what anyone else tells you. If you are truly passionate about this field, you will find experiences that will make you stand out and help you differentiate yourself from the crowd and become a successful pharmacist.

Thank YOU and would you have given up on pursuing pharmacy because of the job market? I mean that just sounds so bad -.-
 
Yes. It makes no sense when someone will give up on their passion because of the job market. How bizarre.

Sure the person may choose a career with a better job market like PA or nursing but I am sure they will regret not sticking to their dream career down the road.

It isn't bizarre at all. When you have six-figure student loan debt and people rely on you to provide for them, all of the talk about passion and dream careers becomes silly and naive. At the end of the day, pharmacy is a career. It's a path that currently offers substantial risk, but still the possibility of a large reward. It is a factor that one should weigh when making such a large decision. A decision on the scale of getting married, having children, purchasing a home. The idea of following your dream is a romantic one for sure, but as adults it is wise to be pragmatic when making such monumental life choices.

Thank YOU and would you have given up on pursuing pharmacy because of the job market? I mean that just sounds so bad -.-

As a practicing pharmacist with a few years of experience under my belt, I would absolutely think twice about entering the field. The vision of this field which was presented to me as a high school graduate in the early 2000's has simply failed to materialize. The academy continues to sell the dream of the emerging clinical pharmacy jobs, despite the fact that they just aren't happening.

I have been lucky enough to work in specialty fields since graduation, and I am grateful for that. However, something consistent between all of my colleagues has been the feeling of disappointment. You spend all of this time in school, you are trained for a career, and when you get out it just isn't there. Even with "clinical specialists." We all thought it would be more.

I know that seems like a large rant considering your post, but I didn't want you to get the impression that I was some SDN troll who is just out to bash pharmacy. Just offering perspective on the matter.
 
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It isn't bizarre at all. When you have six-figure student loan debt and people rely on you to provide for them, all of the talk about passion and dream careers becomes silly and naive. At the end of the day, pharmacy is a career. It's a path that currently offers substantial risk, but still the possibility of a large reward. It is a factor that one should weigh when making such a large decision. A decision on the scale of getting married, having children, purchasing a home. The idea of following your dream is a romantic one for sure, but as adults it is wise to be pragmatic when making such monumental life choices.



As a practicing pharmacist with a few years of experience under my belt, I would absolutely think twice about entering the field. The vision of this field which was presented to me as a high school graduate in the early 2000's has simply failed to materialize. The academy continues to sell the dream of the emerging clinical pharmacy jobs, despite the fact that they just aren't happening.

I have been lucky enough to work in specialty fields since graduation, and I am grateful for that. However, something consistent between all of my colleagues has been the feeling of disappointment. You spend all of this time in school, you are trained for a career, and when you get out it just isn't there. Even with "clinical specialists." We all thought it would be more.

I know that seems like a large rant considering your post, but I didn't want you to get the impression that I was some SDN troll who is just out to bash pharmacy. Just offering perspective on the matter.


I understand and to some extent I do agree with you. You do have more say since you are already a pharmacist. However, there are a lot of factors that come in play when it comes to finding jobs in this bad market. I just think that pharmacy students have to put themselves out there and do more than just do well on exams and pass the NAPLEX, they should get involved with ECs and a intern at a pharmacy as well so when they graduate, they can obtain a nice job with good benefits.

I was very skeptical to apply to pharmacy school because of the job outlook as well however ,many of the pharmacists I work with in this hospital told me that the job outlook should not affect my decision. The job market is very saturated yes but there is always a way around it.
 
.. intern at a pharmacy as well so when they graduate ..

I think this is a key point. An internship allows you to develop practical skills while also learning from practicing pharmacists. The relationships you build can be invaluable as you start your career.
 
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Thank YOU and would you have given up on pursuing pharmacy because of the job market? I mean that just sounds so bad -.-

Job market and ROI has to play a factor these days, unfortunately. Healthcare and professional schooling in general is not so much about "I wanna help people and pursue my passion" anymore. Would you make a ~200k bet if you knew that the only way to pay it back is to work in rural Texas?

While we're at it, how many pre-pharms really have the "passion" to be a Pharmacist? Did they really spend a lot of time in a retail Pharmacy (where most jobs are) and went "I can't wait to stand on my feet all day without restroom breaks for the rest of my life". There are pros and cons to every field. If it's an 18 year old kid who never set foot in a Pharmacy, and they're doing it because their parents still think Pharmacy = $$$ (since it was during their time), then yes i would discourage them.
 
