Working a job unrelated to pharmacy due to saturation?

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spoon714

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With the market like this, it's probably unsurprising to see licensed RPH working in other fields. So For RPH that cannot find jobs due to saturation of the market, financial issues or other circumstances, what kind of jobs or places do you/did you work until an opening comes up? Waiter/waitresses?
 
I know one guy that became a drug rep and another started his own business.
 
Sorry to hear about your situation, OP. At this point, if you didn't get an offer upon graduation - it's time to throw some Hail Mary bombs and contact your connections, i.e. preceptors from APPE year. Per-diem, floating, anything. Depends on which state you are licensed also. I believe sucky areas of Detroit have a need for pharmacists (but do not underestimate the real dangers of living there), so maybe get licensed in Michigan if you have the funds to get licensed in multiple states. Believe it or not, Alaska seems to have met their pharmacist shortage (correct me if I'm wrong). A strategy that comes up more often than not (which I do NOT recommend) is targeting areas in your state with high crime zones. These areas are obviously not desirable for any activity let alone dispensing drugs, so you might be able to get your feet wet at the cost of an unhealthy blood pressure due to the legitimate concerns of your safety.
 
i'm in NY, in an area that has two pharmacy schools close by. Unfortunately due to family medical issues, I'm unable to leave but bills still have to be paid so I'm just wondering what others have done.
 
I'm sure most people noticed a trend where those who are hesitant to relocate have the most difficult time finding a respectable position. I do not know your current situation, but you need to evaluate if it's worth staying unemployed and doing odd jobs (and being out of practice) while waiting for an open position, which by itself is a long shot with much competition regardless.
 
Reirrac said:
I'm sure most people noticed a trend where those who are hesitant to relocate have the most difficult time finding a respectable position. I do not know your current situation, but you need to evaluate if it's worth staying unemployed and doing odd jobs (and being out of practice) while waiting for an open position, which by itself is a long shot with much competition regardless.
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Yep. I was rapidly approaching graduation with no job lined up, living in the only city for hundreds of miles with perhaps one or two hospital job openings at the time. I took a chance and moved over 1,000 miles away for my job and I'm extremely happy that I did.
 
I actually knew a pharmacist who graduated, but could not find a job. He is in an MD program and will be in $600K in debt after his residency.
 
RxStudentatUB said:
MD's are not dime a dozen like PharmD's. Finding a job will be a lot easier, that's for sure.
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I don't think that was the point of the comment. It is the 600K debt after his residency that he is expected to pay back lol.
 
Relocate. That can't be said enough. Once you've got some experience working, it will be infinitely easier to transfer back into your home location. Even just 1 - 2 years experience will make a huge difference. It is a risk for anyone when hiring a new employee, new grads are more riskier than someone who has show then can work as an employee. The longer you stay out of work, the harder it will be to land a job.

RxStudentatUB said:
MD's are not dime a dozen like PharmD's. Finding a job will be a lot easier, that's for sure.
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Yes, but, doctors are getting increased competition these days from NP's. And yes, I've also heard of unemployed doctors (OK, only 1, but there are probably more), who are unemployed solely because they refuse to relocate. "Desirable" areas are hard for anyone to find a job in, regardless of their degree.
 
I read on the Internet about a man from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who graduated from UCSD Pharmacy School and has $150k in debt. He now works as a medical writer for Kaiser making $70k. He was unable to find residency positions nor any pharmacist positions.
 
Judgment Dragon said:
I read on the Internet about a man from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who graduated from UCSD Pharmacy School and has $150k in debt. He now works as a medical writer for Kaiser making $70k. He was unable to find residency positions nor any pharmacist positions.
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That’s nothing! I heard of a guy with a PharmD/MBA who had to swim against current through crocodile-filled rivers, then bike naked through the snake-infested jungles of Africa just to flip burgers at Zimbabwe’s first McDonald’s for mere minimum wage… in Zimbabwean dollars! It’s tough out there…
 
^ damn, he can't even afford clothes?
 
I look at my schools graduation and job statistics that are posted each year. It's always under 5% that don't have a job lined up by graduation. If you don't have a job you aren't trying hard enough and refuse to move.
 
Judgment Dragon said:
I read on the Internet about a man from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who graduated from UCSD Pharmacy School and has $150k in debt. He now works as a medical writer for Kaiser making $70k. He was unable to find residency positions nor any pharmacist positions.
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I like that job. I have been a Medical Writer before. Infact, I currently work in PVG.
 
BMBiology said:
He can get on IBR and pay back the government in Zimbabwean dollars!
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The Zimbabwean dollars is worth nada now that it's been demonetized. Trying to pay anything with it would be the same as dividing by zero.

Imagine that you have zero cookies and you split them evenly among zero friends. How many cookies does each person get? See? It doesn’t make sense. And Cookie Monster is sad that there are no cookies, and you are sad that you have no friends.
 
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