Help a newly licensed RPh get on the right path to a job

[poda521]

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I'm located in Delaware and got my license on Thanksgiving. It took forever to get my ATT for Naplex and then the results, and it took a month to get my ATT for my MPJE so it sucks that I'm at the back of the "race" right now.

Since then, I've been checking websites and tinkering with my resume. Only listings online are to hospitals or special care centers which require 1+yrs experience to apply. Should I even bother to submit a resume or call to inquire? I feel like as soon as they hear I have no hospital experience they'll shut me down.

I have no work experience outside of working for CVS as an intern for about 13-14 months in NY. Went to school in NY, and they just dropped me knowing I'd move back home to Delaware (DM told me I had no value to them and I had to be cut, but in a slick, sly way).

I just emailed my BOP inquiring immunization training program hoping that when retail companies look at my resume, they can see I am already certified.

My goal is to get a retail job, be it part-time or full-time. But at this moment, any pharmacist job will do.

Delaware isn't a state that has a lot of people that move like in NY, where people would like to transfer to the city or go to Long Island, etc...

I don't know how long it'll take to get immunization certified but I hope retail DM's take note of it. If all else fails, I may have to start studying for PA MPJE.

*Sigh* Any advice, suggestions?...criticisms?

 

[Pharmacopia]

1. Be flexible, apply to area's and positions you normally wouldn't apply to. Never think a certain job is below you. Keep an open mind, and take whatever opportunities presented to you and run with it.

2. research the company you are applying to, and gear your resume/cv to them. Do not do a generic cv/resume.

3. If you get an inteview, make sure you can point out the important projects on your resume, and how it is relevant to your perspective employer.

4. search websites, profession-magazines, company websites, hospitals, home infusion, independence, LTCF---------- everyday. Make sure any or all opportunities are emailed to you when they became available, and most importantly, it was accessible on my phone. You will get alot of spam email, but you will get legitimate responses from recruiters.

5. Start networking, go to CE dinner events, chat up old pharmacy buddies, and everywhere you go....you present yourself as a valuable commodity. I talked pharmacy to whomever was willing to listen, mainly so I can hear their viewpoints. It made me more knowledgeable, and when it came to interview time, no question they threw at me caught me off guard (it also builds confidence) b/c I was so use to talking about random pharmacy stuff. I went as far as going to pharmacies to buy a soda and to chat with pharmacists about their jobs, but I always ended with "I just recently graduated, if you don't mind, who is your regional recruiter." I may not get the recruiter, but I did get the DM's name and phone number.

6. Re-evaluate your time at CVS. Nobody is perfect, we can always improve some aspect of work habits. Try to see what they saw in you and think of ways to improve it. I go to work everyday trying to find something to improve (mainly b/c I have to now), but I wish I had this mindset when I was looking for a job.

7. Immunization certification is almost a must these days. I use my certification as a focus point in my interviews, first to show that its important for me to maintain certifications (without spending company money to certify me), and I used it as a focal point during my interviews (to keep the interview going but relevant to their company esp. if they push immunizations as a profitable side business).

8. At interviews, Play on your strengths, but still acknowledge your weaknesses (and tell them how you plan on improving them). This will come up in some way, shape, or form.

9. Confidence......if you feel it, you will portray it. I acknowledge that I wanted to give up, and when I did, I went out to do fun (and cheap) things (when you are unemployed, you have the world at your disposal...do whatever you want). I even did stupid stuff like go to Neiman Marcus just to smell all the expensive colognes that I would never afford to buy. I went to test drive cars when I got really bored. DOing things you enjoy will boost your confidence.

 

[TemSirolimus]

1. Be flexible, apply to area's and positions you normally wouldn't apply to. Never think a certain job is below you. Keep an open mind, and take whatever opportunities presented to you and run with it.

2. research the company you are applying to, and gear your resume/cv to them. Do not do a generic cv/resume.

3. If you get an inteview, make sure you can point out the important projects on your resume, and how it is relevant to your perspective employer.

4. search websites, profession-magazines, company websites, hospitals, home infusion, independence, LTCF---------- everyday. Make sure any or all opportunities are emailed to you when they became available, and most importantly, it was accessible on my phone. You will get alot of spam email, but you will get legitimate responses from recruiters.

5. Start networking, go to CE dinner events, chat up old pharmacy buddies, and everywhere you go....you present yourself as a valuable commodity. I talked pharmacy to whomever was willing to listen, mainly so I can hear their viewpoints. It made me more knowledgeable, and when it came to interview time, no question they threw at me caught me off guard (it also builds confidence) b/c I was so use to talking about random pharmacy stuff. I went as far as going to pharmacies to buy a soda and to chat with pharmacists about their jobs, but I always ended with "I just recently graduated, if you don't mind, who is your regional recruiter." I may not get the recruiter, but I did get the DM's name and phone number.

6. Re-evaluate your time at CVS. Nobody is perfect, we can always improve some aspect of work habits. Try to see what they saw in you and think of ways to improve it. I go to work everyday trying to find something to improve (mainly b/c I have to now), but I wish I had this mindset when I was looking for a job.

7. Immunization certification is almost a must these days. I use my certification as a focus point in my interviews, first to show that its important for me to maintain certifications (without spending company money to certify me), and I used it as a focal point during my interviews (to keep the interview going but relevant to their company esp. if they push immunizations as a profitable side business).

8. At interviews, Play on your strengths, but still acknowledge your weaknesses (and tell them how you plan on improving them). This will come up in some way, shape, or form.

9. Confidence......if you feel it, you will portray it. I acknowledge that I wanted to give up, and when I did, I went out to do fun (and cheap) things (when you are unemployed, you have the world at your disposal...do whatever you want). I even did stupid stuff like go to Neiman Marcus just to smell all the expensive colognes that I would never afford to buy. I went to test drive cars when I got really bored. DOing things you enjoy will boost your confidence.

read the bold part. Nuff said.
Who you know in this small pharmacy world makes a huge difference.

 

[poda521]

Thanks for the input. Very, very helpful, to say the least. Thank you for taking the time to educate me.