How to get work experience?

[Davss]

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Im trying to get work experience for pharmacy since i will be applying in the next. I am facing rejecting from independent stores and retail both saying i need some sort of licence and insurance which is not offered for volunteers. How can I possibly get any work experience before actually being in pharmacy school?

 

[Bigj5768]

Shadow Pharmacist instead

 

[SparkLy09]

You could always get a pharmacy tech license (the test really isn't hard) and go back to those independents with that. I originally got hired as a pharmacy clerk (basically designated pharmacy cashier) without any type of license. The pay sucked but the CVS I worked at slowly started giving me more responsibilities and so it allowed me to slowly learn the ins and outs of the pharmacy. That or like above, ask if you can shadow for a bit. It's not going to be paid obviously but at least you'll be exposed.

 

[AmyChaser]

I have a friend who works at the local heart hospital. I spoke with her and she got in me in touch with the volunteer department. Usually they just sign up retired folks who want to help with reception but they carved out a spot for me to come in when available and work the same shift as my friend.

All I can say is- network. Most jobs are found through someone you know. If you aren't part of your school's pre-pharm club, I would recommend that as well. You can find a lot of opportunities through the other students and advisors.

 

[Davss]

How is shadowing different from volunteering and how can I shadow a pharmacists?

 

[Passion4Sci]

How is shadowing different from volunteering and how can I shadow a pharmacists?

Usually, volunteering is a longer term commitment than shadowing. Many facilities/people are more willing to allow someone to shadow for one or two times than to take on a volunteer. Volunteering requires a program of some sort and oftentimes special access to hospital areas that are restricted access to everyone but employees.

The best way to try shadowing, though, is through hospitals. Get in touch with volunteer coordinators at local hospitals and see if either shadowing or volunteering is allowed.

 

[Davss]

Ive asked a few pharmacy for volunteer work and they all turned me down. Do you guys think asking for a job opportunity as a pharmacy clerk will up my chances of being accepted? Also, is clerk work much better than a volunteer?

 

[Passion4Sci]

Ive asked a few pharmacy for volunteer work and they all turned me down. Do you guys think asking for a job opportunity as a pharmacy clerk will up my chances of being accepted? Also, is clerk work much better than a volunteer?

Better is subjective.

Did you ask retail pharmacies or did you make contact with hospitals?

 

[Davss]

Better is subjective.

Did you ask retail pharmacies or did you make contact with hospitals?

I asked retail and hospitals for volunteer work and they said I need to be insured and licensed to be in the area.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I asked retail and hospitals for volunteer work and they said I need to be insured and licensed to be in the area.

That is very surprising for a hospital!

Well, if your local hospitals won't play ball with you shadowing or volunteering your next step should be a local CC's pre-med organization. They will likely have "an in" with someone, somewhere, that can network you into something.

You can try to get a job, of course, that's always on the table...

 

[Davss]

That is very surprising for a hospital!

Well, if your local hospitals won't play ball with you shadowing or volunteering your next step should be a local CC's pre-med organization. They will likely have "an in" with someone, somewhere, that can network you into something.

You can try to get a job, of course, that's always on the table...

THe hospitals had regular volunteer work available but I did not take interest in it. I wanted pharmacy volunteer work because i believe it will make me a stronger applicant

 

[Passion4Sci]

THe hospitals have regular volunteer work but I did not take interest in it. I wanted pharmacy volunteer work because i believe it will make me a stronger applicant

Alright, well here's a little tip... by taking general volunteer work, you get your foot in the door and you show yourself as a valued volunteer. After a few months, you will have demonstrated that they can trust you, and if there's an opening, you will be able to have a better shot than if they don't know you from Adam.

Also, ANY volunteering is better than NO volunteering for making you a stronger applicant. By turning your nose up at volunteering just because it's not in a pharmacy, you're shooting yourself in the foot.

 

[Davss]

Alright, well here's a little tip... by taking general volunteer work, you get your foot in the door and you show yourself as a valued volunteer. After a few months, you will have demonstrated that they can trust you, and if there's an opening, you will be able to have a better shot than if they don't know you from Adam.

