Help getting first gig!

[EntitledAmerican]

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I'm not here to piss and moan about how bad it is for pharmacy job prospects. I need to get sound advice on how to improve my odds of landing my first pharmacist gig. I've applied to every retail, mail order, hospital and pbm. If any hiring managers or directors could give me some advice I'd sure appreciate it. Or even better look over my resume and critique the heck out of it that would be awesome. Thanks to the community. I look forward to the feedback. Cheers!

 

[Hels2007]

Are you getting any call-backs at all, or just crickets? How long has it been since you started applying?

Have you worked at all during school? Have you approached any chains, hospitals or independents in the area for a chance to do per-diem as a way to get your foot in the door?

I am willing to take a look at your resume, though my expertise is pharma industry, so my feedback will not be retail or hospital specific but more about the impression your resume gives to readers.

 

[JustFillIt]

I have been a pharmacist long enough - and I have worked a variety of jobs... I just have no idea a what the heck is pharmacy industry?

I played sim city when I was a kid. Industry was a yellow plot of land which factories with smoke stacks pop up in. That is - until you jack the tax rate up too high and you end up with a bunch of abandoned buildings. Clearly I have consumed too much caffeine today..


Anyways - do you work in a factory assembly line or something? What do you do?

 

[Hels2007]

Where is a facepalm smiley when I need one?

 

[EntitledAmerican]

Crickets and no I didn't work doing school. At this juncture I sure wish I would have. I have applied for floater, overnight, per diem, pt/ft and 50 mile radius. Not any independents but good suggestion as I did meet a guy who owned his own during an IPPE... couldn't hurt to touch base with him.

I've been applying for 1 week to the day. I know that isn't very long but if all the positions at the bottom of the barrel aren't responding to me I prefer to be proactive rather than sit back and let circumstances have their way with me. Income is a factor also. Maybe 3 weeks before I will have to take a non pharmacist job.

 

[Pharmacy Kid]

Where is a facepalm smiley when I need one?

 

[Hels2007]

Well, a week is a pretty short time, especially now with the holidays and people being sick and stuff... there is still a chance for positions trying to use up the 2019 budget and hiring, but next week is Thanksgiving and the following week is ASHP so timing is definitely not great for you. Good thing is some places instead wait for 2020 budget to activate and will start hiring after January 1st. Some people also choose to retire at the end of the calendar year. Then a good time to get hired is April, because people typically get their bonus in Q1 and leave for greener pastures after that, opening a spot for you. Of course, openings come in-between as well as people retire, move, get sick, etc. But if you don't get hired by May, it's going to be really ugly, because the fresh crop of grads will be competing with you, and you will be one-year-unemployed damaged goods. So you have a five-month window, make the most of it.

Talk to area independents, see if anyone at your school can introduce you to them - a personal recommendation goes a long way. A friend of mine said that a bunch of her friends own their own pharmacies and they often need people to come cover a shift here or there... Connect to people on LinkedIn. Physically walk into local independents and talk to owners.

Three weeks is a pretty short window... you can take a non-pharmacy job to make money while still seeking a "real" job.

 

[nickw2401]

Not working as a tech prior to pharmacy school or not working as an intern while in pharmacy school is not a good thing. Thats how most new grads land their first job. I would say that the winter, once the holidays have passed, is ideal. The area shouldnt be flooded with new grads like the summer and early fall.

 

[angelsplight]

The big companies usually dont respond too fast. If you're like a great candidate, they respond fast but otherwise, they sometimes don't call for an interview for like 2 months ( recently got a call from cvs for an interview for a floater position i applied to 2 months ago and forgot to withdraw since I'm already working). Independents is random, I've gotten interviews in less than 24 hours to email responses a week later.

 

[Hedgehog32]

Not working as a tech prior to pharmacy school or not working as an intern while in pharmacy school is not a good thing. Thats how most new grads land their first job. I would say that the winter, once the holidays have passed, is ideal. The area shouldnt be flooded with new grads like the summer and early fall.

Unfortunately, working as a tech/intern during pharmacy school doesn't seem to improve one's chances of landing a job like it used to. I am a P4 student who has worked as an intern at a local hospital network since my P2 year, and the last intern they hired on for a hospital pharmacist position was a c/o 2018 graduate. The hospital recently implemented a policy of hiring only residency-trained pharmacists and I have been told that they won't be making any exceptions to this policy, which means that my intern experience has basically been a waste, at least in terms of it helping me to land a pharmacist job. I'm basically in the same situation as a P4 student who didn't hold any job at all during school.

 

[Hels2007]

I'm basically in the same situation as a P4 student who didn't hold any job at all during school.

You have the experience of having worked in a hospital, connections to people who know other people who may be hiring, and you can show that you can handle both school and work at the same time. And it shows that someone has at some point thought you were good enough to hire and keep around for a while. If something did not result in an immediate job offer, it doesn't mean it was useless.

