Update on SoCal Retail Market

Started by BrightLight
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
BrightLight

BrightLight

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
We all know that pharmacist market in SoCal is pretty full. Nevertheless, I have been able to pick up occasional overtime shifts if I am willing to travel to districts outside where I am hired.

Not anymore. Maybe it's because most of the new grads from class of 2011 have got licensed and started to work as pharmacists, but when I checked the market schedule for the last two weeks there had been NO available shifts to pick up (well, except maybe a couple in Lancaster, Bakersfield, or Tehachapi). I have never seen this happened before. Even in districts that are traditionally saturated in SoCal there would sometimes be need for volunteer for coverage because pharmacists call in sick, go on vacation, or take time off for maternity leave. If there are no such extra shifts available for pharmacists to volunteer, it means that there are now more floaters working than the these extra shifts can accommodate. (Perhaps these newly hired pharmacists are not even getting the complete number of hours promised to them upon hiring.)

I don't know if any of you from other areas have encounter similar difficulty in volunteering for extra shifts. But I guess this is it; it all happens sooner than I expect. Class of 2012 will be the groups of pharmacists to experience professional student loans bubble burst. For Classes of 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, it is probably already too late to turn back. However, any of you class of 2016 wannabes with the slightest trace of sanity, it's time to turn back now.
 
BrightLight said:
We all know that pharmacist market in SoCal is pretty full. Nevertheless, I have been able to pick up occasional overtime shifts if I am willing to travel to districts outside where I am hired.

Not anymore. Maybe it's because most of the new grads from class of 2011 have got licensed and started to work as pharmacists, but when I checked the market schedule for the last two weeks there had been NO available shifts to pick up (well, except maybe a couple in Lancaster, Bakersfield, or Tehachapi). I have never seen this happened before. Even in districts that are traditionally saturated in SoCal there would sometimes be need for volunteer for coverage because pharmacists call in sick, go on vacation, or take time off for maternity leave. If there are no such extra shifts available for pharmacists to volunteer, it means that there are now more floaters working than the these extra shifts can accommodate. (Perhaps these newly hired pharmacists are not even getting the complete number of hours promised to them upon hiring.)

I don't know if any of you from other areas have encounter similar difficulty in volunteering for extra shifts. But I guess this is it; it all happens sooner than I expect. Class of 2012 will be the groups of pharmacists to experience professional student loans bubble burst. For Classes of 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, it is probably already too late to turn back. However, any of you class of 2016 wannabes with the slightest trace of sanity, it's time to turn back now.
Click to expand...
SCH convert? Please pass the koolaid, I'm thirsty :laugh: j/k
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
can't speak for southern, but i know of retail chain interns that have been signing this month being guaranteed 30hrs/week in northern california.
 
confettiflyer said:
can't speak for southern, but i know of retail chain interns that have been signing this month being guaranteed 30hrs/week in northern california.
Click to expand...

Yeah, based on our market schedule, it seems that the newest grad interns are finally licensed, but there are still shifts available in areas north of the bay and rural areas north of Sacto. WAGs wasn't offering guaranteed hours last I checked though.
 
StevePerry said:
It is a good thing that Long Beach will finally have pharmacists when the new school starts graduating classes...
Click to expand...

Nah, my classmates already have LB covered...we just hired 5 for the Long Beach District and they can't place all of them.
 
StevePerry said:
Hey, that'd be perfect for you... close to home and all (or most) of the summer off to travel like you said you want to...
Click to expand...

eh, i couldn't deal with academia, you need a certain amount of patience to handle the tedium and formalities.

i'd rather work some place where i can trash talk and not have to worry about offending any overly sensitive, strictly politically correct personalities.

at.jpg
 
BrightLight said:
We all know that pharmacist market in SoCal is pretty full. Nevertheless, I have been able to pick up occasional overtime shifts if I am willing to travel to districts outside where I am hired.

Not anymore. Maybe it's because most of the new grads from class of 2011 have got licensed and started to work as pharmacists, but when I checked the market schedule for the last two weeks there had been NO available shifts to pick up (well, except maybe a couple in Lancaster, Bakersfield, or Tehachapi). I have never seen this happened before. Even in districts that are traditionally saturated in SoCal there would sometimes be need for volunteer for coverage because pharmacists call in sick, go on vacation, or take time off for maternity leave. If there are no such extra shifts available for pharmacists to volunteer, it means that there are now more floaters working than the these extra shifts can accommodate. (Perhaps these newly hired pharmacists are not even getting the complete number of hours promised to them upon hiring.)

I don't know if any of you from other areas have encounter similar difficulty in volunteering for extra shifts. But I guess this is it; it all happens sooner than I expect. Class of 2012 will be the groups of pharmacists to experience professional student loans bubble burst. For Classes of 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, it is probably already too late to turn back. However, any of you class of 2016 wannabes with the slightest trace of sanity, it's time to turn back now.
Click to expand...

