Pharmacy manager offer

[ice712]

What do you guys think about being a pharmacy manager after being a pharmacist for only couple months? Is it bad to decline? I know it is going to be a bad store, so should I decline it and how would I phrase it so it sounds more proper? Pulling my hair now for this....

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[RxPreceptor]

Would lay low & really learn about what you are getting yourself into. Is the little pay increase really worth all the extra effort & stress? Will coworkers really respect/obey a rookie manager?

I don't know what your situation is exactly...if you are being coaxed into it for full time and have student loans still, it is understandable why you might accept. For decline, just state you don't feel comfortable/experienced enough with the company. Good luck

 

[johnpharm01]

There is a reason that new grads are made pharmacy manager. I don't think any new grad should be manager. How do you know how to be manager when you are still learning how to be a pharmacist?

Being an rx manager comes with additional specific legal responsibilities in my state: someone commits a serious error, you have to report it to the board, all record keeping is on the manager, security of the pharmacy etc.

The practical reason to be a manager nowadays is to have some more job security and hours. I think that using it as stepping stone to higher management is less common nowadays.

A good reason to manager is to have greater say in pharmacy operations and actually improve them. If you know the old manager you would be replacing I would suggest talking to them.

Good luck

 

[Cleaveland]

There is a reason that new grads are made pharmacy manager. I don't think any new grad should be manager. How do you know how to be manager when you are still learning how to be a pharmacist?

Being an rx manager comes with additional specific legal responsibilities in my state: someone commits a serious error, you have to report it to the board, all record keeping is on the manager, security of the pharmacy etc.

The practical reason to be a manager nowadays is to have some more job security and hours. I think that using it as stepping stone to higher management is less common nowadays.

A good reason to manager is to have greater say in pharmacy operations and actually improve them. If you know the old manager you would be replacing I would suggest talking to them.

Good luck

I could use a nice review for MPJE.

 

[CetiAlphaFive]

What do you guys think about being a pharmacy manager after being a pharmacist for only couple months? Is it bad to decline? I know it is going to be a bad store, so should I decline it and how would I phrase it so it sounds more proper? Pulling my hair now for this....

I think it's a great idea.

You'll advance from PIC to PIP in record time!

 

[Andy2019]

That is what happened to me.. after a couple months being a pharmacist, my dm offered me the manager position... Personally, I think it is a good idea only if..
1. you know your staffs (especially technicians) will support you at your store. (I had old tech who think she was so much better than their RPHs just bc she has been there longer so she can do whatever she wants... I spend time playing mind games with her too. kinda fun but at the end I moved so haha she was happy I left)
2. Your district manager is a nice and willing to help when you ask
3. Ask your DM if it is ok for you to step down in the future (My dm has his own personal policy where no managers can step own. Either quit or stay at the store... I think it is kinda stupid)
4. if you are up for a challenge.
But keep up the good work. Not everyone is offered the manager position. Your dm MUST see potential in you. You can always step down if it doesn't work out. So why not try only if 1,2,3,4 listed above.

 

[moose10]

I took a manager position right out of school- I'm assuming you are also a 2017 grad. So far it has been good for me and I would do it again. My higher ups/DM and the pharmacist who trained me were very helpful in the first few months, especially with administrative work that we aren't exactly prepared for in school. Definitely get a good understanding of the pharmacy you will be going to before accepting- have you worked the store before?- the demographic area, the staff working there/how long the staff have been there, average daily volume, your DM, etc.

As stated one of the major perks is stability and better hours, slightly better pay as well, and you can influence operations which can be more professionally satisfying. Just ask yourself and your DM whats the worst that can happen- if the answer is you step down if things go south, go for it! It will look great on a resume as well, IMO (but maybe not others on this forum). Feel free to PM also if you want more input or specific questions...

 

[CountBy5s]

I was in this same boat a few years ago. I'm happy I waited to be an RXM... You know its a baf store when they want you to be a manager and you haven't even had time to be a pharmacist. Just politely let them know you would like to have some time to grow say a year. Ask to be placed in a pharmacy with a strong RXM for training. Then when a store you like opens up jump on it be sure it's a store you want to be at for a long time. Chances are you will be.

 

[CountBy5s]

That is what happened to me.. after a couple months being a pharmacist, my dm offered me the manager position... Personally, I think it is a good idea only if..
1. you know your staffs (especially technicians) will support you at your store. (I had old tech who think she was so much better than their RPHs just bc she has been there longer so she can do whatever she wants... I spend time playing mind games with her too. kinda fun but at the end I moved so haha she was happy I left)
2. Your district manager is a nice and willing to help when you ask
3. Ask your DM if it is ok for you to step down in the future (My dm has his own personal policy where no managers can step own. Either quit or stay at the store... I think it is kinda stupid)
4. if you are up for a challenge.
But keep up the good work. Not everyone is offered the manager position. Your dm MUST see potential in you. You can always step down if it doesn't work out. So why not try only if 1,2,3,4 listed above.