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Yes. It makes no sense when someone will give up on their passion because of the job market. How bizarre.

Sure the person may choose a career with a better job market like PA or nursing but I am sure they will regret not sticking to their dream career down the road.

Well put. Besides the job market is something nobody can control. Even if the job market is not good now when you are thinking about pharmacy school, this can easily change in the next few years by the time you graduate and vice versa. Things may not look good now but as many of the baby boomers are retiring in the next few years, this should open up a lot of jobs as well as opportunities in MTM and pharmacists being recognized as providers!
 
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Pharmacy market is darker than it once was in the mid 2000's. But if pharmacy is indeed something you really are interested in, then go for it, and go about it smartly. Have the good grades to get yourself into a good public pharmacy school, study hard and earn some scholarship money, work internship and live frugally, all help to keep the cost down. Find out what your objectives are, plan out the path, and put in the effort. There will still be need for pharmacists in the foreseeable future, but likely no room for those who just want to do the minimum.
 
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I have no magic ball and am unable to foresee what the future will hold years down the road. However, I can tell you that as of right now and the foreseeable future that this is definitely a terrible time to be a pharmacist. Growing number of schools, ObamaNoCare/PBMs putting the squeeze on revenue, and fewer positions due to lower revenue/consolidating jobs makes the outlook pretty bleak though not impossible. Best way to get around it is to work and develop connections while in school and actually have the knowledge to show for it once you graduate. Must also be willing to relocate to get experience and hope to one day move back to where you want to settle.

When I was thinking of applying to pharmacy school, there were sign-on bonuses, pharmacist shortage, being able to work anywhere you want on a minute's notice. Once I graduated just a few months ago, reality set in and set in pretty quickly.
 
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Things may not look good now but as many of the baby boomers are retiring in the next few years, this should open up a lot of jobs as well as opportunities in MTM and pharmacists being recognized as providers!

HDjRYKF.jpg
 
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Well put. Besides the job market is something nobody can control. Even if the job market is not good now when you are thinking about pharmacy school, this can easily change in the next few years by the time you graduate and vice versa. Things may not look good now but as many of the baby boomers are retiring in the next few years, this should open up a lot of jobs as well as opportunities in MTM and pharmacists being recognized as providers!

LMAO...I cringe when people mention MTM...I hope these people have actually done MTMs...and from my experience...MTMs will not save the profession. Only prescriptive authority will.
 
Job market and ROI has to play a factor these days, unfortunately. Healthcare and professional schooling in general is not so much about "I wanna help people and pursue my passion" anymore. Would you make a ~200k bet if you knew that the only way to pay it back is to work in rural Texas?

While we're at it, how many pre-pharms really have the "passion" to be a Pharmacist? Did they really spend a lot of time in a retail Pharmacy (where most jobs are) and went "I can't wait to stand on my feet all day without restroom breaks for the rest of my life". There are pros and cons to every field. If it's an 18 year old kid who never set foot in a Pharmacy, and they're doing it because their parents still think Pharmacy = $$$ (since it was during their time), then yes i would discourage them.

True! I did both retail and hospital pharmacy before applying to pharmacy school (currently a tech in oncology) and though retail made me want to die, I still liked learning more about the drugs there and what not. This applies to other students as well who are doing med or dentistry simply because their parents think it is $.
*If students do not have interest in the field they are in then leave NOW and give up your spot for someone who really wants to do it*
 
LMAO...I cringe when people mention MTM...I hope these people have actually done MTMs...and from my experience...MTMs will not save the profession. Only prescriptive authority will.

I think MTMs are actually being done at some places. There are hospitals and amcare centers that have MTM pharmacists! Not saying it'll save the profession but there are still opportunities there.
 
True! I did both retail and hospital pharmacy before applying to pharmacy school (currently a tech in oncology) and though retail made me want to die, I still liked learning more about the drugs there and what not. This applies to other students as well who are doing med or dentistry simply because their parents think it is $.
*If students do not have interest in the field they are in then leave NOW and give up your spot for someone who really wants to do it*
lol
 
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Cheese and rice, I don't even know what it means to have a passion for pharmacy. A passion for quality assurance? What? I can't even.
 
