How to Explore Pharmacy Careers
This is a step-by-step guide for exploring pharmacy careers. You will learn about the various sources of information available to help you make a smart decision about whether to pursue a pharmacy career.
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Instructions
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Read books to learn about the training and day-to-day job requirements for working as a pharmacist or in a pharmacist support role. "Opportunities in Pharmacy Careers" by Fred B. Gable and "Pharmacy: Career Planning and Professional Opportunities" by T. Donald Rucker are both available online. Also, check the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website for the employment outlook for pharmacists. This information is free and includes everything from job prospects to average salary.
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Talk to pharmacists and other pharmacy workers in your area. Find out what they like and don't like about the job. Ask what a typical day is like and whether they plan to stay in the industry. Also consider getting a job at a local pharmacy. You won't be dispensing drugs, but you will get a birds-eye view of how a pharmacy operates. You will probably learn fairly quickly whether this is an industry for you.
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Visit colleges that offer pharmacy programs. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy has a list of colleges on its website (see "Resources"). Pharmacy technician jobs typically require an Associate's degree, so the first place you should check is your local community colleges. While any college will give you a tour of their campus, you should ask for more. See if you can attend a class and talk to some students. That will give you a much more complete look at what your life would be like if you decided to attend the college.
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Attend a meeting of a professional association for pharmacy workers. Visit Pharmacy.org/association and look for an association for pharmacists or pharmacy technicians in your region. By attending a meeting, you will have the opportunity to network with other pharmacy professionals, learn about their careers and see what current issues are affecting the industry. Some of these associations even have educational materials for people considering pharmacy careers.
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Subscribe to industry publications. Some of these publications offer a free trial subscription or a low-cost annual subscription. "Pharmacy Times," "Rx Times" and "Drug Store News" are three publications you should consider. You'll learn a great deal about pharmacy careers and current events. Plus, these publications often report on training, networking and education opportunities you may wish to pursue.
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