Also, ANY volunteering is better than NO volunteering for making you a stronger applicant. By turning your nose up at volunteering just because it's not in a pharmacy, you're shooting yourself in the foot.

Thanks for letting me know

 

[Passion4Sci]

Thanks for letting me know

Yep... at my old hospital we made people do 6 months in the gift shop or other areas before letting them into the pharmacy in order to vet them...

 

[AmyChaser]

Alright, well here's a little tip... by taking general volunteer work, you get your foot in the door and you show yourself as a valued volunteer. After a few months, you will have demonstrated that they can trust you, and if there's an opening, you will be able to have a better shot than if they don't know you from Adam.

Also, ANY volunteering is better than NO volunteering for making you a stronger applicant. By turning your nose up at volunteering just because it's not in a pharmacy, you're shooting yourself in the foot.

I get what you're saying, but I wouldn't do the general volunteer work unless I still needed it for my pre-reqs. My time is at a premium, and I couldn't afford to spend X hours volunteering hospital reception just for the chance of getting a pharm volunteer position months down the line.

Now if I DID need general volunteer hours, that would be a different story. Then it might be a good transition. You could conceivably move from gen volunteering to work experience in one hospital.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I get what you're saying, but I wouldn't do the general volunteer work unless I still needed it for my pre-reqs. My time is at a premium, and I couldn't afford to spend X hours volunteering hospital reception just for the chance of getting a pharm volunteer position months down the line.

Now if I DID need general volunteer hours, that would be a different story. Then it might be a good transition. You could conceivably move from gen volunteering to work experience in one hospital.

Yeah, obviously there are mitigating circumstances that can exist.

That said, if you absolutely CANNOT get into ANY pharmacy ANYWHERE then it behooves you to try to make time working your way up in a hospital so that you might get the opportunity...

Obviously OP gets to make his own choice, but I'll say right off the bat that I know of several hospitals that absolutely will not take people off the street and put them into pharmacies but instead makes them work their way up.

 

[Davss]

Yep... at my old hospital we made people do 6 months in the gift shop or other areas before letting them into the pharmacy in order to vet them...

How did they get the opportunity to get into the pharmacy from general volunteer?

 

[Passion4Sci]

How did they get the opportunity to get into the pharmacy from general volunteer?

They were on a list of "pharmacy interested volunteers" and when a spot opened up, they were taken off the list in the order in which they began volunteering.

It worked the same for aspects of the hospital including TCU/Surge and SDU and maternity etc.

 

[Davss]

They were on a list of "pharmacy interested volunteers" and when a spot opened up, they were taken off the list in the order in which they began volunteering.

It worked the same for aspects of the hospital including TCU/Surge and SDU and maternity etc.

Do you suggest i get my pharm tech license so I will be allowed in the pharmacy without any problems?

 

[xtsukiyox]

They were on a list of "pharmacy interested volunteers" and when a spot opened up, they were taken off the list in the order in which they began volunteering.

It worked the same for aspects of the hospital including TCU/Surge and SDU and maternity etc.

Boy, I bet that was a well-staffed gift shop!

 

[chemguy79]

I get what you're saying, but I wouldn't do the general volunteer work unless I still needed it for my pre-reqs. My time is at a premium, and I couldn't afford to spend X hours volunteering hospital reception just for the chance of getting a pharm volunteer position months down the line.

Now if I DID need general volunteer hours, that would be a different story. Then it might be a good transition. You could conceivably move from gen volunteering to work experience in one hospital.

I had to chuckle at the statement "My time is at a premium" ... I don't imagine there are many people (especially pre-pharms) whose time is not at a premium.

Beggers can't be choosers. Sometimes, you need to put yourself in a position to get what you want instead of merely expecting it right off the bat. In the very least, it gives you something to talk about at an interview instead of stating "Sorry, I didn't volunteer because my time is at a premium."