P3 Student looking for advice

[RXpert2013]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi All SDNers:

I will be a P3 this coming Fall. Currently, I do not have any pharmacy internship. I tried to look for an internship in retail and hospital pharmacy, but I couldn't find any. FYI, I am in the north east area.

I am really worried that I will have hard time finding a job when I graduate in 2013 unless I find an internship to help boost my resume/CV. What should I do to find a summer pharmacy internship in my state (different from my school) until school starts (end of August)? Do you think it is possible for me to find an intern position for this summer? I am really worried.

From your experience, what should my plan of action be for my P3 and P4 years to make myself competitive for the job market in 2013?

Thank you all in advance.

 

[WhiteSnows]

Have you tried to volunteer in hospital pharmacy? I think they may take you.

 

[lorain]

Have you tried to volunteer in hospital pharmacy? I think they may take you.

i tried this but was turn down due to liability reasons

this was a few years ago

 

[WhiteSnows]

I think what you can do now is to involve in many organizations. Maximize your CV by demonstrating leadership skill. In my opinion, it does not take a lot of time to adapt to retail work, but it takes a lot of time to develop leadership skill and not all people have it.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

i tried this but was turn down due to liability reasons

this was a few years ago

I had the same experience two years ago.

To the OP, watch retail and hospital careers sites closely and hit the streets.

 

[Lubeckd]

Im a p3 right now... 2015 is where I graduate. You cant intern unless you get the license which is at the beginning of school right?

 

[Rutgers2015]

Im a p3 right now... 2015 is where I graduate. You cant intern unless you get the license which is at the beginning of school right?

If you're in a 6 year program, you're going to be a p1 this fall. I'm also graduating in 2015 and by P3 they mean second to last year.

 

[ChaiTea]

Hi All SDNers:

I will be a P3 this coming Fall. Currently, I do not have any pharmacy internship. I tried to look for an internship in retail and hospital pharmacy, but I couldn't find any. FYI, I am in the north east area.

I am really worried that I will have hard time finding a job when I graduate in 2013 unless I find an internship to help boost my resume/CV. What should I do to find a summer pharmacy internship in my state (different from my school) until school starts (end of August)? Do you think it is possible for me to find an intern position for this summer? I am really worried.

From your experience, what should my plan of action be for my P3 and P4 years to make myself competitive for the job market in 2013?

Thank you all in advance.

Hey there,

I am in the same boat as you. I have applied to retail and hospital internships with no luck whatsoever. Some people in my class got internships, and it absolutely had nothing to do with leadership skills. They got those internships by networking or being blessed with pharmacist families or spouses/significant others that are in pharmacy already. I am keeping an eye out for technician positions since quite a few classmates are being paid as techs but their preceptor will sign off on paperwork that the tech hours will count as intern hrs. (I didn't know that this could be done).

I too have a graduation date of 2013 and I am absolutely mortified. I have clinical experience but alas it's not in pharmacy......I want to secure a job right after graduation b/c I heard the horror stories of recent grads not securing jobs....

Try talking to your classmates and see if any are willing to put in a good word for you wityh the lead pharmacist if any positions should open up.

Good luck

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

Hey there,

I am in the same boat as you. I have applied to retail and hospital internships with no luck whatsoever. Some people in my class got internships, and it absolutely had nothing to do with leadership skills. They got those internships by networking or being blessed with pharmacist families or spouses/significant others that are in pharmacy already. I am keeping an eye out for technician positions since quite a few classmates are being paid as techs but their preceptor will sign off on paperwork that the tech hours will count as intern hrs. (I didn't know that this could be done).

I too have a graduation date of 2013 and I am absolutely mortified. I have clinical experience but alas it's not in pharmacy......I want to secure a job right after graduation b/c I heard the horror stories of recent grads not securing jobs....

Try talking to your classmates and see if any are willing to put in a good word for you wityh the lead pharmacist if any positions should open up.

Good luck

You may have already done this but also look at LTC facilities. There were 3-4 students in my class who interned at long term care pharmacies.

 

[PharMed2016]

Do what ever you can to get an internship. Just had a job fair and I know a bunch of my friends weren't even considered once they found out that they didn't have any experience working what so ever. 🙁

 

[lsexie]

im in the same boat, i am an international student, so not allowed to work off campus, but i spoke with my professors and last summer i got hooked up to shadow a hospital pharmacist and then in a few weeks, i will be shadowing my professor at Hopkins. I tried to volunteer as well, but they brought up issues of liability and all of that as well

 

[momoneythenu]

Hi All SDNers:

I will be a P3 this coming Fall. Currently, I do not have any pharmacy internship. I tried to look for an internship in retail and hospital pharmacy, but I couldn't find any. FYI, I am in the north east area.

I am really worried that I will have hard time finding a job when I graduate in 2013 unless I find an internship to help boost my resume/CV. What should I do to find a summer pharmacy internship in my state (different from my school) until school starts (end of August)? Do you think it is possible for me to find an intern position for this summer? I am really worried.

From your experience, what should my plan of action be for my P3 and P4 years to make myself competitive for the job market in 2013?

Thank you all in advance.

What have you done in pharm school? What were you extra currics in undergrad? Where did you go for undergrad? I can help you off of these simple questions... And no i am not putting you down I can literally help you off of these

 

[THE MTL]

Hi All SDNers:

I will be a P3 this coming Fall. Currently, I do not have any pharmacy internship. I tried to look for an internship in retail and hospital pharmacy, but I couldn't find any. FYI, I am in the north east area.

