What’s your back-up plan?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Apotheker2015 said:
What are your goals? Are you looking to retire downtown San Francisco, CA or Seattle, WA? Or are you looking to check out of the rat race and retire abroad as soon as you are able to? It's the difference between a. never retiring and b. retiring at 52 or 55 and enjoying yourself.

Everyone's goals are different. So do not compare yourself to others. Do YOU. Do no one else.
Click to expand...

I want to start working part time within the next 2-3 years. I am debt free, paid off my student loans and sold my house. My ideal work-life balance is pharmacy 20-30 hours a week, one day of volunteering, and the rest of my free time pursuing my hobbies.
 
Grampus Mud said:
I could have sworn there was a NEET depilatory product ( I'm tired of trimming my nose hairs which seem to grow like crazy the older I get), but all I could find is VEET.
P15502347.jpg

Did the manufacturer change the brand name due to stigma of the NEET term? LOL.
Click to expand...

Did this get Carol is alphas newest profile banned?

Not sure how it's any worse then anteater.
 
Apotheker2015 said:
What are your goals? Are you looking to retire downtown San Francisco, CA or Seattle, WA? Or are you looking to check out of the rat race and retire abroad as soon as you are able to? It's the difference between a. never retiring and b. retiring at 52 or 55 and enjoying yourself.

Everyone's goals are different. So do not compare yourself to others. Do YOU. Do no one else.
Click to expand...

Great advice. I used to be a cheapskate and wanted to save as much as possible all the time to retire as early as possible. Then came the girlfriend who became my wife and then our first child was born. Now I don't care about my net worth that much, just want to enjoy life. Maxing out retirement accounts is good enough for me.
 
lane ane said:
Oooohhh....gigolo. Definitely a male gigolo.
Click to expand...
I would raise my hand up, but that would expose myself ;-)

mentos said:
Great advice. I used to be a cheapskate and wanted to save as much as possible all the time to retire as early as possible. Then came the girlfriend who became my wife and then our first child was born. Now I don't care about my net worth that much, just want to enjoy life. Maxing out retirement accounts is good enough for me.
Click to expand...

Having a kid definitely change your perspective on life or dealing with death. I see plenty of people in their 30s getting cancer, coworkers retired and pass away without enjoying their retirement also change how I view my finance. I'm content up to a certain amount in the bank.
 
Chrish said:
Another one of doom and gloom threads. But with the way current market is, it’s not far fatched to assume lot of people would loose their jobs (lay-offs, salary decline etc.). So, if your pharmacy career doesn’t work out, what else would you do?

Have you already prepared for a rainy day?
Click to expand...
Leave the profession and either start shaping surfboards or open up a bar.
 
back up is to become a math hs teacher. 10-yr plsf to get rid of my fat loans that i've been only been making minimum payments towards for the past 3 years... 3 months summer off, 2 weeks winter break, 1 week spring break, and a decent average salary of 90k in the state of California.
 
I have 11 state pharmacist licenses. My backup plan would be to move to any of those states that have a job for me. I'd hope with that many there is some sense of job security. If not pharmacy I'd likely try to work for the government even if it meant a decent pay cut.
 
Digsbe said:
I have 11 state pharmacist licenses. My backup plan would be to move to any of those states that have a job for me. I'd hope with that many there is some sense of job security. If not pharmacy I'd likely try to work for the government even if it meant a decent pay cut.
Click to expand...

That’s a lot of money for renewal!
 
Chrish said:
Another one of doom and gloom threads. But with the way current market is, it’s not far fatched to assume lot of people would loose their jobs (lay-offs, salary decline etc.). So, if your pharmacy career doesn’t work out, what else would you do?

Have you already prepared for a rainy day?
Click to expand...

Lately been thinking about getting a BS degree in computer science if pharmacy career doesn’t work out. I don’t even know how feasible this idea is and have no idea if I can get a direct admission into BS program; but the thought is there on back of my head. IT is the only career other than pharmacy where you can make six figures after only few years of school.
 
Chrish said:
Lately been thinking about getting a BS degree in computer science if pharmacy career doesn’t work out. I don’t even know how feasible this idea is and have no idea if I can get a direct admission into BS program; but the thought is there on back of my head. IT is the only career other than pharmacy where you can make six figures after only few years of school.
Click to expand...

