How long were you unemployed after grad?

[viper2ko]

If you didnt have anything locked down before graduation how long were you guys unemployed after? I wasted 2 years interning at a grocery chain and another year at an MTM company and neither offered me a position and am now scrambling.

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[Amicable Angora]

You were a graduate intern for 2 years?????

 

[PharmDBro2017]

You were a graduate intern for 2 years?????

I read into that as he interned at those places for 2 years during school, expecting a job upon graduation (and no job offer has come up)... and here comes graduation in May.

 

[viper2ko]

You were a graduate intern for 2 years?????

Interned during school not grad intern

 

[Sine Cura]

11 months before a FT offer

 

[Litha]

Graduated May 2016. 2 months before PRN job, then another 2 months before a full-time offer at a different place.

I absolutely would not have gotten the full-time job without my PRN experience. Be willing to work anywhere and do anything!

 

[viper2ko]

I'm trying to apply as a grad intern, should I offer to work as a tech?

 

[Litha]

I'm trying to apply as a grad intern, should I offer to work as a tech?

No.

I understand why you are desperate, but do NOT work as a tech. Focus on getting licensed as quickly as possible. Apply to grad intern position or other unique pharmacist positions at independents or other places where they might need on-call or PRN work.

For example, my first job was a PRN/on-call pharmacist at a small hospice pharmacy. I called up and asked if they needed anybody and luckily they said yes! Right time, right place. Start calling, emailing, and networking. Working as a tech is not the right answer, you can find something else.

 

[gwarm01]

About 4 months for me. It took months to get licensed in the state I moved to, then another two months before I was working.

 

[viper2ko]

sounds like I'm ****ed

 

[mentos]

I interned at Target for 2 years but they didn't give me an offer and hired externals instead CVS hired me during the school interviews in the fall before graduation, it was my only job offer.

 

[viper2ko]

I interned at Target for 2 years but they didn't give me an offer and hired externals instead CVS hired me during the school interviews in the fall before graduation, it was my only job offer.

Sounds like my situation, hoping I get an offer from CVS

 

[Claydoe]

I'll share my story maybe give you some hope. I walked on to the lacrosse team at school so I never had time to work really, ended up working at a pizzeria my last year of school but nothing pharmacy related. I got a letter in the mail late April telling me my NY compounding exam application got processed too late (despite being postmarked by the required date) and I would have to wait to January to take it. Said F that applied for a NJ license, finished exams in mid july and sent out a bunch of resumes. Got a call the next day to come in for an interview to this little orthodox Jewish community in central NJ. I was offered full-time while the PIC was on maternity leave and part-time after. They ended up extending their hours from 9-5 to 9-9:30 like a month later so I stayed on as full time. It's pretty much as low stress as retail can get(antibiotics are like the opioids here), I've managed to fit in as the token gentile, and I live 10 minutes from 6 flags so I'm pretty happy how things worked out. We're all gonna make it brahs.

 

[BMBiology]

sounds like I'm ****ed

The problem is that people will look up the bop website just to find out when you got licensed.

If you got your license months after you have graduated then people will naturally assume you had failed your naplex or why would it take you 6 months to get licensed? They are going to think you lack the clinical knowledge. Yeah that sucks but that is the natural assumption.

That is what happened to a candidate we interviewed. He got licensed in Feb. When we interviewed him, one pharmacist kept on asking him clinical questions and maybe he got nervous or whatever but he couldn't answer them....which played in the perception that he didn't have the clinical skills. Without saying, he didn't get the job.

The job market is saturated. You need to get ahead of the game. Don't wait. Network. Study your butt off and pass the board exam on your first attempt...sometime in June/July. Don't take things for granted. There is no point in going to school for 8 years then slack off at the end especially in this job market. The longer you wait, the harder it is for you to find a job.


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[gwarm01]

We're all gonna make it brahs.

I wouldn't go that far..

 

[steveysmith54]

I was underemployed for about 6 month after graduation. Was working about 24-32 hours per week.

 

[Lnsean]

If you're in the tri-state area...yes..you are going to be ****ed.

 

[Digsbe]

Took me about 6 months. I got my license 2 months after graduation in the state I trained in. Job market was nearly non-existent for the metro area so I got licensed in 2 other states in late October. Landed full time in a nice metro area a month later.

 

[MindGeek]

I was looking for work for 195 days before I had a full-time job offer in hand.
The first 2 months of my applying was not too aggressive, since I was still in school and applying to jobs back home 380 miles away, but once I was back home for good I kicked applying into overdrive , applying to 157 jobs in total (LI/NYC/NJ).
Technically I was unemployed for 112 days after graduation, but I was already licensed in three states .
[By graduation I mean the end of my dual PharmD/MBA. I finished my PharmD first and was able to take boards with the rest of my class, so I just had to wrap up my MBA ].

