Best Careers 2009: Pharmacist

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Pharmacy

I am 36 years old and would like to switch to the school of pharmacy. Am I too old?

Milcado of CT @ Nov 24, 2009 17:43:08 PM

u

ummok

of @ Nov 24, 2009 12:55:41 PM

Why is everyone focusing on retail?

Yeah, retail sucks. Everyone knows this. Pharmacists will tell you this. But aside from what conventional wisdom tells you, retail is not the only environment a pharmacist can work in. Everyone should start doing their research before making broad generalizations about a particular career based off of one setting.

Grant of KY @ Nov 22, 2009 17:01:10 PM

pharmacy

pharmacy is a tough field to work in, you have way too much education to be treated the way you are when you work retail. most pharmacists would NEVER work in a pharmacy if it wasn't for the high salary or as one recruiter told me "combat pay"

rph of PA @ Nov 13, 2009 21:59:31 PM

Wow

Everyone's saying don't do it, but if you want to you should listen to what you want because a bad experience for one persono can be a good for another.

Vanessa of NJ @ Nov 12, 2009 21:06:15 PM

flooding the market

Chain pharmacies are now flooding the market wth imported pharmacists who will stand all day and listen to complaints from customers and DMs for love of the yankee dollar. The Pharmacist is considered an expense of little value to the Chain Drug Store (not really a pharmacy). Much is in the works to get rid of this pesky overeducated wealth donor and then they are free to have a quickie mart with drugs in the back. For now you are just the error goalie. A few get by you and you are gone. We are well past the point of no return. Single payor heath care and an even playing field may help.

nholes.barred of FL @ Nov 09, 2009 16:20:48 PM

pharmacist

Don't do it- especially at the retail pharmacy such as Walgreen and CVS. The first paycheck is great. Thereafter day in and day out you can forget about using your clinical skills, the most important question answered is, "What aisle are the rectal suppositories?". After 7 years of school you can look forward to be verbally insulted by customers, unrealistic demands from corporate with NO support ,enjoy non-professional factory enviorment and answer to the 1-800- complain line where no HAPPY customers take the time to call. It's all about what went WRONG. Corporate results,e-mail and meetings are about the glass is ALWAYS half empty and why its the fault of you and your staff.

carmen julio of CA @ Nov 09, 2009 15:32:27 PM

pharmacist

if you want to pursue a career as a phamacist...DONT DO IT, DONT SAY I DIDNT TELL YOU SO WHEN YOU START WORKING AFTER YOU ARE DONE WITH YOUR 6 TO 7 YEARS OF GRUELING MIND SPLITTING PHARMACY SCHOOL!!

WENDY of MI @ Nov 09, 2009 12:56:15 PM

More then just retail

You complain about working at Walgreens or CVS because you do not have the guts to work in a different pharmacy setting. You may have to use your brain more, but could work in a hospital or clinic (regular 9-5 hours) or even a pharmaceutical company where you work regular monday to friday 9-5. You may make a little bit less then in retail, but it is still totally worth it.

mbhatt of MA @ Nov 04, 2009 14:01:22 PM

Good luck to you!

Good luck to anyone who's planing to work as a pharmacist at Walgreens or CVS or any other retail chain. I've been working at Walgreens pharmacy as a pharmacy tech for 5+ years and I can't stand it anymore!

Prepare for your life to be taken away. Work odd hours; work a lot of weekends; constantly busy (you literally run around for most of the time), and you don't get a lot of help because corporate cut your store's hours. I'm not even talking about ignorant customers who want their stuff to be ready NOW. Pretty fun environment!

This made me change my mind about going for PharmD. Waste 4+ years in brutal school, get $80K+ of debt, and get screwed at work? No thanks. Trust me, your salary won't make you any happier.

PharmTech of IL @ Nov 03, 2009 23:26:29 PM

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