Cannot find a job as a pharmacist in the USA. Unemployed pharmacist seeking helpful advice please

I have been active on this site for a while. I have been looking for pharmacy work for over a year. I was able to get per diem but they only give me one shift a month.

I have a PharmD, residency, certifications, and experience; however, jobs are not out there. I have spoken to recruiters that tell me they do not have anything.

I search on Indeed and see RPHontheGo spamming fake positions which makes it really hard to find anything.

I have applied to every job I see on indeed in a 200 mile radius along with being licensed in more than one state. Can anyone offer any sort of advice? I call to followup on my submitted resumes but the company recruiters tell me the match-up qualifications and pass on resumes.

I have applied for jobs only to be denied 4 hours later telling me the job is already filled. Are most of these posted jobs just formalities of Human Resources to post a position? I am really trying to find anything I can. I apply to every job I see posted the day it is posted. I spend about 4 hours a day looking for jobs. I know local pharmacists who also trying to help out but they even said that there are no jobs being created.

I am in NJ and licensed in another state as well.

Please any helpful advice would be appreciated. This is destroying my resume, my confidence, and my support of this profession. I have been a pharmacist for a number of years. I have emailed posts on craigslist offering to work for less than anyone else.

Maybe move to a rural part of America and work there? Just keep trying.

I have been trying for a year. I am not sure why my resume is being overlooked. I think a lot of posts are just formality posts from HR when they already know who they are hiring.

Michael i have been looking for pharmacist job for 2 years now.

Wow, Rupa! That is very long. How long have you been a pharmacist? I should note that I graduated from pharmacy school in the USA and I am a naturalized american citizen.

My wife does not believe how difficult the situation is. I am thinking of going back to school. Any advice?

I got my license in Dec 2010 and have been volunteering at a clinic. I am not sure if Pharm D alone is a good idea since specialization is important these days and the idea of owing loans and still not having a job is just scary.

QUOTE who="MichaelPharmD in New Jersey"]Wow, Rupa! That is very long. How long have you been a pharmacist? I should note that I graduated from pharmacy school in the USA and I am a naturalized american citizen.

My wife does not believe how difficult the situation is. I am thinking of going back to school. Any advice?

spar335 is right about the rural areas. Especially the midwest like Iowa, they do have several openings for pharmacist. If you don't mind relocating, at least until the economy picks back up

@tammy. Its the same situation here in New Zealand. Only rural places have lots of pharmacy job openings, the cities don't. I figured the same might apply in the states.

MichaelPharmD in New Jersey said: I have been active on this site for a while. I have been looking for pharmacy work for over a year. I was able to get per diem but they only give me one shift a month.

I have a PharmD, residency, certifications, and experience; however, jobs are not out there. I have spoken to recruiters that tell me they do not have anything.

I search on Indeed and see RPHontheGo spamming fake positions which makes it really hard to find anything.

I have applied to every job I see on indeed in a 200 mile radius along with being licensed in more than one state. Can anyone offer any sort of advice? I call to followup on my submitted resumes but the company recruiters tell me the match-up qualifications and pass on resumes.

I have applied for jobs only to be denied 4 hours later telling me the job is already filled. Are most of these posted jobs just formalities of Human Resources to post a position? I am really trying to find anything I can. I apply to every job I see posted the day it is posted. I spend about 4 hours a day looking for jobs. I know local pharmacists who also trying to help out but they even said that there are no jobs being created.

I am in NJ and licensed in another state as well.

Please any helpful advice would be appreciated. This is destroying my resume, my confidence, and my support of this profession. I have been a pharmacist for a number of years. I have emailed posts on craigslist offering to work for less than anyone else.

I feel the same way, thankfully I have only out of work for 5 months, have been in retail for almost 30 years. Clinical/hospital is not an option for a BS with no experience. Tired of making CEO rich by working my butt off. Thinking of opening my own drug store. Am I crazy? Would you be interested in partnering that idea in South Florida? Good Luck!

Like I said, I will work any shift given to me at any time. I just need to find something.

Pharmacist / Intern position available.H1 can be filed for intrested candidate. Please contact at bthomas@ritecarerx.com

hello there guys how r u all??i wanna ask u somthing am a foreign pharmD and i want to go to the us and u know a licensded pharmacist there..but i heard thats its very hard these days to get an internship for foriegners...so whats ur advise plz??should i come and there is a good chance that i will find one???.....sorry for bothering u all

I still have found nothing. I am literally dying looking for work.

I am a US graduate. I offer to work for 10 dollars an hour less. There is nothing.

I f**king hate being a pharmacist now.

Sorry to hear that Michael. Did you try signing up for temp agencies like Lab Support for Research temp positions. Alot of times these assignments are 3 months but helpful while you wait for a pharmacist position. You can sign up with several agencies, and call them regularly to follow up. Since there are lots of bio companies in NJ, it might help. Don't give up though.

Did you try to apply to the chain pharmacies? like CVS? I know that they are always in need.I can look for a recruiters emails for you, if you want. When did you graduate?

