I have two job interviews coming up, need advice and insight

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Amphetamine Salts

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since wags is deciding to terminate me soon i've decided to start applying around for a new job. my RXM keeps texting me and asking me to formally acknowledge my recent write ups in the system. i've been too busy deciding how to prepare for two job interviews that i have coming up

the first is at a medical marijuana dispensary. i have mixed feelings about this. on one level it is not retail, and i am excited to get involved in something different and new. pay rate is around $45 an hour. i predict it will be laid back, perhaps some opportunity for growth in the company. i assume i will be consulting patients and recommending marijuana products all day. will definitely feel weird working in a place that basically sells pot to people. i'm sure they have pure thc strains which is basically street pot. so now all my customers are going to be getting high, i really would be a drug dealer. so yeah, not sure how this will affect my future job opportunities. i'm also not sure how to prepare for the interview? i'm going to need to read up on some medical cannabis info before i go in there to show that i at least did my homework. i also need to take the 4 hour marijuana course before i work if i were to get hired. am i prepared to toss out almost all my standard pharmD knowledge and exchange it for expertise in the field of marijuana medicine? does anyone have tips on how to best prepare for this interview?

second interview is at an independent retail. they are a small company with a few locations. i predict pay will be much higher, probably mid 50s per hour. this job is going to be the same stuff i've been doing. verifying RXs, filling, customers, etc. hopefully less crappy management. and hopefully i will be appreciated and enriched for my work done. i don't know what their company culture is like, if they are cut throat and would try to throw me out at the sight of some screw ups like wags is currently doing. interview will probably be standard "tell me about a time when..." story type questions. i think i can get this job. staying in it is really up in the air. really depends on who my manager will be and their company culture. if manager is a looney toon nut then that would be awful. hoping for a sane and sensible person who actually cares about enriching and keeping employees

so these are my two opportunities. does anyone have interview tips?? i plan to show up early, well prepared, very well dressed in a suit, and have copies of my resume. anything else?

thoughts on these two positions and which direction to go is welcomed
 
Come on dude, it's not even close. Stop trying to talk us into this marijuana job. Everyone is still going to tell you it's a bad idea.

On my most recent job interview (I got the job) I had a portfolio of my accomplishments. Now this is a health system, but I had some of my PowerPoints, some excel files showing money saved, stuff like that.
 
awval999 said:
Come on dude, it's not even close. Stop trying to talk us into this marijuana job. Everyone is still going to tell you it's a bad idea.

On my most recent job interview (I got the job) I had a portfolio of my accomplishments. Now this is a health system, but I had some of my PowerPoints, some excel files showing money saved, stuff like that.
Click to expand...
still going to go to the interview and see if i can get the job

you printed out powerpoint slides? what was this a powerpoint of? is this all pharmacy related?
 
Yep all pharmacy related.
Inventory control. Scheduling matrix. Cost savings / NDC changes. Process changes / improvements.
Just the normal stuff.
 
awval999 said:
Yep all pharmacy related.
Inventory control. Scheduling matrix. Cost savings / NDC changes. Process changes / improvements.
Just the normal stuff.
Click to expand...
interesting. well i have 1 year of pharmD experience so i have none of that. will just bring my resume
 
Amphetamine Salts said:
since wags is deciding to terminate me soon i've decided to start applying around for a new job. my RXM keeps texting me and asking me to formally acknowledge my recent write ups in the system. i've been too busy deciding how to prepare for two job interviews that i have coming up

the first is at a medical marijuana dispensary. i have mixed feelings about this. on one level it is not retail, and i am excited to get involved in something different and new. pay rate is around $45 an hour. i predict it will be laid back, perhaps some opportunity for growth in the company. i assume i will be consulting patients and recommending marijuana products all day. will definitely feel weird working in a place that basically sells pot to people. i'm sure they have pure thc strains which is basically street pot. so now all my customers are going to be getting high, i really would be a drug dealer. so yeah, not sure how this will affect my future job opportunities. i'm also not sure how to prepare for the interview? i'm going to need to read up on some medical cannabis info before i go in there to show that i at least did my homework. i also need to take the 4 hour marijuana course before i work if i were to get hired. am i prepared to toss out almost all my standard pharmD knowledge and exchange it for expertise in the field of marijuana medicine? does anyone have tips on how to best prepare for this interview?