How long have you been a pharmacist at Wags? You should know that there are limited shifts in the fall due to flu season. Most people take their vacations in the summer and around holiday season. Even last year there were limited shifts around this time of year. However, during the holiday season and in the summer, there were many shifts that "magically" opened up. You're right that there are more grads, but even with no shortage in pharmacists at Wags, you'll still be able to get OT at different times in the year.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
confettiflyer said:
eh, i couldn't deal with academia, you need a certain amount of patience to handle the tedium and formalities.

i'd rather work some place where i can trash talk and not have to worry about offending any overly sensitive, strictly politically correct personalities.

at.jpg
Click to expand...

I might be interested in Academia after residency. I know the dean and associate dean at one of the new California schools, used to be our associate dean and department chair.

Went on a trip recently to California and fell in love with the place.

Edit: Can't tell if I fell in love with the oceanside view at Newport Beach or the hot girls in SoCAL.
 
Last edited:
Sparda29 said:
Went on a trip recently to California and fell in love with the place.

Edit: Can't tell if I fell in love with the oceanside view at Newport Beach or the hot girls in SoCAL.
Click to expand...

haha, be careful with those OC girls, you'll get burned man...burrrnnnned!

newport's a cool place to live, had a nice canyon view flat about a 5 minute drive from the beach. tip for you if you want the ocean view on the cheap, rent during the academic year (sept-may) and move out for the summer. apartments on the harbor go from $2k/mo to $2k/week.

or hell live in irvine (15mins from the beach) and be content not having "beach" at the end of your address, haha
 
confettiflyer said:
haha, be careful with those OC girls, you'll get burned man...burrrnnnned!

newport's a cool place to live, had a nice canyon view flat about a 5 minute drive from the beach. tip for you if you want the ocean view on the cheap, rent during the academic year (sept-may) and move out for the summer. apartments on the harbor go from $2k/mo to $2k/week.

or hell live in irvine (15mins from the beach) and be content not having "beach" at the end of your address, haha
Click to expand...

I went with my best friends. His cousin took us out to the clubs and whatnot over there. Girls out there are too friendly. If I wasn't smarter, I'd probably mistake the friendliness as sexual interest.
 
Sparda29 said:
I went with my best friends. His cousin took us out to the clubs and whatnot over there. Girls out there are too friendly. If I wasn't smarter, I'd probably mistake the friendliness as sexual interest.
Click to expand...

well, you're from the east coast, so of course you think they're uber friendly. that's just plain ol' normal to me.

maybe i see too many of these "holier than thou" east coast girls and their winter boots, skinny jeans, peacoat & starbucks cups.
 
Sparda29 said:
I went with my best friends. His cousin took us out to the clubs and whatnot over there. Girls out there are too friendly. If I wasn't smarter, I'd probably mistake the friendliness as sexual interest.
Click to expand...

It is sexual interest. My cousin moved to Los Angeles for a year for work and he told me the girls in CA are so easy. He hooked up with like 10 chicks when he was there. He told me girls there will do anything even with guys they don't know. This is def NOT the case here in the bible belt.
 
SHC1984 said:
It is sexual interest. My cousin moved to Los Angeles for a year for work and he told me the girls in CA are so easy. He hooked up with like 10 chicks when he was there. He told me girls there will do anything even with guys they don't know. This is def NOT the case here in the bible belt.
Click to expand...

idk. I was interested in one of these girls after experiencing this super friendliness, but then my best friend told me that one of his friends is her boyfriend and she's off limits. 🙄
 
Sparda29 said:
idk. I was interested in one of these girls after experiencing this super friendliness, but then my best friend told me that one of his friends is her boyfriend and she's off limits. 🙄
Click to expand...

I am sure she would still have sex with you. Girls in CA don't think having sex with people randomly is a big deal at all. They would have sex with random strangers all the time and think it's no big deal. My cousin told me he wishes the girls here in GA are the same way! :laugh:
 
pharm B said:
Funny, that (minus the peacoat) is how I always thought of girls from California. :meanie:
Click to expand...

naw dude, it's SKIRTS + uggs in california

think about that for a minute

oh and stretchy pants + a tanktop coming out of yoga classes, something like that
 
SHC1984 said:
I am sure she would still have sex with you. Girls in CA don't think having sex with people randomly is a big deal at all. They would have sex with random strangers all the time and think it's no big deal. My cousin told me he wishes the girls here in GA are the same way! :laugh:
Click to expand...

I dont know what you guys are complaining about. When I lived in GA, it was a nonstop girl fest.

It didnt matter what bar or what school you hung out at, there was never a problem finding some tail... 👍
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Retail will do hell to your body (and mind)
Replies
7
Views
3K
RxPreceptor
RxPreceptor
D
Retail to Temp Specialty position
Replies
0
Views
333
dxb8307
D
D
Been work from home for 3.5 years -would you go back to retail “prn” one shift a month to supplement income ?
Replies
9
Views
4K
projektreverb
P
Mr.Smile12
DSN: job market adjustments
Replies
2
Views
1K
Pharmacist4321
P
H
Anyone works for a Major Retail Pharmacy?
Replies
1
Views
2K
projektreverb
P