I am really worried that I will have hard time finding a job when I graduate in 2013 unless I find an internship to help boost my resume/CV. What should I do to find a summer pharmacy internship in my state (different from my school) until school starts (end of August)? Do you think it is possible for me to find an intern position for this summer? I am really worried.

From your experience, what should my plan of action be for my P3 and P4 years to make myself competitive for the job market in 2013?

Thank you all in advance.

I dont think its possible to find a summer internship for the end of the summer and many retail sites have hiring freezes (I know walgreens does- where I work). And then alot of summer internship sites like taking 2nd/3rd years due to multi-summer internships.

My best advice is to network. Join clubs like APhA, NCP, NHSP, etc. Get you name out there and get to know ppl. Go to events, conventions, etc.

The three most important things in the work force: 3rd- education/knowledge. 2nd- experience. 1st- connections.

 

[Judgment Dragon]

Hi All SDNers:

I will be a P3 this coming Fall. Currently, I do not have any pharmacy internship. I tried to look for an internship in retail and hospital pharmacy, but I couldn't find any. FYI, I am in the north east area.

I am really worried that I will have hard time finding a job when I graduate in 2013 unless I find an internship to help boost my resume/CV. What should I do to find a summer pharmacy internship in my state (different from my school) until school starts (end of August)? Do you think it is possible for me to find an intern position for this summer? I am really worried.

From your experience, what should my plan of action be for my P3 and P4 years to make myself competitive for the job market in 2013?

Thank you all in advance.

What pharmacy school do you go to? Some organizations I know only give certain students from certain schools internships.

i tried this but was turn down due to liability reasons

this was a few years ago

Why would a person be turned down for liability reasons? By this, I mean that under what conditions would it cause you to have a reason to sue them?

I dont think its possible to find a summer internship for the end of the summer and many retail sites have hiring freezes (I know walgreens does- where I work). And then alot of summer internship sites like taking 2nd/3rd years due to multi-summer internships.

My best advice is to network. Join clubs like APhA, NCP, NHSP, etc. Get you name out there and get to know ppl. Go to events, conventions, etc.

The three most important things in the work force: 3rd- education/knowledge. 2nd- experience. 1st- connections.

Besides joining clubs, what else would be the best way to gain connections? 😕

 

[ucrx]

This advice is probably too late for the OP, but here is some advice for people looking for internships in general:
-Be willing to work during the school year. Pharmacies need help year round, not just for a few months. Summer actually can be slower than winter at some retail stores.
-If you're looking during the summer, apply at least a few weeks in advance so you can start right away. If you live away from school, consider staying near school for the summer to fill holes left by interns who are going home.
-Work more than 4 hours a week! No one wants to train someone to work just a couple hours.

 

[Tired farmer]

I just did a rotation at an independent pharmacy. My preceptor had three shadowers that were unable to get hired on at a pharmacy due to the job market here, and he allowed them to just watch and see what goes on in a pharmacy retail setting.

Try calling around some independents, I don't know if that sort of thing is typical, but if its a slow enough store you never know

 

[Quiksilver]

I just did a rotation at an independent pharmacy. My preceptor had three shadowers that were unable to get hired on at a pharmacy due to the job market here, and he allowed them to just watch and see what goes on in a pharmacy retail setting.

Try calling around some independents, I don't know if that sort of thing is typical, but if its a slow enough store you never know

This is not bad advice. Independents love to have free labor, especially interns who can do sorts of things that techs can't. Plus who knows, after awhile they may pay ya

 

[RxMTM]

Im a p3 right now... 2015 is where I graduate. You cant intern unless you get the license which is at the beginning of school right?

You thought you have been in pharmacy school for the past 2 years? Are you serious? This might surprise you...but you have actually been in undergrad doing your prereqs.

 

[Judgment Dragon]

i tried this but was turn down due to liability reasons

this was a few years ago

Are you an international student? 😕

 

[confettiflyer]

Are you an international student? 😕

hospitals and corporations tend to avoid volunteers unless they're run through specific programs due to the added liability (e.g. if you slip and fall on-site, they gotta pay for it). Granted, it's the same if you're paid vs. unpaid, but institutions want to know who's on site and who isn't. Also, background checks need to be done and access control issues need to be taken care of in some cases.

unfortunately (or fortunately) it's not the 1950's anymore where you can just walk in off the street and do things.

for the OP -- keep trying, you're close to, but not yet at, the point of being "unhireable" due to your advanced standing in school. You're last ditch effort will be to network and rock your rotations and find employment via that route.

 

[sakigt]

This advice is probably too late for the OP, but here is some advice for people looking for internships in general:
-Be willing to work during the school year. Pharmacies need help year round, not just for a few months. Summer actually can be slower than winter at some retail stores.
-If you're looking during the summer, apply at least a few weeks in advance so you can start right away. If you live away from school, consider staying near school for the summer to fill holes left by interns who are going home.
-Work more than 4 hours a week! No one wants to train someone to work just a couple hours.

This.

My "PRN" job 10 hours a week turned into 10-20 2nd year, 30 over the summer and 20-30 during 3PD year. They needed help, so I helped.

You may "want" to have a job on your CV but this will involve more than 8 hours/month.

 

[Oren]

You can go to different pharmacies around your area and introduce yourself. Bring your resume with you. That shows you are motivated and you are willing to take the initiative.

 

[samisab786]

I'm on the same boat as you. I started looking for internships since my P1 year. Had my first interview then, rejected, also visited several pharmacies in person, which in my case, didn't help me. I feel like there's no formula really, almost my entire class is employed, some which includes my friends who have no other extra-curricular activities outside of school/work, many who also don't have great GPAs. It seems like a right-place/right-time thing, as far as my observations go. Glad I'm not alone. We'll get through it together.