second interview is at an independent retail. they are a small company with a few locations. i predict pay will be much higher, probably mid 50s per hour. this job is going to be the same stuff i've been doing. verifying RXs, filling, customers, etc. hopefully less crappy management. and hopefully i will be appreciated and enriched for my work done. i don't know what their company culture is like, if they are cut throat and would try to throw me out at the sight of some screw ups like wags is currently doing. interview will probably be standard "tell me about a time when..." story type questions. i think i can get this job. staying in it is really up in the air. really depends on who my manager will be and their company culture. if manager is a looney toon nut then that would be awful. hoping for a sane and sensible person who actually cares about enriching and keeping employees

so these are my two opportunities. does anyone have interview tips?? i plan to show up early, well prepared, very well dressed in a suit, and have copies of my resume. anything else?

thoughts on these two positions and which direction to go is welcomed
Click to expand...

As someone who spent a good amount of time in both chain retail and indie, i can tell you that your worst day at an indie is probably gonna be better than your best day at wag. Not sure about the pot pharmacy but id choose the indie in a heartbeat.
 
Amphetamine Salts said:
since wags is deciding to terminate me soon i've decided to start applying around for a new job. my RXM keeps texting me and asking me to formally acknowledge my recent write ups in the system. i've been too busy deciding how to prepare for two job interviews that i have coming up

the first is at a medical marijuana dispensary. i have mixed feelings about this. on one level it is not retail, and i am excited to get involved in something different and new. pay rate is around $45 an hour. i predict it will be laid back, perhaps some opportunity for growth in the company. i assume i will be consulting patients and recommending marijuana products all day. will definitely feel weird working in a place that basically sells pot to people. i'm sure they have pure thc strains which is basically street pot. so now all my customers are going to be getting high, i really would be a drug dealer. so yeah, not sure how this will affect my future job opportunities. i'm also not sure how to prepare for the interview? i'm going to need to read up on some medical cannabis info before i go in there to show that i at least did my homework. i also need to take the 4 hour marijuana course before i work if i were to get hired. am i prepared to toss out almost all my standard pharmD knowledge and exchange it for expertise in the field of marijuana medicine? does anyone have tips on how to best prepare for this interview?

second interview is at an independent retail. they are a small company with a few locations. i predict pay will be much higher, probably mid 50s per hour. this job is going to be the same stuff i've been doing. verifying RXs, filling, customers, etc. hopefully less crappy management. and hopefully i will be appreciated and enriched for my work done. i don't know what their company culture is like, if they are cut throat and would try to throw me out at the sight of some screw ups like wags is currently doing. interview will probably be standard "tell me about a time when..." story type questions. i think i can get this job. staying in it is really up in the air. really depends on who my manager will be and their company culture. if manager is a looney toon nut then that would be awful. hoping for a sane and sensible person who actually cares about enriching and keeping employees

so these are my two opportunities. does anyone have interview tips?? i plan to show up early, well prepared, very well dressed in a suit, and have copies of my resume. anything else?

thoughts on these two positions and which direction to go is welcomed
Click to expand...

Interview on both with best effort. If you get both offers, decide what you want.
A new branch of healthcare, that is rapidly growing (marijuana). less wage
A dying branch of pharmacy barely staying afloat (independent) higher wage, probably easy after working WG
 
quickpic007 said:
Interview on both with best effort. If you get both offers, decide what you want.
A new branch of healthcare, that is rapidly growing (marijuana). less wage
A dying branch of pharmacy barely staying afloat (independent) higher wage, probably easy after working WG
Click to expand...

I wouldnt call it a dying branch. It has diminished to a certain degree but with the right formula and surroundings, it could be very profitable and stable.

Ones you want to avoid are the ones that are located in big cities. Or what some people call “heat-zones”. PBMs purposely lower the reimbursements to kill competition knowing that people would much prefer to use indies.
 
Any other input on these two opportunities? Have my first interview today at the independent
 
When you are doing interview be very polite but don`t act sorry for yourself. Be a little bit of dick and overconfident as long as you don`t lie. Being way too polite and timid don`t get you anywhere far.
Just what I realized from my previous interviews.
 
just did the independent interview. not bad. i was asked 4 tricky clinical job related ques, got tripped up on 1 of them lol. overall i think it was aight, will send my thank you e-mail tomorrow morning

marijuana place next

my first goal is just to get both offers, then figure out what to do next
 
The independent is more likely to go out of business or get bought out by a chain and you'll be at square one again.
 
