| Here's the latest pharmacist job market update: | | | | to cut 5,500 jobs worldwide by the end of 2011. Two |
| More job opportunities are opening up for pharmacists, | | | | big mergers have called for massive layoffs. Merck |
| as pharmacies & companies are more interested | | | | & Schering-Plough merger led to plans for 16,000 |
| in hiring, compared to late 2009. Positions are getting | | | | job cuts. Pfizer & Wyeth's merger called for |
| filled quickly in areas saturated by pharmacists, | | | | 20,000 layoffs. |
| especially those that are staff level ones with desired | | | | If you are looking for a job right now and are PGY1 |
| shifts. It is positive to see some pharmacies ready to | | | | residency trained without additional experience, fewer |
| hire again, and who are quick to make decisions. | | | | pharmacies (compared to last year) are willing to wait |
| Pharmacists are having to beat their competition to the | | | | and hire you on before finishing a residency, unless you |
| punch, because once a coveted position becomes | | | | are already a resident at the facility, have connections, |
| available, pharmacies are being flooded with applicants. | | | | or the position is in a less saturated geographic area. |
| On the flip side, other pharmacies are taking extra | | | | Many pharmacies are preferring to hire a pharmacist |
| care in waiting for the right pharmacist, more so than in | | | | on immediately when they have an opening. In |
| the past. I know one hospital that waited 8 months to | | | | high-demand areas with many pharmacist applicants, |
| find the right critical care pharmacist, and another that | | | | you may still get interviewed, but when it comes down |
| waited months for the right candidate for a clinical | | | | to it, if they have other pharmacist applicants ready to |
| coordinator position. They were waiting for someone | | | | work with equal or more credentials and a similar fit as |
| who is cream of the crop. | | | | you, they would hire that person on instead. If you're |
| Even staff pharmacist roles are not immune to this | | | | not getting offers right now, that may be the reason |
| type of extra selectivity and hiring managers waiting | | | | why. |
| for the right person. One pharmacy in Northern | | | | If you have something special to offer and are PGY1 |
| California has had a staff pharmacist opening for a | | | | residency trained, you can still get offers if what you |
| few months. Despite receiving many qualified | | | | are pursuing is in alignment with your experience during |
| applicants, the pharmacy director chose to hold off on | | | | your residency and you market yourself well to show |
| hiring until finding someone who is the perfect | | | | that off in your application process (including the first |
| candidate. | | | | impression you make with your resume). |
| Clinical specialists in high demand include oncology | | | | Resumes of new pharmacy grads and residents often |
| pharmacists. I forsee this continuing to be a trend. Last | | | | look similar. Every new grad has done rotations. What |
| year's PGY2 oncology residency programs didn't have | | | | is it that's special about your experience from other |
| enough residents for the available spots. Yet | | | | new grads? As a resident, what is it that makes what |
| companies have a growing need for pharmacists of | | | | you learned during your residency or the |
| this specialty. I've had a lot of requests from hospitals | | | | accomplishments that you had different from other |
| for oncology pharmacist positions lately. | | | | residents? What is your distinguishing factor & |
| Other clinical pharmacy specialists like infectious | | | | 10-second summary of why you are more deserving |
| disease are still in demand, but they may be more | | | | than other applicants? |
| limited in terms of geographic areas that you can | | | | It's all about how you market yourself to stand out, |
| move into. Last year, for example, there were several | | | | from the beginning of your application process when |
| infectious disease pharmacist openings in New York | | | | you make your first impression, send a resume that |
| City. Now, an infectious disease opening is hard to | | | | gets noticed, ace the interview, "close on the job", and |
| come by. | | | | negotiate the best offer. |
| Pharmacy directors are also sought after. I suppose | | | | There are things you can do which most pharmacists |
| not everyone wants to take on the responsibility of this | | | | are not doing, and which can give you better results. |
| role. | | | | Blasting out your resume and "hoping" to hear back is |
| Federal pharmacist jobs such as those with the Indian | | | | not a strategy working well in this job market. |
| Health Service and Veteran's Affairs are becoming | | | | Marketing yourself to get noticed is something that I |
| more popular, as pharmacists look for stability in this | | | | teach to pharmacists who want to take control back |
| uncertain economy. | | | | in their job search. If you take your job search |
| Pharmaceutical company layoffs seem to have been | | | | seriously and learn how to do what works in this job |
| slowing down, according to MedZilla Report. But | | | | market, you will get more interviews and offers. |
| continue to expect layoffs. For example, Eli Lily plans | | | | |