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Cheese and rice, I don't even know what it means to have a passion for pharmacy. A passion for quality assurance? What? I can't even.
passion for counting by fives

passion for becoming a doctor's handbook

Real pharmacy is retail which these kids don't want to do. They want to become pseudo physician "clinical pharmacists".
 
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I think MTMs are actually being done at some places. There are hospitals and amcare centers that have MTM pharmacists! Not saying it'll save the profession but there are still opportunities there.

Retail pharmacists are responsible for mtm too but our hours are not increased to give us the time to do so
 
Then maybe you shouldn't have become a pharmacist

Unless your dad is the director of pharmacy at some hospital, I wouldn't recommend this for you or anyone.

You already said retail made you want to die. Retail is what pharmacy is. Its clear you don't even like the real job of a pharmacist lol.
 
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Unless your dad is the director of pharmacy at some hospital, I wouldn't recommend this for you or anyone.

You already said retail made you want to die. Retail is what pharmacy is. Its clear you don't even like the real job of a pharmacist lol.

Retail did make me want to 'die' but I still liked it * The retail pharmacy I worked at was crap but it didn't make me want to change my career path.
 
Retail did make me want to 'die' but I still liked it * The retail pharmacy I worked at was crap but it didn't make me want to change my career path.

Most ironic thing here is that an Indian is saying don't do it for the money

That is the only reason why Indians go into pharmacy lol
 
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Cheese and rice, I don't even know what it means to have a passion for pharmacy. A passion for quality assurance? What? I can't even.

The only people that talk about having a passion for pharmacy are students and the professors that teach them.
 
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Most ironic thing here is that an Indian is saying don't do it for the money

That is the only reason why Indians go into pharmacy lol

LOL omg.

Hmmmmm but medicine pays much more so why would Indians settle for pharmacy?

The health field requires a bigger and better mindset than just "doing it for money".

Shame on you, whoever you are
 
Most ironic thing here is that an Indian is saying don't do it for the money

That is the only reason why Indians go into pharmacy lol
So true. lmao As Indo punjabi I had three options: health care, law, or engineering.
 
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LOL omg.

Hmmmmm but medicine pays much more so why would Indians settle for pharmacy?

The health field requires a bigger and better mindset than just "doing it for money".

Shame on you, whoever you are
There is no shame. The health field is considered a business in the United States and not a right.
 
LOL omg.

Hmmmmm but medicine pays much more so why would Indians settle for pharmacy?

The health field requires a bigger and better mindset than just "doing it for money".

Shame on you, whoever you are
Sorry.

I say what I feel. I remember this Indian kid incessantly talking about money, buying a benz, paying loans, the "business" aspect. And don't worry, I'm from the same subcontinent as you ... just way to the west lol.

People go into pharmacy for money. Its different from medicine, the rigors of medicine will usually discourage people form going into it just for the monetary return.
 
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LOL omg.

Hmmmmm but medicine pays much more so why would Indians settle for pharmacy?

The health field requires a bigger and better mindset than just "doing it for money".

Shame on you, whoever you are

Sure, Med/Dent world has some students going in it for the $$$. Except in their case, they all had to commit an absurd amount of time/work to get into their schools. Even if they were in it for the money, most people won't question their decisions because the barriers of entry, the amount of dedication it takes to get an acceptance and the ROI is in a completely different stratosphere than pharmacy.
 
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So true. lmao As Indo punjabi I had three options: health care, law, or engineering.

Correction: Health Care WITH the *Dr. title. Try selling your brown parents professions like PT/OT etc. They'll flip.
 
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Or make a spreadsheet and go over how finance, engineering, computer programming, etc. is a better payoff compared to pharmacy considering that you would not have to take out an additional $200k+ loans for those professions.
 
I have yet to see a post about having a passion to become field management in retail or DOP.
 
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I have yet to see a post about having a passion to become field management in retail or DOP.

I am passionate about making field management's salary and bonuses.....is that good enough for you?
 
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I think MTMs are actually being done at some places. There are hospitals and amcare centers that have MTM pharmacists! Not saying it'll save the profession but there are still opportunities there.

I do MTM all the time in retail. They force it on us even though we barely have enough hours to do our main job.
 
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