Having no work experience in an actual pharmacy practice setting raises questions. When there are plenty of applicants who have it, why would you bother with someone who does not? Anything you have to explain will work against you, because potential employers have to want to hear your explanation instead of putting your resume in the circular file and saving themselves time and effort.

 

[Hels2007]

As far as working during school I was in a 3 year program, single Dad, $40K custody battle and surgeries from injuries in the military so it just wasn't happening.

A valid explanation, but it will work against you. Say that to an employer and the wheels start turning: is he going to be absent a lot because of the kid and/or injuries, will I have to find emergency coverage a lot? Of course, you have to get to an interview first... but start thinking now how to best address any questions that will arise about your (lack of) work experience that doesn't dig yourself deeper into a hole.

 

[nickw2401]

Unfortunately, working as a tech/intern during pharmacy school doesn't seem to improve one's chances of landing a job like it used to. I am a P4 student who has worked as an intern at a local hospital network since my P2 year, and the last intern they hired on for a hospital pharmacist position was a c/o 2018 graduate. The hospital recently implemented a policy of hiring only residency-trained pharmacists and I have been told that they won't be making any exceptions to this policy, which means that my intern experience has basically been a waste, at least in terms of it helping me to land a pharmacist job. I'm basically in the same situation as a P4 student who didn't hold any job at all during school.

That may just be your hospitals policy. Im guessing its an overly arrogant teaching hospital. There are plenty of hospitals that hire pharmacists without a residency. Look at private hospitals and any hospital looking for over night spots or prn openings. Thats your way in.

 

[nickw2401]

also working as an intern, hopefully you got experience with pyxis, making IVs and making chemo. Ask most clinical pharmacist to go make a a bag of chemo and they will sh** a brick.

 

[nickw2401]

I have been a pharmacist long enough - and I have worked a variety of jobs... I just have no idea a what the heck is pharmacy industry?

I played sim city when I was a kid. Industry was a yellow plot of land which factories with smoke stacks pop up in. That is - until you jack the tax rate up too high and you end up with a bunch of abandoned buildings. Clearly I have consumed too much caffeine today..


Anyways - do you work in a factory assembly line or something? What do you do?

I did a rotation at Nephron...It was enough to make me never want to do industry.

 

[Hedgehog32]

That may just be your hospitals policy. Im guessing its an overly arrogant teaching hospital. There are plenty of hospitals that hire pharmacists without a residency. Look at private hospitals and any hospital looking for over night spots or prn openings. Thats your way in.

Thanks for the advice. I've actually been emailing hospitals located all over the US over the past couple weeks to introduce myself and ask them if they might have any openings (any shifts, including nights) that might be available around the time I graduate next summer, but so far I haven't really had any luck. Would you happen to know of any hospitals that are known for hiring new grads and/or have a hard time keeping pharmacists on staff? I am 100% fine with a night shift position and would actually prefer this type of schedule.

Also, to respond to your other post l, I have experience doing all those things you mentioned except for making chemo. I've also worked in several of the hospital network's outpatient/retail pharmacies, so my experience is pretty broad overall.

 

[Hels2007]

I did a rotation at Nephron...It was enough to make me never want to do industry.

What department were you in? Industry is so varied, there are plenty of roles I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole, even though I love my job. Not that industry is right for everyone, of course. Just like I would never willingly work in a hospital.

Speaking of hospitals, my friend at NY Presbyterian said her department lost two people in the last couple months so they are hiring... And they are willing to hire per-diems with zero hospital experience, let alone a residency, so it's worth a shot applying there, @Hedgehog32

 

[JustFillIt]

also working as an intern, hopefully you got experience with pyxis, making IVs and making chemo. Ask most clinical pharmacist to go make a a bag of chemo and they will sh** a brick.

I wouldn’t **** a brick... but I would likely need a little direction in my first run or two.

 

[projektreverb]

I wouldn’t **** a brick... but I would likely need a little direction in my first run or two.

I love this man. Couldn’t agree with the statement more.

 

[Hedgehog32]

What department were you in? Industry is so varied, there are plenty of roles I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole, even though I love my job. Not that industry is right for everyone, of course. Just like I would never willingly work in a hospital.

Speaking of hospitals, my friend at NY Presbyterian said her department lost two people in the last couple months so they are hiring... And they are willing to hire per-diems with zero hospital experience, let alone a residency, so it's worth a shot applying there, @Hedgehog32

Thank you for the tip on that, @Hels2007. I won't be graduating until this May (currently a P4 student), but I would absolutely be interested in applying for a position there, assuming they'll still have something available by the time I get licensed next summer. If you don't mind, could you PM me the contact info for one of the pharmacy managers at the hospital? Alternatively, I could PM you my info as well if you'd prefer to pass it on to your contact. Thanks again.

BTW, just out of curiosity and since you work in industry, are there any industry-based positions that new grads are typically considered for, even if they're contract positions?

