To join or not to join student organizations?

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Invisigoth

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Hi everyone,

I'm currently in middle of my P2 year and have not participated in any student organizations. I don't need it for socializing, free food, etc. My 2 kids are enough to keep me busy. Do employers really care if you have one of those org.s on your CV? Does it help snag a job? Do any organizations provide useful experience?

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Hi everyone,

I'm currently in middle of my P2 year and have not participated in any student organizations. I don't need it for socializing, free food, etc. My 2 kids are enough to keep me busy. Do employers really care if you have one of those org.s on your CV? Does it help snag a job? Do any organizations provide useful experience?

IMO you can learn more about the profession of pharmacy through student organizations. Don't go overboard; just pick one and try to be active.
Plus, there are pretty good perks for P3s in APhA.
I've seen on job postings that employers see active membership in a professional organization as a plus. I don't know how much of a plus it is, however.
 
If you just want to staff somewhere and not do a residency/fellowship/etc, then lack of organizational membership/leadership most likely won't affect you. I would try to work part-time, though, because in my experience I feel most of the best pharmacists are those that have worked as techs/interns prior to becoming a pharmacist.

There are many similar thread with this same question posed. Have you tried searching the forums?
 
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Hi everyone,

I'm currently in middle of my P2 year and have not participated in any student organizations. I don't need it for socializing, free food, etc. My 2 kids are enough to keep me busy. Do employers really care if you have one of those org.s on your CV? Does it help snag a job? Do any organizations provide useful experience?

None of it matters, especially if you have small people to tend to. If you are worried or think you need some CV padding, just pay the $20 to join one or two organizations so you are officially "in the club." It doesn't mean you have to be "active," and if your ultimate goal is to man a drive thru some day, no one is going to ask...
 
I agree with the others that said it really only matters if you are wanting to go on with a residency/fellowship. If you're planning on working retail/community pharmacy, chances are it would never make a difference.

I also agree with the bit about working part time. It's amazing how much you can pick-up over the years by just keeping yourself current and working part-time. I personally wish I had worked more during school, but that's easy to say now that I'm finished and I can look back on pharmacy school and not remember exactly how tough it was at the time.
 
During pharmacy school, I found that the organizations were great for networking.
 
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