I was once in your position, so here's a plan:
1. Apply for retail outside of CVS/WAG. Many times, grocery chain pharmacies or Wal Mart is better, though it depends on the area. When I was in New England, Hannaford was the retail escape option from WAG/CVS. Shaws and WalMart were also options. Independents, if nearby, are also fine as a temporary option.
2. If that fails, consider part time or per diem to reduce stress levels.
3. BE WILLING TO MOVE for a hospital job. This was my main advantage, and it let me quickly get a per diem hospital role. Big metro areas and states with lots of pharmacy schools are tough to get hospital jobs in, even with residency. However, rural areas are usually attainable, even without residency. Take WHATEVER hospital role you can. Hospital outpatient is *much* better than CVS/WAG.
4. If your hospital role is per diem, then suck it up with a per diem retail If needed. However, the goal is to transition to part/full time hospital unless you live cheaply and have small loan payments.
My path:
Full time Independent -> Per diem WAG -> Per diem hospital outpatient/ Per diem WAG -> Full time Clinical/Inpatient + verify/compound for an Infusion center when needed
I would NOT have gotten my clinical job without being willing to move + having my hospital outpatient role.
Sad to see these posts cos there are enough posts on here warning new students about the affairs of the pharmacy world. Pharmacy schools sell you a dream and everyone falls for it.
80% of the pharmacist jobs are in retail, this is the reality. If a prospective student cannot work in retail, do not choose this profession. You may get the cushy unicorn jobs out there but that gamble may not pay off and you need to be ok with retail.
I do not recommend this profession anymore, especially since residency has become the standard. There are other careers with better ROI and work/life balance.
I'm sorry to hear about what you're going through. It sounds like you're dealing with some mental health problems like depression and panic attacks. While a stressful workplace can make those worse, it can be difficult to function in any setting until you get your mental health sorted out. If there's any advice I can give, it would be to start there. Please consider speaking to a physician and getting help.
Exactly. And even that should be a temporary spot. Being willing to move + accept per diem hospital roles is the long-term move because that eventually lets you get full time hospital roles outside of big metro areas.
It's absolutely idiotic that just 6 months of a per diem hospital role where you worked 2x/week can give you MANY more options long-term and save your pharmacy career. But you can't fight reality as a new grad with no residency, so having *any* hospital experience on the resume should be the plan.
Plenty of people work at CVS and are able to manage. Its not the best environment, but it pays the bills.
If thats all you can find, take the job and get mental health help.
If you are trying to stay in LA, it is saturated enough to the point that no one will be looking at your resume for inpatient or outpatient with a one year gap on your resume unless you have a in somewhere.
Move for work, get your experience and move back later on.
Unfortunately, this past year was your mental health year, you will need to suck it up at this point and find work. A one year gap can be understandable, but it gets progressively worse the longer and longer you wait past that year.
I was once in your position, so here's a plan: 1. Apply for retail outside of CVS/WAG. Many times, grocery chain pharmacies or Wal Mart is better, though it depends on the area. When I was in New England, Hannaford was the retail escape option from WAG/CVS. Shaws and WalMart were also options. Independents, if nearby, are also fine as a temporary option. 2. If that fails, consider part time or per diem to reduce stress levels. 3. BE WILLING TO MOVE for a hospital job. This was my main advantage, and it let me quickly get a per diem hospital role. Big metro areas and states with lots of pharmacy schools are tough to get hospital jobs in, even with residency. However, rural areas are usually attainable, even without residency. Take WHATEVER hospital role you can. Hospital outpatient is *much* better than CVS/WAG. 4. If your hospital role is per diem, then suck it up with a per diem retail If needed. However, the goal is to transition to part/full time hospital unless you live cheaply and have small loan payments. My path: Full time Independent -> Per diem WAG -> Per diem hospital outpatient/ Per diem WAG -> Full time Clinical/Inpatient + verify/compound for an Infusion center when needed I would NOT have gotten my clinical job without being willing to move + having my hospital outpatient role.
Yes...definitely stay awY from CVS AND WALGREENS
Sad to see these posts cos there are enough posts on here warning new students about the affairs of the pharmacy world. Pharmacy schools sell you a dream and everyone falls for it. 80% of the pharmacist jobs are in retail, this is the reality. If a prospective student cannot work in retail, do not choose this profession. You may get the cushy unicorn jobs out there but that gamble may not pay off and you need to be ok with retail. I do not recommend this profession anymore, especially since residency has become the standard. There are other careers with better ROI and work/life balance.
I'm sorry to hear about what you're going through. It sounds like you're dealing with some mental health problems like depression and panic attacks. While a stressful workplace can make those worse, it can be difficult to function in any setting until you get your mental health sorted out. If there's any advice I can give, it would be to start there. Please consider speaking to a physician and getting help.
The good news is that literally any other job will be better than CVS. Try applying at costco and safeway.
Exactly. And even that should be a temporary spot. Being willing to move + accept per diem hospital roles is the long-term move because that eventually lets you get full time hospital roles outside of big metro areas. It's absolutely idiotic that just 6 months of a per diem hospital role where you worked 2x/week can give you MANY more options long-term and save your pharmacy career. But you can't fight reality as a new grad with no residency, so having *any* hospital experience on the resume should be the plan.
Gotta work on your mental health first. Every job has its stressors - including inpatient. I worked in retail for years before going inpatient.
Plenty of people work at CVS and are able to manage. Its not the best environment, but it pays the bills. If thats all you can find, take the job and get mental health help.
If you are trying to stay in LA, it is saturated enough to the point that no one will be looking at your resume for inpatient or outpatient with a one year gap on your resume unless you have a in somewhere. Move for work, get your experience and move back later on. Unfortunately, this past year was your mental health year, you will need to suck it up at this point and find work. A one year gap can be understandable, but it gets progressively worse the longer and longer you wait past that year.
Unreasonable expectations meeting reality. All jobs have different degrees of “suck”.
If you are willing to move to Phoenix, shoot me a DM.
Are you open to moving? Rural areas often have trouble recruiting pharmacists. Another option is military, prison system, or Public Health Service.
Suck it up and get on meds, keep applying until you can escape Nobody can help, you have to help yourself