Graduated last year and still can't find full time positions :(

[IndiegirlLA]

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Hey guys, I recently made an account to ask for some serious advice. I graduated from a "top 20" program last year and since then I have applied to just over 100 positions. I heard nothing back from the majority of them and the ones I did hear back from never updated me... 🙁. I had great grades in school too and did network my butt off but still they didn't end up wanting me after I graduated. This wasn't just me, because it had happened to a couple of my colleagues as well. I went into pharmacy when people were just talking about the market plummeting but I thought it wasn't that big of a deal. Four years later I'm working two part time positions in the outskirts of a major city and the travel time between the two positions is killing me. I don't want to have to do this anymore. I have applied for residencies in school but even with my good grades I wasn't matched. Only about 15% of my class was matched 🙁 . It's been a a little over a year like this, and I can't imagine living the rest of my life like this...my degree isn't even getting me a full time job and my family is really ashamed of it too. There's so much pressure behind this and I just want a full time job already but every job I apply to, apparently have more than a few hundred applicants...I'm starting to face the actual saturation and it sucks real bad. Two years ago my older friends graduated from the same school and are still working part time as well. I really had the mentality that there was no way it would happen to me. What do I do from here...? 🙁

 

[gwarm01]

I graduated from a "top 20" program last year

Sorry to hear your story, but it's just more proof that the school rankings might as well be a segment on Whose Line is it Anyway.

 

[pharm202]

Hey guys, I recently made an account to ask for some serious advice. I graduated from a "top 20" program last year and since then I have applied to just over 100 positions. I heard nothing back from the majority of them and the ones I did hear back from never updated me... 🙁. I had great grades in school too and did network my butt off but still they didn't end up wanting me after I graduated. This wasn't just me, because it had happened to a couple of my colleagues as well. I went into pharmacy when people were just talking about the market plummeting but I thought it wasn't that big of a deal. Four years later I'm working two part time positions in the outskirts of a major city and the travel time between the two positions is killing me. I don't want to have to do this anymore. I have applied for residencies in school but even with my good grades I wasn't matched. Only about 15% of my class was matched 🙁 . It's been a a little over a year like this, and I can't imagine living the rest of my life like this...my degree isn't even getting me a full time job and my family is really ashamed of it too. There's so much pressure behind this and I just want a full time job already but every job I apply to, apparently have more than a few hundred applicants...I'm starting to face the actual saturation and it sucks real bad. Two years ago my older friends graduated from the same school and are still working part time as well. I really had the mentality that there was no way it would happen to me. What do I do from here...? 🙁

This! I graduated from school (not top 20) last year. Probably didn't network like I should have and didn't work during school. Kinda surprised I was able to find anything at all. People said there are always retail jobs available but I'm stuck working to part time jobs- one that is over 70 miles one way and the other I float mainly to stores 70 miles away. The drive and shorty unpredictable schedule is killing me and I honestly don't know how much more I can take. Pharmacy school was a huge mistake. I never thought I would have to drive so much and have such a crazy schedule when I graduated

 

[BMBiology]

It is not just you. Even pharmacists with experiences are having a difficult time.

Try to get a per diem or part time job with a major corporate and move up. I am sure that is what most people are trying to do as well.


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[BenJammin]

What does it say about pharmacy rankings when a "top 20 school" can't get all of their grads hired yet my non-top 20 school routinely gets full class employment within 3 months of graduation?

 

[Lnsean]

This! I graduated from school (not top 20) last year. Probably didn't network like I should have and didn't work during school. Kinda surprised I was able to find anything at all. People said there are always retail jobs available but I'm stuck working to part time jobs- one that is over 70 miles one way and the other I float mainly to stores 70 miles away. The drive and shorty unpredictable schedule is killing me and I honestly don't know how much more I can take. Pharmacy school was a huge mistake. I never thought I would have to drive so much and have such a crazy schedule when I graduated

My DM gets tons of applications...he doesn't even look at it if you don't have retail experience. Doesn't matter if you have residency or what. He said the few non-retail people he had hired before were always awful. This is the tri-state area...so I think the notion of having retail always be there is narrowing alot...even though retail does make up the majority of the job market.

 

[pjm9706]

Did you apply anywhere outside of Cali/LA?

