Volunteer/pharm experience while working full-time? Any ideas?

[jophe]

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Hi everyone -

I am seriously considering going to pharmacy school, but I need to get my feet wet in the field. Just a little background, I am working full-time and then some with a demanding career at the moment. The only real free time I have to volunteer/work in a pharmacy as a tech would be some evenings, and on the weekends. I have contacted a few of the hospitals around my area, as well as the VA, but no one really has any positions available that would fit into my schedule. I just wanted to see if there was any one on here who has been in a similar situation, and if they have any advice or ideas on how to juggle a demanding career while getting pharmacy experience?

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Best,

J

 

[aboveliquidice]

Hi everyone -

I am seriously considering going to pharmacy school, but I need to get my feet wet in the field. Just a little background, I am working full-time and then some with a demanding career at the moment. The only real free time I have to volunteer/work in a pharmacy as a tech would be some evenings, and on the weekends. I have contacted a few of the hospitals around my area, as well as the VA, but no one really has any positions available that would fit into my schedule. I just wanted to see if there was any one on here who has been in a similar situation, and if they have any advice or ideas on how to juggle a demanding career while getting pharmacy experience?

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Best,

J

Consult your local red cross - they are typically more open to people asking for volunteer positions - they can get you involved with handling of medications and various other roles. They are also typically available for weekend volunteer positions...

 

[jophe]

Good idea! Thank you.

 

[jophe]

Does anyone else have other ideas? It would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Passion4Sci]

Does anyone else have other ideas? It would be much appreciated.

Thanks

You mentioned working "as a tech", so I take this to mean you have a CphT. If this is true, then I would encourage you to actually apply to places of business AS a pharmacy technician, for a job. Lots of places that can't offer you volunteer work for insurance reasons can take you on their payroll for a few hours a week and get you indoctrinated into the line of work like that.

Obviously Rite-Aid, Walmart, and the like probably couldn't do this. But I know several people, myself included, who have gotten their foot in the door this way.

Good luck. I was fortunate enough not to have to work full-time outside of the field while I am doing my volunteering/working so I applaud you.

 

[dr1989]

Have u tried askin ur local hospital? The red cross is a great idea as well-just do some digging around n I'm sure you'll find something 😀

 

[Passion4Sci]

Have u tried askin ur local hospital? The red cross is a great idea as well-just do some digging around n I'm sure you'll find something 😀

From the original post;

I have contacted a few of the hospitals around my area, as well as the VA, but no one really has any positions available that would fit into my schedule.

 

[jophe]

Thanks again. I am currently studying for the PTCB - so maybe that is where I can get in. Hopefully I can find some thing for just a few hours a week 😎

 

[UES Girl]

Thanks again. I am currently studying for the PTCB - so maybe that is where I can get in. Hopefully I can find some thing for just a few hours a week 😎

Perhaps, you should get involved with volunteer organizations that do community service in non-hospital related setting. Local food banks or homeless shelters would be good examples. Our local food bank has late evening/night shifts - while it isn't direct pharmacy volunteer experience, it would still enhance your application and also help the local community.

 

[xtsukiyox]

Lots of places that can't offer you volunteer work for insurance reasons can take you on their payroll for a few hours a week and get you indoctrinated into the line of work like that.
[...] But I know several people, myself included, who have gotten their foot in the door this way.

Where did you try? I am stumped as to where to look. This is EXACTLY the sort of position I am looking for!

What is the title of the person I should ask for when looking for a position like this, or when asking if they have a volunteer position available?

EDIT: Also, do you have a recommendation as to what sorts of things they "want to hear," or things they're going to be asking about? I have no idea what to expect.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Where did you try? I am stumped as to where to look. This is EXACTLY the sort of position I am looking for!

What is the title of the person I should ask for when looking for a position like this, or when asking if they have a volunteer position available?

EDIT: Also, do you have a recommendation as to what sorts of things they "want to hear," or things they're going to be asking about? I have no idea what to expect.

You want to look for indie pharmacists, and stay away from the chains, like I said. There are many pharmacies in Phoenix and Tucson that operate independently from any chain and they can often get you a "sweetheart deal" and get you started in the pharmacy world. It's not a guarantee, but oft-times it's much better than trying for a position at Wag or Rong-Aid.

At indie pharmacies, you'll ask for the pharmacy manager or pharmacist, depending on the size of the pharmacy. Offer to leave a message if the pharmacist is busy (S/he will likely be very busy) and otherwise, be ready to rattle off pertinent information about yourself, such as your current major (pre-pharmacy) in school, where you go to school, and why you'd like to offer your time (either paid or unpaid, leave yourself open there) to the pharmacy and why you think you're qualified and what you'd bring to the table.

As other SDNers will tell you, pharmacy (much like the rest of the world) is about selling yourself. For the most part, we are all excellent students of our chosen line of work, and all PharmDs are the same (for now), so anything you've got to set yourself apart from the pack, all the better.

Hope that helped.

 

[aboveliquidice]

Does anyone else have other ideas? It would be much appreciated.

Thanks

If you are still looking - it may be time to start cold calling. This is a lost art nowadays - but many people of the older generation still respect it.

How do you do it - Pick up the phone, and call every single pharmacy in town. Be persuasive, charming, and not arrogant - you will get someone to bite. Keep at it - you will have to go the extra mile to make this work.

 

[Passion4Sci]

If you are still looking - it may be time to start cold calling. This is a lost art nowadays - but many people of the older generation still respect it.

How do you do it - Pick up the phone, and call every single pharmacy in town. Be persuasive, charming, and not arrogant - you will get someone to bite. Keep at it - you will have to go the extra mile to make this work.

This is exactly what I recommended, I just couldn't remember the name of the term "cold calling." Woops 😕

 

[xtsukiyox]

Good discussion here. I can think of one indie pharmacy I've run across, but I'm not sure they're still in business. Time to crack out the phone book, as aboveliquidice suggested! Thanks for the thoughtful post, Passion4Sci, I feel like I understand a little bit more about the context of the conversation I'm going to have.

Any other advice or suggestion out there?

Also, do out-patient clinics have pharmacies?

 

[Passion4Sci]

Good discussion here. I can think of one indie pharmacy I've run across, but I'm not sure they're still in business. Time to crack out the phone book, as aboveliquidice suggested! Thanks for the thoughtful post, Passion4Sci, I feel like I understand a little bit more about the context of the conversation I'm going to have.

Any other advice or suggestion out there?

Also, do out-patient clinics have pharmacies?

Not usually... not around here anyway. But definitely you'll want to check with the big PPO/HMO partners like Sutter Medical, Kaiser Permanente, etc. They operate their own pharmacies almost always, and they're huge.