First Year Flexibility

[kerokero]

I've been accepted at a pharmacy school and am preparing myself for a career switch (from 10+ years as an electrical engineer). One of the bonuses I keep hearing about pharmacy is the flexibility but I haven't been able to quantify that statement. I know that it's hard to make a general statement; but is it safe to say that, upon graduation from pharmacy school, "freshouts" will have a hard time obtaining day shifts? Should I expect to be a "floater" for about a year before obtaining a full-time position at a hospital? I'm particularly interested in clinical/hospital pharmacy in the San Francisco area. Is it also safe to assume that seniority plays a big role in what hours you obtain and what holidays (i.e Xmas, Thanksgiving, etc) you get off? I've been told that everyone will have to work nights/weekends once in a while. Also, what times are the shifts? Are they 12 hour shifts starting at 6am? If people can tell me from their experiences, then I would appreciate it.

 

[BugsNDrugs]

I've been accepted at a pharmacy school and am preparing myself for a career switch (from 10+ years as an electrical engineer). One of the bonuses I keep hearing about pharmacy is the flexibility but I haven't been able to quantify that statement. I know that it's hard to make a general statement; but is it safe to say that, upon graduation from pharmacy school, "freshouts" will have a hard time obtaining day shifts? Should I expect to be a "floater" for about a year before obtaining a full-time position at a hospital? I'm particularly interested in clinical/hospital pharmacy in the San Francisco area. Is it also safe to assume that seniority plays a big role in what hours you obtain and what holidays (i.e Xmas, Thanksgiving, etc) you get off? I've been told that everyone will have to work nights/weekends once in a while. Also, what times are the shifts? Are they 12 hour shifts starting at 6am? If people can tell me from their experiences, then I would appreciate it.

I think most of your questions are probably circumstantial to where you are planning on working. Are you planning on working hospital? From what I've seen in both hospital and retail settings everything is negotiable. I guess it also depends on how bad a place needs a pharmacist. In my area I haven't heard of anybody not getting the job they want or complaining about anything. Good luck!

 

[kerokero]

Thanks BugsNDrugs. That seems to be the general opinion that I've received when I've asked the pharmacists that I shadowed. The more I learn about the healthcare industry and their employment practices, the more I'm surprised how vastly different it is from other industries. Eventually, I would like to work in a hospital, hopefully in the Bay area.