 

[Dred Pirate]

I know several small hospitals in NC who can't find help - you need to think outside of major cities - it may suck to move outside of your comfort area, but there are jobs - just harder to find.

I am surprised that a top 20 school (for whatever that is worth) only had 15% match to residencies thou

 

[zelman]

tri-state area...

FYI: that's a non-specific term Tri-state area - Wikipedia

 

[confettiflyer]

I know several small hospitals in NC who can't find help - you need to think outside of major cities - it may suck to move outside of your comfort area, but there are jobs - just harder to find.

I am surprised that a top 20 school (for whatever that is worth) only had 15% match to residencies thou

That's a very odd statistic. My then new/not top 20 program 5yrs ago had like a 65-70%+ match rate and the match rates have actually improved overall since then.

Fishy statistic.


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[radio frequency]

I think it's the whole major metropolitan area. Move outside that and you'll probably find more opportunities. Get one. Pay the loans off ASAP. Then move on with your life and figure out what Act II is. Pharmacy is more enjoyable when you don't have to pay for your degree anymore.

 

[Abby Atwood]

I a similar issue leaving school. I applied for residency instead of trying for retail positions. When I didn't match, it was a bit of a scramble to get a job. I actually wound up somewhere really cool, but I had to apply all over the place to get it. Small towns are a better bet than giant cities.

Are you tied to your home city/state, or can you move to a different city/state? Are you eligible for license transfer through reciprocity yet?

You might want to try for some independent pharmacies or clinics. A lot of the time they have a less established application process, so you can really stand out if you email in good application materials (e.g. a well-formatted resume vs some Indeed.com monstrosity). They also tend to get less interest, so you may be up against fewer candidates.
Good luck!!! I'm rooting for you

 

[samven582]

I'm in the same position as well. One part time and one per diem. Graduate in 2015

 

[Apples2Oranges]

I'm surprised as nearly 50% of the 2017 class got a residency at my school, and everyone else got retail jobs. Really depends on how well your connections are. Some top 20 schools are in the middle of nowhere, while others have much better networking.

You really have to put yourself out there, whether it's for an internship or a full time position. I'm still in pharm school now, but even finding an internship at a hospital was difficult. Connections helped a lot. While your application is going through HR, some other pharmacist already contacted the manager through a friend/colleague and got their application expedited. My resume is still in HR, and I already got my position last week.

 

[Digsbe]

I know several small hospitals in NC who can't find help - you need to think outside of major cities - it may suck to move outside of your comfort area, but there are jobs - just harder to find.

I am surprised that a top 20 school (for whatever that is worth) only had 15% match to residencies thou

Depending on how you define "top 20" my school likely isn't one yet. Of those who applied 80% matched to residencies (about 1/3 of our graduates).

 

[steveysmith54]

Maybe the poster meant that only 15% of the ENTIRE class ended up doing a residency. Assuming this is a legit post, this statement is pretty sad " my family is really ashamed of it too". You're working two jobs and appear to busting your butt, why would you family be "ashamed" of you?

 

[farmadiazepine]

I wouldn't recommend anybody go into pharmacy now.

 

[Dr Wario]

I applied to be CEO of each of the Fortune 500 companies and didn't land a single one 🙁

 

[WVUPharm2007]

You're going to have to move out of the city if you want a full time job handed to you without any connections working for you. It's just the sad truth these days.

 

[Amicable Angora]

I wouldn't recommend anybody go into pharmacy now.

A little late for the op.

Hey guys, I recently made an account to ask for some serious advice. I graduated from a "top 20" program last year and since then I have applied to just over 100 positions. I heard nothing back from the majority of them and the ones I did hear back from never updated me... 🙁. I had great grades in school too and did network my butt off but still they didn't end up wanting me after I graduated. This wasn't just me, because it had happened to a couple of my colleagues as well. I went into pharmacy when people were just talking about the market plummeting but I thought it wasn't that big of a deal. Four years later I'm working two part time positions in the outskirts of a major city and the travel time between the two positions is killing me. I don't want to have to do this anymore. I have applied for residencies in school but even with my good grades I wasn't matched. Only about 15% of my class was matched 🙁 . It's been a a little over a year like this, and I can't imagine living the rest of my life like this...my degree isn't even getting me a full time job and my family is really ashamed of it too. There's so much pressure behind this and I just want a full time job already but every job I apply to, apparently have more than a few hundred applicants...I'm starting to face the actual saturation and it sucks real bad. Two years ago my older friends graduated from the same school and are still working part time as well. I really had the mentality that there was no way it would happen to me. What do I do from here...? 🙁

What state are you working in?