I'd go for the marijuana gig... sounds like a dream opportunity to get into the gold rush of our lifetime (pot).
 
mentos said:
The independent is more likely to go out of business or get bought out by a chain and you'll be at square one again.
Click to expand...
so far they've got 3 stores and 1 more opening up soon. all the pharmacies are located inside health center buildings. so the pts see the doctor in the health center then come down stairs to the pharmacy
PharmDBro2017 said:
I'd go for the marijuana gig... sounds like a dream opportunity to get into the gold rush of our lifetime (pot).
Click to expand...
yeah marijuana gig sounds really cool. working with cannabis all day. it will take getting use to. i would have to get accustomed to the smell of weed every morning
 
Amphetamine Salts said:
interesting. well i have 1 year of pharmD experience so i have none of that. will just bring my resume
Click to expand...

Hopefully you last more than a year at your new job or you may not find a job the next time around because you would look pretty sketch at that point. Another thing to keep in mind if you go the marijuana route - if you plan on working there for a while, transitioning to another area in pharmacy may be difficult because you would look less desirable as a candidate only having knowledge in marijuana
 
it may come down to me having to choose:

A) independent retail company, 3 stores with a 4th coming soon

B) medical marijuana dispensary

if i get both jobs i'm not sure what i would select......... which one has the most job security??? people tell me that retail and independents are going down the tubes... if marijuana becomes schedule 2 within the next 5-10 years will there be much more job opportunity in various states? .. i think there would be, cause then people could fill RXs for it, which would mean more pharmacists. but in recreational legal states would it even matter? so many questions, really i just want the job that will still be around and i won't be fired, that's my number 1 concern to be honest
 
Amphetamine Salts said:
it may come down to me having to choose:

A) independent retail company, 3 stores with a 4th coming soon

B) medical marijuana dispensary

if i get both jobs i'm not sure what i would select......... which one has the most job security??? people tell me that retail and independents are going down the tubes... if marijuana becomes schedule 2 within the next 5-10 years will there be much more job opportunity in various states? .. i think there would be, cause then people could fill RXs for it, which would mean more pharmacists. but in recreational legal states would it even matter? so many questions, really i just want the job that will still be around and i won't be fired, that's my number 1 concern to be honest
Click to expand...

If marijuana becomes schedule II, the indie and your old wegs can dispense it too if they want. I don't see why you need to have specific marijuana job experience to dispense marijuana.
 
Don’t count your chicken before they hatch. Wait until you have both offers in hand then I’ll talk.
 
Go with the independant..Be prepared to work in a less than "by the book" environment....some operations follow all of the rules...some ignore all of the rules....some are essentially run by a "super tech" who has been there since Christ was a corporal...Try and settle in and go with the flow..the days of a pharmacist being in charge of anything are essentially over ..If you can find a chain that is not misery..good for you...These days the goal is to get paid and hang on...good luck....
 
firework said:
If marijuana becomes schedule II, the indie and your old wegs can dispense it too if they want. I don't see why you need to have specific marijuana job experience to dispense marijuana.
Click to expand...
Maybe marijuana will be a more secure job since it is in a newer field? Management at the marijuana job may not be as strict too. Basically having a lax boss that isn’t up your ass, and a fairly chill job. Allowing you to focus on your own growth and pushing the limits at work
projektreverb said:
Don’t count your chicken before they hatch. Wait until you have both offers in hand then I’ll talk.
Click to expand...
The independent place wants to bring me in for a second interview that is hands on, I will be paid. I will be working with the owner. Gives me a chance to see if he is neurotic or will be up my ass down the line. I don’t see why I wouldn’t get the job to be honest. I do the job well at retail. I really think wags is super stupid for trying to get me fired

Really my RXM is such a complete nut. She really treats me terribly, so glad I will be rid of her soon. While I was training when I started at wags I could tell the techs were somewhat afraid of her. Didn’t give it much thought back then but now I know why. She is a neurotic nut
 
does anyone have any factual sources they can point to that will show: A) working in a cannabis dispensary as a pharmacist will jeopardize your future and make it very difficult to find another job or B) the DEA is likely to shut down everything within the next few years

getting involved in this industry seems like a gamble. it could turn out well in the next 5 years or it could go really bad. or it could stagnant. no one really knows, and it's hard to predict what will happen. as opposed to independent pharmacy which is basically guaranteed a slow death
 
Amphetamine Salts said:
does anyone have any factual sources they can point to that will show: A) working in a cannabis dispensary as a pharmacist will jeopardize your future and make it very difficult to find another job or B) the DEA is likely to shut down everything within the next few years

getting involved in this industry seems like a gamble. it could turn out well in the next 5 years or it could go really bad. or it could stagnant. no one really knows, and it's hard to predict what will happen. as opposed to independent pharmacy which is basically guaranteed a slow death
Click to expand...