 

[eveningstar16]

If you didnt have anything locked down before graduation how long were you guys unemployed after? I wasted 2 years interning at a grocery chain and another year at an MTM company and neither offered me a position and am now scrambling.

I'm a really good example of someone being financially strapped with family expenses after graduation. I honestly think it was a miracle I made it through pharmacy school on the limited money my family and I had, plus the full loans I received. I was able to sign up for my NAPLEX and MPJE last November after graduating May 2016, and passed them in December, got my license 1/10/17. I had no luck in between all that time securing a post-grad internship (where I live in Florida it is so very saturated, and with limited transportation, I felt worse). Walgreens was full, CVS had nothing, Publix is impossible, and Kmart strung me along for a month after my first interview before saying they got rid of the position (they're closing stores left and right, sooo...). Anyway, after all that difficulty, I continued applying everywhere with my pharmacist license as soon as I got it, and I received an offer March 1st as a PRN clinical pharmacist in a nice hospital nearby. I just started last Monday through training, and I can say that I am so very happy to be a part of their team--most of the other pharmacists didn't go through a residency either. My pharmacy director also extended the offer to me to switch me to full-time training, so I hope with enough time I will be moving up.

So, for those feeling like they've lost all hope, don't give up, ever. If you've hit a hard spot in your life, ask others you've networked with for help. No one should feel alone in this journey.

 

[Jakethesnake42]

I'll share my story maybe give you some hope. I walked on to the lacrosse team at school so I never had time to work really, ended up working at a pizzeria my last year of school but nothing pharmacy related. I got a letter in the mail late April telling me my NY compounding exam application got processed too late (despite being postmarked by the required date) and I would have to wait to January to take it. Said F that applied for a NJ license, finished exams in mid july and sent out a bunch of resumes. Got a call the next day to come in for an interview to this little orthodox Jewish community in central NJ. I was offered full-time while the PIC was on maternity leave and part-time after. They ended up extending their hours from 9-5 to 9-9:30 like a month later so I stayed on as full time. It's pretty much as low stress as retail can get(antibiotics are like the opioids here), I've managed to fit in as the token gentile, and I live 10 minutes from 6 flags so I'm pretty happy how things worked out. We're all gonna make it brahs.

Hey had a few questions since I have been licensed in Jersey for months but no offer. Did you work as intern while you were in school? Every interview I get the major hurdle has been no work experience. I'm applying for entry level staff positions so would think graduating, good recommendations, experience during rotations would count for something. Any advice or info on openings would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jakethesnake42]

I was looking for work for 195 days before I had a full-time job offer in hand.
The first 2 months of my applying was not too aggressive, since I was still in school and applying to jobs back home 380 miles away, but once I was back home for good I kicked applying into overdrive , applying to 157 jobs in total (LI/NYC/NJ).
Technically I was unemployed for 112 days after graduation, but I was already licensed in three states .
[By graduation I mean the end of my dual PharmD/MBA. I finished my PharmD first and was able to take boards with the rest of my class, so I just had to wrap up my MBA ].

Did you work as intern while in school? Do you know of any openings in Jersey?

 

[a student]

I'm applying for entry level staff positions so would think graduating, good recommendations, experience during rotations would count for something. Any advice or info on openings would be greatly appreciated.

You might consider moving to less saturated areas. Every single new grad has experience from rotations and some sort of recommendations. So those don't make you stand out at all in a oversaturated job market.

 

[ChalupaBatman86]

Have you tried putting your license number on your resume? I heard that really helps.

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[MindGeek]

Did you work as intern while in school?

I did for a national chain out on Long Island, but only for three summers in a row, not during the school year back up at school.

Do you know of any openings in Jersey?

I do not.

 

[TerryTerry]

Got license in early August. Applied to every place with no success for 2 months(mainly due to the lack of experience and networking). Started to work as PRN agency pharmacist. It provided me with some good experience and people. Volunteered to work at near home diabetic specialist pharmacy at very low wage. Worked there for 4 - 5 months, they offered me a position but I declined because I wasn`t getting along with arrogant techs there. Applied jobs through various websites while continue to work with PRN agency and eventually found a full time position in an independent pharmacy which I am currently working for 3 years. Not sure if I will get to stay here for long because I can also see the profit of this pharmacy is dwindling. People here are nice and work environment is decent. This is my story. I am somewhat tired of being pharmacist already.. but the life must go on.