Comments on: Finding A Pharmacy Job You Love

By: Fresher Jobs

Fresher Jobs — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:48:38 +0000

@ Tony

It is so good to read this article and to know more about you.

I hope this advice of yours is helpful for many to find a decent Pharmacy Job which they love !!

Thanks.

By: Tony Guerra

Tony Guerra — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:33:44 +0000

I’m Tony, the author. Thanks for your comments. I work in retail and have for 13 years. I’ve just seen Walgreens solve the labor shortage reducing their need for pharmacists now and in the future through very clever usage of technology called Dynamic Workload Balancing and POWER.

In my experience, some academics that are not ‘out there’ in the job market have made the assumption that more education = a better chance to get a job.

Right now mobility is the key to getting a job as all of the jobs in the Iowa City and Des Moines metro area are taken. I’ve taken another route in working 1/2 time in retail now and teaching the other half the time to not only expand my skill set but because I love the interaction with the students.

I have to agree with the two academics that made comments, there are other opportunities out there but I think graduating as a pharmacist no longer means you’ll necessarily work in a pharmacy or even want to.

My best recommendation is to take a good entrepreneurship class (not online) where you interact with other creative people that are getting it done.

Northern Iowa and U Iowa both have great programs. I met one of the guys who is 22 and owns a great business and 2 airplanes. There’s no limit to what you can do, just a supply/demand limit for pill counting and verification right now.

By: Government Jobs

Government Jobs — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:27:20 +0000

These 4 steps are very important for any one finding a Pharmacy Job !!

By: Gretel Itasca

Gretel Itasca — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:34:47 +0000

Thanks for Dr. Kim & Grant’s comments. I agree there are many opportunities yet for pharmacists to expand in as the healthcare system evolves, even though it might takes a recent PharmD grad to complete an extra year of residency to specialize in a field. Also, just several years ago before Pharmacists became a hot career, many students have sub 3.0 gpa’s, which doesn’t mean they are bad pharmacists now, especially with the written free-form NAPLEX instead of the computer version we have now that’s much easier. The historical passing rate for the former tests were much lower than the current 80% or even 100%. Perhaps we should be more careful about who should get the license.

By: Grant

Grant — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:53:44 +0000

Dr. Joseph Kim, when exactly is it “too late” for the students you’re talking about?

To all, pharmacy still has, and will continue to have relatively excellent and abundant opportunities. Does a good pharmacy student really need to be getting insecure because there are a few more schools, and some of them are letting in sub 3.0 gpa’s(GASP! Oh the horrors!..please)? Just a thought. I’m trying to be light hearted and realistic.

By: Dr. Joseph Kim

Dr. Joseph Kim — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:11:19 +0000

Pharmacists also have the option to pursue careers in industry (pharma), in managed care organizations, as a clinical pharmacist working within health systems, or even a consultant pharmacist who works in long-term care settings. Many pharmacy students don’t realize how many options are available to them until it becomes too late.

By: dan smith

dan smith — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:04:42 +0000

I think that pharmacy was a big mistake to go into. These schools will not close. There will always be an clueless kid that will enroll. People will have to start leaving the profession. It may be wiser to do another health care job, maybe after a masters, then the residency, as it seems to only speed up the process of getting a normal job. Please put pressure on “our” organizations to limit the schools. That’s really our only chance.

By: Darklord

Darklord — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:35:48 +0000

Interesting, does anyone know details about his pharmacy practice?

By: Todd Hartwig

Todd Hartwig — Mon, 18 May 2009 08:16:58 +0000

Finally someone is telling the truth about pharmacy school. I hope articles like these continue to be released so that new pharmacy schools don’t keep opening. I think there is some like 10-20 new pharmacy schools being scheduled to open in the next couple years. It is getting out of control. Most urban areas are now completely saturated with pharmacists, and these schools are lowering their admission standards and accepting students with sub 3.0 GPAs.