Shadowing...

[EbonyD]

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So I have been calling pharmacies about shadowing opportunities, and haven't had much luck. Tomorrow I plan to just go into different pharmacies, and hopefully I can meet with a pharmacist, and set up an opportunity to shadow..

Here's the question...

What type of enviroment do you think is the best for shadowing a pharmacist?

How long should you shadow a pharmacist? I have heard some people say they only shadowed for a couple of weeks, and others have said they have shadowed for months. I want to let the pharmacist know I'm serious about learning from them, without becoming too much of a burden.

Any advice is helpful..

 

[babybull]

If worse comes to worst, start asking any pharmacist if you can interview them or they can interview you so that you can get some kind of recommendation letter. Don't kill yourself over it. The most important thing is that you make clear to the admissions committees of the schools you're applying to that you can get through their curriculum and know what the profession entails, as wells as current issues regarding the profession.

Some schools don't even require a pharmacist recommendation letter, which to me raises questions about whether or not they are as important as what people are making them seem to be.

To be helpful with shadowing advice though, I got a shadowing opportunity at an independent pharmacy one hour away from my house. I went through around 20 different pharmacies and I only found one opportunity. Ironically, my recommendation letter came from a pharmacist I had a lengthy conversation with rather than the pharmacist I shadowed 😛

So I have been calling pharmacies about shadowing opportunities, and haven't had much luck. Tomorrow I plan to just go into different pharmacies, and hopefully I can meet with a pharmacist, and set up an opportunity to shadow..

Here's the question...

What type of enviroment do you think is the best for shadowing a pharmacist?

How long should you shadow a pharmacist? I have heard some people say they only shadowed for a couple of weeks, and others have said they have shadowed for months. I want to let the pharmacist know I'm serious about learning from them, without becoming too much of a burden.

Any advice is helpful..

 

[Seeker5]

The duration of your shadowing depends on how fast you learn and how much time the pharmacists have for shadowing. If you want to shadow a retail pharmacy, not sure if any are out there, I suggest you ask them to shadow on a slow day when they are less busy. You can also shadow a hospital pharmacy, which IMO is easier to find.

 

[AmyChaser]

Network.

Do you anyone who is a pharmacist? Do you have any friends who are already in the pharm college? Do your parents know anyone? Friends? Are you a member of a pre-pharm club?

I believe everyone's best chances are using your relationships to find a good opportunity. Cold-calling is going to be tough. Not impossible, just potentially a lot more wasted time.

 

[EbonyD]

If worse comes to worst, start asking any pharmacist if you can interview them or they can interview you so that you can get some kind of recommendation letter. Don't kill yourself over it. The most important thing is that you make clear to the admissions committees of the schools you're applying to that you can get through their curriculum and know what the profession entails, as wells as current issues regarding the profession.

Some schools don't even require a pharmacist recommendation letter, which to me raises questions about whether or not they are as important as what people are making them seem to be.

To be helpful with shadowing advice though, I got a shadowing opportunity at an independent pharmacy one hour away from my house. I went through around 20 different pharmacies and I only found one opportunity. Ironically, my recommendation letter came from a pharmacist I had a lengthy conversation with rather than the pharmacist I shadowed 😛

Ok.. Thanks for the advice because I was really worried about this aspect of the application process. The schools that I am applying for do consider it a requirement. I have two years before I apply, but I don't want to wait to the last minute, and I believe it would be a great learning experience for me.

 

[EbonyD]

Network.

Do you anyone who is a pharmacist? Do you have any friends who are already in the pharm college? Do your parents know anyone? Friends? Are you a member of a pre-pharm club?

I believe everyone's best chances are using your relationships to find a good opportunity. Cold-calling is going to be tough. Not impossible, just potentially a lot more wasted time.

No. Most of my friends are criminal justice major, and my school has no pre pharmacy clubs.

Hopefully, I will have better luck tomorrow. Thanks for your advice

 

[EbonyD]

The duration of your shadowing depends on how fast you learn and how much time the pharmacists have for shadowing. If you want to shadow a retail pharmacy, not sure if any are out there, I suggest you ask them to shadow on a slow day when they are less busy. You can also shadow a hospital pharmacy, which IMO is easier to find.

Ok. That is the image painted in my head from other posts, but I just wasn't sure. I have three hospital pharmacies lined up for tommorow.

 

[Swishers]

Find out if career services at your school can hook you up with shadowing opportunities.

 

[chrispharm]

You can try the local hospitals I think they are more receptive than retail establishments.

 

[RXWorrier]

Since you are so early in the process, I'd recommend looking closely at pharmacy and the future. The number of graduates has grown considerable, and more and more schools will continue to pop up. Things are going to be rough by the time you hit the job market. Make sure you are in it because you absolutely love pharmacy. You are likely to be un/underemployed at various times, and wages are very likely to drop as there is a massive surplus of pharmacists.

 

[owlegrad]

Since you are so early in the process, I'd recommend looking closely at pharmacy and the future. The number of graduates has grown considerable, and more and more schools will continue to pop up. Things are going to be rough by the time you hit the job market. Make sure you are in it because you absolutely love pharmacy. You are likely to be un/underemployed at various times, and wages are very likely to drop as there is a massive surplus of pharmacists.

Being aware of the state of pharmacy is very prudent for anyone considering pharmacy as a career. What other fields would you recommend to the OP to seriously consider?

 

[RXWorrier]

Being aware of the state of pharmacy is very prudent for anyone considering pharmacy as a career. What other fields would you recommend to the OP to seriously consider?

I'd recommend looking at what they'd like doing and then comparing it with something like the Occupational Outlook website. Something that isn't expected to shrink would be ideal. Stuff that mentions there being an urgent need for people will be a bad idea, especially if it pays well. Too many will flock to it and overcompensate (such as with pharmacy).

I do not know the interests of the OP to make any direct suggestions.

 

[owlegrad]

I'd recommend looking at what they'd like doing and then comparing it with something like the Occupational Outlook website.

That is excellent advice. 👍

 

[babybull]

The problem is that the Occupational Handbook shows that pharmacy is the way to go!

 

[owlegrad]

The problem is that the Occupational Handbook shows that pharmacy is the way to go!

I don't see the problem.

 

[RXWorrier]

The problem is that the Occupational Handbook shows that pharmacy is the way to go!

I said to avoid anything the handbook says is urgently in need of people.

 

[R2pharmD2]

So I have been calling pharmacies about shadowing opportunities, and haven't had much luck. Tomorrow I plan to just go into different pharmacies, and hopefully I can meet with a pharmacist, and set up an opportunity to shadow..

Here's the question...

What type of enviroment do you think is the best for shadowing a pharmacist?

How long should you shadow a pharmacist? I have heard some people say they only shadowed for a couple of weeks, and others have said they have shadowed for months. I want to let the pharmacist know I'm serious about learning from them, without becoming too much of a burden.

Any advice is helpful..

Sometimes it's difficult to find shadowing opportunities because of liability issues. You might try applying for technician positions instead, although those can be difficult to come by as well.