 

[hick2672]

Why would anyone want to get a pharmacy degree now? Work part time and look for a new profession! It will only get worse these next few years. Just ask anyone here at CVS or ask a Walgreen's or Walmart pharmacist! It is really ugly in pharmacy now!


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[Abby Atwood]

It really is more about location than actual job availability. I was unable to find a job within 2 hours of my home states capital city, but I was able to obtain a primarily clinical position in a rural area of a nearby state. Jobs exist, but there might be some sacrifices when it comes to location. On the other hand, not everyone has the luxury of moving. I might be pointing out a 6 of one half a dozen of another kind of difference.

 

[Wickett]

Hey guys, I recently made an account to ask for some serious advice. I graduated from a "top 20" program last year and since then I have applied to just over 100 positions. I heard nothing back from the majority of them and the ones I did hear back from never updated me... 🙁. I had great grades in school too and did network my butt off but still they didn't end up wanting me after I graduated. This wasn't just me, because it had happened to a couple of my colleagues as well. I went into pharmacy when people were just talking about the market plummeting but I thought it wasn't that big of a deal. Four years later I'm working two part time positions in the outskirts of a major city and the travel time between the two positions is killing me. I don't want to have to do this anymore. I have applied for residencies in school but even with my good grades I wasn't matched. Only about 15% of my class was matched 🙁 . It's been a a little over a year like this, and I can't imagine living the rest of my life like this...my degree isn't even getting me a full time job and my family is really ashamed of it too. There's so much pressure behind this and I just want a full time job already but every job I apply to, apparently have more than a few hundred applicants...I'm starting to face the actual saturation and it sucks real bad. Two years ago my older friends graduated from the same school and are still working part time as well. I really had the mentality that there was no way it would happen to me. What do I do from here...? 🙁

Echoing a lot of people here, you will have to make some lifestyle sacrifices for full time work in many cases. I don't know the specifics of your situation, but even in this market most people I know that bemoan not finding work after that much time post graduation are people being too picky (want specific city/area, hospital with no exp, exclude the big retail chains, etc). Nowadays you have to hustle a bit if you don't have an in somewhere.

I took a retail job at a "problem store" last year in a small town over 3 hours away from where I wanted. I busted my butt there, got the numbers and performance up at the store, and when an opening at a good store in the company in my desired location popped up, I applied and got it. The job market is definitely pretty bad, but most careers you have to make some sacrifices in the beginning to get one of those cushy spots a bunch of people want. I wish you luck and hope it works out.

 

[Timbo]

I probably would have been in the same situation as you had I not looked beyond where I initially wanted to work. You're just going to have to apply everywhere. If you went to a job fair at your school, you most likely got a bunch of district managers' phone numbers. Call them and keep calling them about openings. I got several offers doing this and even offers for hard to hire places where they offered significant bonuses.

 

[farmadiazepine]

And this is why its important to work while in school...

 

[smercer]

And this is why its important to work while in school...

While it is definitely important, plenty of people work for one of the major companies during school, then either get a prn offer or nothing at the end. This is especially true near cities with multiple schools within driving distance. It is not always straight forward either, where people are informed they will not get a full time offer, instead they are just led along until it is too late to try and make up ground with another company. Really the key is to work and to make sure that you get experience at different companies during your rotations, so you at least have your name out there in other places and can make some additional contacts. Also communication helps, as getting to know the DM or someone of note in the area can help with finding an opportunity that others may not know of or may not be available yet.

 

[mustang sally]

If you are really trying hard to find a position in your area with no success, than I would say go rural or go to a different state (or both). I ended up moving somewhere I thought was horrible after graduation and only had it in my mind to stay a couple of years. Five years later we are still here and loving it. So you just never know.

 

[IndiegirlLA]

If you are really trying hard to find a position in your area with no success, than I would say go rural or go to a different state (or both). I ended up moving somewhere I thought was horrible after graduation and only had it in my mind to stay a couple of years. Five years later we are still here and loving it. So you just never know.

I did end up moving....i don't wanna move again...sigh. This sucks 🙁