 

[Hels2007]

Thank you for the tip on that, @Hels2007. I won't be graduating until this May (currently a P4 student), but I would absolutely be interested in applying for a position there, assuming they'll still have something available by the time I get licensed next summer. If you don't mind, could you PM me the contact info for one of the pharmacy managers at the hospital? Alternatively, I could PM you my info as well if you'd prefer to pass it on to your contact. Thanks again.

BTW, just out of curiosity and since you work in industry, are there any industry-based positions that new grads are typically considered for, even if they're contract positions?

Oh, I thought you were already licensed... By the time you graduate, they will probably have a crop of their own residents and interns to hire for whatever positions may be open. Still may be worth a shot, it's a giant health system...

Some positions where I have heard of pharmacists being hired fresh out of school are drug safety (basically a glorified call center, but then you can move into a role where you investigate safety reports rather than take them, usually call centers are staffed by nurses but I have heard of pharmacists working there), but maybe you can get an entry-level safety or quality position right away. Also medical information, in-house and at agencies - some medical education, medical communication and even advertising agencies that specialize in healthcare may hire new grads for entry level positions, Some healthcare market research providers may hire a pharmacist for entry-level jobs (not common because they typically pay far below a pharmacist's salary but it could happen if you are interested, and you could grow quickly if you are good, but if you aren't, you will crash and burn quickly, too).

 

[Hedgehog32]

Oh, I thought you were already licensed... By the time you graduate, they will probably have a crop of their own residents and interns to hire for whatever positions may be open. Still may be worth a shot, it's a giant health system...

Some positions where I have heard of pharmacists being hired fresh out of school are drug safety (basically a glorified call center, but then you can move into a role where you investigate safety reports rather than take them, usually call centers are staffed by nurses but I have heard of pharmacists working there), but maybe you can get an entry-level safety or quality position right away. Also medical information, in-house and at agencies - some medical education, medical communication and even advertising agencies that specialize in healthcare may hire new grads for entry level positions, Some healthcare market research providers may hire a pharmacist for entry-level jobs (not common because they typically pay far below a pharmacist's salary but it could happen if you are interested, and you could grow quickly if you are good, but if you aren't, you will crash and burn quickly, too).

Thanks for the info on the industry positions.. Yeah, unfortunately I'm not licensed yet; about a month ago, I started sending out emails to various hospital systems and healthcare career recruiters to let them know I'd be graduating next May, that I had both inpatient as well as outpatient intern work experience, and that I was very flexible when it comes to schedule/shift consideration (I would actually prefer a 7 on/7 off overnight position, for example).

If you don't mind, could you maybe pass on the word that you know of someone who will be graduating in May who will be looking for a position and is extremely flexible regarding scheduling preferences (and that I would actually prefer a second/third shift 7 on/7 off position)? Thanks

 

[JustFillIt]

I love this man. Couldn’t agree with the statement more.

Haha! I enjoy your posts too!

 

[nickw2401]

My main concern with industry is that you are so focused on maybe 3 or 4 medications. Do that year after year and you will forget a lot and also not be exposed to a lot.

 

[Hels2007]

My main concern with industry is that you are so focused on maybe 3 or 4 medications. Do that year after year and you will forget a lot and also not be exposed to a lot.

Depends on the role, I suppose. For me it's definitely by therapy area and not by drug, which is no different than being a clinical specialist focused on one area/one floor. No one can know everything in depth, so you choose what you want, no matter where you are and what you do - either know a little about lots of things, or know lots about something and just bare basics of everything else. But I know I can learn a new therapy area quickly, because I have, many times.

 

[nickw2401]

Depends on the role, I suppose. For me it's definitely by therapy area and not by drug, which is no different than being an clinical specialist focused on one area/one floor. No one can know everything in depth, so you choose what you want, no matter where you are and what you do - either know a little about lots of things, or know lots about something and just bare basics of everything else. But I know I can learn a new therapy area quickly, because I have, many times.

Very true.

 

[nickw2401]

well said

 

[sunshine802]

I'm not here to piss and moan about how bad it is for pharmacy job prospects. I need to get sound advice on how to improve my odds of landing my first pharmacist gig. Here's my situation. Phoenix, AZ area. Have shared custody of my child so can't move. Residency off the table as am single parent. Graduated in June and came down with Bell's palsy so had delayed licensing (**** was no joke, laid me out). I've applied to every retail, mail order, hospital and pbm in the area.... nothing. I'm an Army veteran of OIF and have submitted to all of the employers veteran recruiting programs... nothing. If any hiring managers or directors could give me some advice I'd sure appreciate it. Or even better look over my resume and critique the heck out of it that would be awesome. Thanks to the community. I look forward to the feedback. Cheers!

I would suggest reaching out to your schools alumni group for help with your resume and networking. I did that when I was looking for a change and it was quite helpful. Also, make sure you take the time to fill out the tedious online portion of applications. A colleague of mine told me that he no longer bothers to view applications that only include a cover letter and resume, but skipped filling out the online application or put “see CV”.