Don't believe what your DM tells you. They will say the pharmacy is great that the techs are so good. Paint this image of a paradise pharmacy. You will show up the first day and realize you are now stuck cleaning up the most unorganized dysfunctional store ever. Be careful..

 

[ice712]

Don't believe what your DM tells you. They will say the pharmacy is great that the techs are so good. Paint this image of a paradise pharmacy. You will show up the first day and realize you are now stuck cleaning up the most unorganized dysfunctional store ever. Be careful..

She already told me that would be poor performing store... that's what I was concerning...

 

[ice712]

That is what happened to me.. after a couple months being a pharmacist, my dm offered me the manager position... Personally, I think it is a good idea only if..
1. you know your staffs (especially technicians) will support you at your store. (I had old tech who think she was so much better than their RPHs just bc she has been there longer so she can do whatever she wants... I spend time playing mind games with her too. kinda fun but at the end I moved so haha she was happy I left)
2. Your district manager is a nice and willing to help when you ask
3. Ask your DM if it is ok for you to step down in the future (My dm has his own personal policy where no managers can step own. Either quit or stay at the store... I think it is kinda stupid)
4. if you are up for a challenge.
But keep up the good work. Not everyone is offered the manager position. Your dm MUST see potential in you. You can always step down if it doesn't work out. So why not try only if 1,2,3,4 listed above.

I won't know the staff until I become one and work at that store. I know it is gonna be a bad store, that's why the DM wanted someone else to manage it. I seems like the DM is pretty willing to help; I wanted to open my own pharmacy in the future, so I though it might be a good chance to learn all the management aspects of the pharmacy. You got the good points here (and others, too, who gave me the same advice here), I should ask whether I can step down if it doesn't work for me.

 

[ice712]

Don't believe what your DM tells you. They will say the pharmacy is great that the techs are so good. Paint this image of a paradise pharmacy. You will show up the first day and realize you are now stuck cleaning up the most unorganized dysfunctional store ever. Be careful..

Actualy the DM said it's a low performing store already... I felt like I am already stuck

 

[wagrxm2000]

Safest job in retail is rxm position.

Take it before they only guarantee you 30 hours a week.

 

[CountBy5s]

I won't know the staff until I become one and work at that store. I know it is gonna be a bad store, that's why the DM wanted someone else to manage it. I seems like the DM is pretty willing to help; I wanted to open my own pharmacy in the future, so I though it might be a good chance to learn all the management aspects of the pharmacy. You got the good points here (and others, too, who gave me the same advice here), I should ask whether I can step down if it doesn't work for me.

Make sure stepping down doesn't bar you from stepping up in the future. Sounds like you are up for the challenge. If you want it, go for it.

 

[Sine Cura]

Having done this for three stores your biggest headache would probably be running off the ****ty techs... you know, the ones who are delusional and think they are actually good workers but don't actually give a **** about getting anything done.

If you can't get them to quit by riding their ass or giving them crappy shifts then you have to put them on a PIP or get them for procedural reasons. Takes a long time if your company is very conservative about disciplining employees or, even worse, techs are unionized. It is even a bigger PITA if your staff pharmacists are weak sauce and aren't on board with documenting the **** out of your crap techs.

I always say if you have a tech that has stuck around in chain retail for years they are either passable or complete garbage that has managed to survive because of manager attrition. This is for crappy stores. I'm sure "good" stores it's a different story

 

[ice712]

Having done this for three stores your biggest headache would probably be running off the ****ty techs... you know, the ones who are delusional and think they are actually good workers but don't actually give a **** about getting anything done.

If you can't get them to quit by riding their ass or giving them crappy shifts then you have to put them on a PIP or get them for procedural reasons. Takes a long time if your company is very conservative about disciplining employees or, even worse, techs are unionized. It is even a bigger PITA if your staff pharmacists are weak sauce and aren't on board with documenting the **** out of your crap techs.

I always say if you have a tech that has stuck around in chain retail for years they are either passable or complete garbage that has managed to survive because of manager attrition. This is for crappy stores. I'm sure "good" stores it's a different story

I heard this kind of techs before... lol but I haven't encountered any yet... I am currently at a "good" store, the experienced techs were very good and not "delusional".. but I do think that those crappy stores mostly like have one or 2.

 

[klaurent02]

I think it's a great idea.

You'll advance from PIC to PIP in record time!

So true lmao

 

[dxb8307]

What do you guys think about being a pharmacy manager after being a pharmacist for only couple months? Is it bad to decline? I know it is going to be a bad store, so should I decline it and how would I phrase it so it sounds more proper? Pulling my hair now for this....

I accepted a RX manager position after ~1.5 yr out of school. Did it for one year. Absolutely hated it. Felt like my job consumed every minute of my day. Now that I stepped down, my hours have been reduced to 32 hr but hey.....if I get to keep my sanity, it is worth it.