A) No.
B) No.

You're not gonna find either. That's the entire point of everyone calling it a gamble.
 
Amphetamine Salts said:
does anyone have any factual sources they can point to that will show: A) working in a cannabis dispensary as a pharmacist will jeopardize your future and make it very difficult to find another job or B) the DEA is likely to shut down everything within the next few years

getting involved in this industry seems like a gamble. it could turn out well in the next 5 years or it could go really bad. or it could stagnant. no one really knows, and it's hard to predict what will happen. as opposed to independent pharmacy which is basically guaranteed a slow death
Click to expand...

Any job requiring a PharmD and/or a license in today's market is a gamble. This includes those in retail, hospital dispensing, amb care, and all those niche unicorn jobs.
 
Amphetamine Salts said:
does anyone have any factual sources they can point to that will show: A) working in a cannabis dispensary as a pharmacist will jeopardize your future and make it very difficult to find another job or B) the DEA is likely to shut down everything within the next few years

getting involved in this industry seems like a gamble. it could turn out well in the next 5 years or it could go really bad. or it could stagnant. no one really knows, and it's hard to predict what will happen. as opposed to independent pharmacy which is basically guaranteed a slow death
Click to expand...

eCFR :: 21 CFR Part 1308 -- Schedules of Controlled Substances

www.ecfr.gov www.ecfr.gov
 
stoichiometrist said:
Any job requiring a PharmD and/or a license in today's market is a gamble. This includes those in retail, hospital dispensing, amb care, and all those niche unicorn jobs.
Click to expand...
why would you say any pharmd job is a gamble? retail won't be going away anytime soon
zelman said:

eCFR :: 21 CFR Part 1308 -- Schedules of Controlled Substances

www.ecfr.gov www.ecfr.gov
Click to expand...
www.cbsnews.com

Kamala Harris to propose decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level

A former California prosecutor, Harris has objected to the legalization of marijuana in the past
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com

progress is being made everyday. right now we're living the moments right before marijuana legalization. with what is happening, should be a matter of time before it's not schedule 1
 
Last edited:
Entire career won`t disappear but jobs actually do. Even retail ones.
Didn`t you read anything about recent Walmart lay-offs?
 
Amphetamine Salts said:
why would you say any pharmd job is a gamble? retail won't be going away anytime soon

www.cbsnews.com

Kamala Harris to propose decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level

A former California prosecutor, Harris has objected to the legalization of marijuana in the past
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com

progress is being made everyday. right now we're living the moments right before marijuana legalization. with what is happening, should be a matter of time before it's not schedule 1
Click to expand...

What makes you think that your job there will be stable even if it does change in schedule? Also, you'll have a hard time switching jobs that are not dispensaries because nobody would want to hire someone who only have experience with marijuana for years lol
 
rxkrafted said:
What makes you think that your job there will be stable even if it does change in schedule? Also, you'll have a hard time switching jobs that are not dispensaries because nobody would want to hire someone who only have experience with marijuana for years lol
Click to expand...
i don't know

i'm just giving you the recent news

that's why i'm asking what future job prospects will be like if you have recent marijuana experience. it won't be the only thing on my resume btw, i have 1 year retail rph experience
 
Amphetamine Salts said:
i don't know

i'm just giving you the recent news

that's why i'm asking what future job prospects will be like if you have recent marijuana experience. it won't be the only thing on my resume btw, i have 1 year retail rph experience
Click to expand...
Yup. And Trump will repeal Obamacare day 1 of his term. And he will build a wall day 2. And he will ban Muslims day 3.

You’re talking about marijuana rescheduling as though it will happen soon. That’s not the speed that government works.
 
Amphetamine Salts said:
i don't know

i'm just giving you the recent news

that's why i'm asking what future job prospects will be like if you have recent marijuana experience. it won't be the only thing on my resume btw, i have 1 year retail rph experience
Click to expand...

btw 1 year retail experience doesn't mean much at all. If anything, they'll question why you were there for only a year
 
zelman said:
Yup. And Trump will repeal Obamacare day 1 of his term. And he will build a wall day 2. And he will ban Muslims day 3.

You’re talking about marijuana rescheduling as though it will happen soon. That’s not the speed that government works.
Click to expand...

Lol wow
 
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