A coding bootcamp can be an option. It takes about 3-4 months to complete.
 
You need to have a relevant degree in the field to lend a job. Coding bootcamp would be for someone who already has that but are out of touch with field so they can use it for refreshing their memories/ skills.
 
Chrish said:
You need to have a relevant degree in the field to lend a job. Coding bootcamp would be for someone who already has that but are out of touch with field so they can use it for refreshing their memories/ skills.
Click to expand...

You could also start with some IT or computer science/programming courses at a community college. It's probably cheaper that way, too.
 
Digsbe said:
Fortunately my employer pays for them.
Click to expand...
How do you keep up with the various CE requirements? I'm juggling 3 states with a spreadsheet, but it's kind of a pain.
 
gwarm01 said:
How do you keep up with the various CE requirements? I'm juggling 3 states with a spreadsheet, but it's kind of a pain.
Click to expand...

I have a map of the US pinned up on my office with the expiration date of each license written on each state. 2 months prior to expiration I review the CE requirements for that state and give myself 1 month to complete the necessary CE's prior to renewal. I went to school in Tennessee and that state requires 15 live CE which is pretty high compared to the rest of the states. So long as I comply with TN I am usually good with the others. DC, MD, and VA sometimes have special requirements so I check those as well. I particular VA since in 2017 they required a CE on opioid use. I'm in the DMV area so a tri state license is almost essential.
 
Digsbe said:
I have a map of the US pinned up on my office with the expiration date of each license written on each state. 2 months prior to expiration I review the CE requirements for that state and give myself 1 month to complete the necessary CE's prior to renewal. I went to school in Tennessee and that state requires 15 live CE which is pretty high compared to the rest of the states. So long as I comply with TN I am usually good with the others. DC, MD, and VA sometimes have special requirements so I check those as well. I particular VA since in 2017 they required a CE on opioid use. I'm in the DMV area so a tri state license is almost essential.
Click to expand...
This seems to be a lot of money wasted renewing licenses. They aren't cheap at $300/2 yr average. $3300/2 yr... 2 weeks worth of work.

If I were paranoid, I would get 3 adjacent neighboring states to expand my job search but definitely not more than that...

Edit: Never mind, I just saw your employer paid for it but wtf?
 
msweph said:
Avg agent makes 7 sales/yr....and works every weekend and mostly evenings!

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
They work way more than that... especially in a hot market, you have to show the property immediately (in daylight), I'd say on average they show about 10-20 property before getting 1 buy/sell contract. If you don't cater your client, they drop you. You can't wait more than 1-2 days in this market.
 
There are some that are even shorter. I'm talking 6 weeks to 12 weeks.
 
Momus said:
This seems to be a lot of money wasted renewing licenses. They aren't cheap at $300/2 yr average. $3300/2 yr... 2 weeks worth of work.

If I were paranoid, I would get 3 adjacent neighboring states to expand my job search but definitely not more than that...

Edit: Never mind, I just saw your employer paid for it but wtf?
Click to expand...

Wasn't entirely voluntary on many of our parts. If you work federal, the irony is that you have to get all those licenses as you move or if you practice in the DC area. Work pays, but it's still a PITA to keep up.

But, I'd be surprised if you didn't have another license than CA. Many states had problem reciprocating with them, so most had at least one elsewhere.
 
Digsbe said:
I have a map of the US pinned up on my office with the expiration date of each license written on each state. 2 months prior to expiration I review the CE requirements for that state and give myself 1 month to complete the necessary CE's prior to renewal. I went to school in Tennessee and that state requires 15 live CE which is pretty high compared to the rest of the states. So long as I comply with TN I am usually good with the others. DC, MD, and VA sometimes have special requirements so I check those as well. I particular VA since in 2017 they required a CE on opioid use. I'm in the DMV area so a tri state license is almost essential.
Click to expand...

Just add some pushpins and yarn to connect states with similar renewal requirements and we'll really be cooking.
 
I have already implemented my backup plan. I quit retail altogether and applied for a fully funded PhD program at a top university. Retail sucked my soul and turned my life to a nightmare. Retail will be unbearable within 3 years. I’m a foreign pharmacist and I don’t regret my decision at all.
 
