Us, Us, Us and Them.

In my career I have spoken with many pharmacists and finding out what their motivations are for wanting to make a change in their career. As motivations go ususally it starts with money, then schedule and then, maybe some will say it is not third, is they want to leave because of a boss who is arrogant and doesn't understand what he or she is doing or a coworker is harassing them and they do not want to deal with it anymore. Now some may say I am wrong but this is my experience and it often takes a lot of prodding to get that kind of information out of someone so they admit it is someone at work who is making them uncomfortable with their criticisms or anger. Some may ask why do you need to know that? Well it is pretty simple really I would like to find it out because it may speak to my candidates personality and rather than just moving from one job to another which maybe the right answer, perhaps we can help them deal with the issues at hand because there is no telling if we move them to a new job no matter how much research we have done on their potential bosses if their personalities will mesh or if they will have a conflict with other pharmacists again. It is often better to deal with issues and learn from them than simply moving to another job, because the same pharmacist will call me later and ask me to move them again and we do not want that because it will look bad for them and may damage their relationship with their employer. Even though it is not their fault they have to learn to deal with the personalities of other people. It is a critical part of life and how you deal with these types of folks is ultimately going to determine if you are going to succeed of fail. It also can do some serious damage to your quality of life and work if you are always looking at the clock and not focusing on the task at hand and taking these problems home with you at night and you will often find yourself waking at night dreading what will happen at work that day. I have attached an article to the post title on how to deal with a work place bully.

If you would like concrete information on the pharmacy job market in your state then please call 866-538-0715 and ask for Nader.

Directors if you would like access to our database of outstanding candidates then email us at nayoub@infinitysg.com

5 Points to Consider When Looking for a Pharmacy School

Pharmacy school can be one of the most enriching experiences in your life; there is much to learn related to the profession. Like selecting an undergraduate program of study, pharmacy schools have criteria that they use to select their prospective students. Doing your research early will ensure that you make the best decision for your future as a pharmacist, so keep the following things in mind when looking for a school.

What are the school’s requirements?

There are many different things pharmacy schools are looking for. Most schools are looking for much of the same thing, but check and make sure before you begin applying. PCAT test scores are extremely important, as are SAT scores, ACT scores, and GPA. Being involved in extracurricular activities and experience with pharmacy work as a technician can be helpful as well.

How long do you want to spend in pharmacy school?

If you are an undergrad, you may want to look into a six year program rather than an eight year program. Originally, pharmacy students went to college for four years then went on to four more years of pharmacy school. Some schools now offer six year programs, which can greatly cut down on time and tuition costs, ultimately getting you out and in the workforce as a pharmacist sooner rather than later.

Is ranking important to you?

If going to a top school is important to you, you should look into what schools are the absolute best as far as pharmacy is concerned. Although the information being disseminated should be virtually the same across the board, the quality of instruction and facilities can vary greatly from institution to institution. So, think carefully about what your priorities are and choose accordingly.

What will you be able to afford?

Like any other college or university, pharmacy school is not cheap. Chances are, after eight years of college (if you take the traditional route), you will more than likely be in some serious debt. Consider scholarships, loans, and grants, and make decisions with your financial future in mind. Successful pharmacists make good money, but large loans take a substantial amount of time and energy to pay off.


What are your post-graduation goals?

Like it or not, some schools are going to have a better reputation than others, so if you are looking to work at a specific place, research their hiring practices. Schools are also proud to share success stories of their alumni, so don’t be afraid to ask the right questions about job placement percentages and recruiting by major companies. Sometimes this decision can make a huge impact on your future.

By-line:
This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of the top ten pharmacy schools. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com.

AND I TOLD THEM THANKS BUT NO THANKS ON THAT JOB TO NOWHERE!

Have you ever gone into a first interview and thought it went so well that if they offered you the job you would accept no questions asked. You had a great meeting with the director and the assistant director they liked you, you liked them and even though you spent no time speaking about the what you would actually be doing for them or about the work environment or about how many people you would be working with or about pharmacist turnover, or about why the job was even open, you just enjoyed yourself so much in that interview that you just had to accept the job no matter what. Slow down there sparky. This is very common I am going to provide some real tips for helping accept the job of your dreams and making sure it is just that.

1) Do you research on the company or hospital see what they have going on currently are they expanding services, are acquiring other companies the question you want to get at is why do they need you.

2) In the first interview ask questions revolving around your research and what your duties and responsibilities would be once you are hired. Ask how many pharmacists are on full time and what the work load is like ask no less than five very pointed questions. Why is the job open? How many pharmacists on are during my shift? What are the most important skills a pharmacist working for this organization should have? How do you see me fitting in with your organization? What is the workload for a pharmacist on this particular shift?

3) If they offer the job after the first interview it is not always a bad sign but if feel you do not have all the info ask them if you could shadow a pharmacist on that shift so you could get a feel for how it all works and what the composition of work looks like and the people. It is a risky move but it almost always works out. If it is done.

It is OK to accept a job after only one interview but take your time and ask the right questions and you will land the job of your dreams. If you need addition guidance on job interview please feel free to post your comments here and I will be happy to answer them.

Coming soon we are going to be posting a guest blogger article. Stay Tuned.

Hey Check Us Out!

We have recently been named one of the top 50 pharmacist blogs on the Internet by www.nursingdegreeguide.org. We are number 21 it only means we are doing something right. We have a lot planned for the future. Guest writers, more articles and more features. If you would like to see the full list of the top 50 click on the title above.