Chaz1979 said:
I have already implemented my backup plan. I quit retail altogether and applied for a fully funded PhD program at a top university. Retail sucked my soul and turned my life to a nightmare. Retail will be unbearable within 3 years. I’m a foreign pharmacist and I don’t regret my decision at all.
Click to expand...

Speaking from someone who has walked that walk, I wouldn't say that quite yet. Tenure-track is not the same as retail, but the endless worries about funding are something else. If you are going industry, you have to keep your CV up to date. It really depends on how you do your PhD in terms of your employment prospects.
 
lord999 said:
Speaking from someone who has walked that walk, I wouldn't say that quite yet. Tenure-track is not the same as retail, but the endless worries about funding are something else. If you are going industry, you have to keep your CV up to date. It really depends on how you do your PhD in terms of your employment prospects.
Click to expand...

Have you graduated yet? Do you want to work in industry or Academia?
 
lord999 said:
Government and consulting. Consulting pays, government is power.
Click to expand...

That is just awesome man. What PhD program did you choose? What Pharmacy PhD program do you think has more employment opportunities? I’m considering PhD in pharmaceutical science to be able to work for industry if I can’t find a job in Academia after graduating.

I’m sorry for asking many questions I just want to choose the right PhD program because my life will depend on that choice for the next 30 years.
 
Chaz1979 said:
That is just awesome man. What PhD program did you choose? What Pharmacy PhD program do you think has more employment opportunities? I’m considering PhD in pharmaceutical science to be able to work for industry if I can’t find a job in Academia after graduating.

I’m sorry for asking many questions I just want to choose the right PhD program because my life will depend on that choice for the next 30 years.
Click to expand...
You are not ready yet. Do everyone a favor and get a copy of Getting What You Came For by Peters. You asked the red flag question.
 
Airline pilot or actuary seem interesting options.
 
Zynx said:
Airline pilot or actuary seem interesting options.
Click to expand...
"airline pilot" can be a tough one unless you are trained by the military...and it seems cool but droning thru the sky from one airport to another would bore me to tears.. it can pay well and there is a shortage..Just remember that airline management is just as cut throat as at drug chains...there have been strike's thru the years...see Ryan Air on the 10th...How about air traffic controller?....at a nice quiet tower....
Actuary is good bucks if you have a math mind.....I don't...
 
PromethazineDM said:
I rather not reveal it. It's too identifiable. I don't know any RPH who does it like me.
Click to expand...

Curious if you're that guy with the terrible haircut on instagram who claims he is thefitpharmacist? If so, shave your head bro. You'll thank me later.
 
lord999 said:
You are not ready yet. Do everyone a favor and get a copy of Getting What You Came For by Peters. You asked the red flag question.
Click to expand...
I back this book as well. It saved me a lot of wasted time, effort, and money.
 
To keep the thread on track, my answer is to become a fightfighter (not in Cali) or pursue personal training/nutrition/lifestyle coaching. Those don't provide the same level of income, but job satisfaction would be there.
 
PharmDBro2017 said:
To keep the thread on track, my answer is to become a fightfighter (not in Cali) or pursue personal training/nutrition/lifestyle coaching. Those don't provide the same level of income, but job satisfaction would be there.
Click to expand...

Firefighter get pay pretty well in CA. Similar pay to pharmacist if not more with OT
 
PharmDBro2017 said:
To keep the thread on track, my answer is to become a fightfighter (not in Cali) or pursue personal training/nutrition/lifestyle coaching. Those don't provide the same level of income, but job satisfaction would be there.
Click to expand...

Once in a blue moon I still consider rolling over my years of military time to being a firefighter and just retire under a 25-30 year government pension plan...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Pharmacy’s Great Displacement: What’s Coming by 2045?
Replies
6
Views
2K
BC_89
BC_89
A
What’s the Best Model for the Future of Pharmacy if CVS and Walgreens are Struggling?
Replies
12
Views
4K
clarkbar
C
F
Does your hospital stock iloprost?
Replies
5
Views
1K
mustang sally
mustang sally
M
  • Question Question
Just applied at Walgreens as a pharmacy tech apprenticeship, what’s it like?
Replies
2
Views
8K
BC_89
BC_89
L
  • Locked
What is your 2024 predictions?
2 3
Replies
100
Views
10K
GoSpursGo
GoSpursGo
Top