Hey could you get me those contacts in MI for CVS. I made the mistake of moving back to Canada where American credentials are trivialized and looking to move back to the US. My e-mail address is anchowdhry@gmail.com. Thanks a million.

stay in canada no jobs in good old USA

Really Dana? Not even somewhere down south like Texas or FL? I guess the deluge of new pharmacy schools is churning out new graduates at a dizzying clip

Dear michael...my husband and I are both pharmacists. We owned our own pharmacy for 4 years. I have even worked for Novartis in NJ as recently as 2007. We have both been unemployed for a year now. Weoved to Hawaii and no work, not in Nj or CT or here now either. UH graduated their 1st pharmacy class last year and now the market is flooded because the population here cannot support 200 pharmacy grads every year. I don't know how the school had that program approved and accredited. That is a part of the problem. When I was in college circa 2000 thee were 83 US schools of pharmacy while just 12 years later there are 130. What a growth. Too bad the population growth doesn't match that rate even in urban areas. Not to mention the # of pharmacies are decreasing thanks to mail order PBMs. That is what put my husband and I out of a job and about 12 of our employees as well. The problem with the field of pharmacy is multifactorial. And we to are considering returning to school. A big part of me believes the same thing might happen again so schools my last resort.

I know what you mean Ayah. I have student loans of almost $200,000 right now. I do not think I could return to school because I am maxed out on federal aid limits from pharmacy school. I am stuck in pharmacy with no way out. Still cannot find work at all :(

These comments are consistent with my own experience in California. There are simply NO pharmacist jobs or opportunities any longer (August 2012). I haven’t worked a 40-hour week in 20 months though I do luckily manage 3 or 4 days a month, picking up shifts for friends who vacation and/or who need a day off now and then. Matters are absolutely dreadful in Central California –areas like Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, Merced, Tracy are veritable “dead zones’’—and I have to drive at least 1.5 hours away just to secure what little work I can. The ever-increasing price of gas doesn’t help my bottom line, nor does my private health insurance whose premiums are jumping 22% in only 7 months of having new coverage! It is becoming impossible to stay afloat. For me and my background, I work most pharmacy settings--compounding, outpatient, corrections, long-term care, retail, clinic and some inpatient—and still have trouble finding good, consistent work.

Today, we pharmacists are now dispensable or outright disposable. Competition for pharmacist jobs is cut-throat and most prospective employers don’t even bother to call back or return emails. The level of flakiness is unprecedented. I hardly recognize the profession any longer. Pharmacist rates of pay are going down, we’re given less and less in the way of benefits, and they are cutting most fulltime hours (to avoid the benefits outright). Too many pharmacists are being graduated from schools whose high tuition costs cannot be justified in today’s market place where there are simply no jobs available, and just the same, there are too many older pharmacists who aren’t willing to retire from the profession because they want to boost what little retirement they have (I cannot say I blame them, really). All in all, it makes for a sobering situation and I think no relief is in sight. I have thought of changing careers but going back to school is out of the question. More school is NOT the answer!

guest in San Mateo, California said: Even worse is that we are producing more and more pharmacists. Heald College goes out and recruits suckers (oops students!) for its worthless pharmacy technology program to enter "the booming pharmacy field".

Yeah – you’re right! I feel sorry for the pharmacy techs in those lousy schools – they pay 15-20K for their tuition and find out (all too quickly) that there are no technician jobs out there to help fund their debt. Without a job, how can they manage to pay their tuition/debt costs? The schools totally rip them off. And US pharmacy schools are NOT without blame for allowing their skyrocketing tuition to get out of control, knowing full well there are no jobs awaiting their newly-minted graduates. How can they pay their debt if there are NO jobs? It’s such a joke. Friggin’ ridiculous.

Apple online directly at Walgreens and CVS or Duane Reade. Dont waste your time with recruiters.

Those 3 companies are always hiring. Dont be afraid to move.

I am now unemployed for more than a year (1.5) I have three years of experience in an outpatient setting, certified to provide immunizations, up to date on my CE, and can speak two languages. None of that is helping. It is even difficult these days to contact recruiters by phone because they find every single way not to talk to you. Someone once suggested to visit hospitals' HR departments and directly ask for a job. This is a joke. Nobody will speak to you, and all you will get, "go search and apply at our website" Honestly, I do not believe that once you are unemployed as a pharmacist you can find a job! So far I was unable to accomplish this, and I feel that I simply do not get serious considerations. Within 8 months of continuous search, I only had 3 interviews. I showed up just to hear that I never officially held a supervising pharmacist title, and that they are looking for someone with strong managerial skills. Can't employers see that from my CV??? I sent tones of requests to apply for a job. But I feel that most job postings are fakes, which are created by employers to fake that the economy is getting better. I do strongly believe that HR staff know in advance who they are going to hire before they post positions. However, they have to interview a certain number of people for a "check-mark" so they will not be accused for hiring pharmacists in a corrupted way. I am searching for a job in New York City. I need an advise... How do you overcome the problem that you are unemployed when you search for a job? Employers do not take you seriously thinking that your skills faded or outdated. Guess what? If you ask them to give you a relevant skill evaluation exam, they simply refuse. So if you are unemployed as a pharmacist, do you have to forget about your profession? Please give me an advise; it will be highly appreciated. My email is ivan_kaprielb@hotmail.com. I think that we pharmacists need somehow involve the government to resolve these problems.

(Ivan in Boston, Massachusetts) Do not despair. I know exactly what you’re going through (see my previous rants above). First thing is first. Get connected to social media sites and start pushing your qualifications and experience. I just started using LinkedIn (was never a fan before) and have since gotten two (2) interviews for pharmacist positions in my area [I know they’re just interviews BUT I haven’t had an interview in 2 months! At least it’s a start and it gives me confidence and momentum]. LinkedIn will get you connected to professionals like yourself and other healthcare professionals who are looking either to hire talent or network with it. LinkedIn is another resource; it may not promise you the best results but it helps present who you are and what you have to offer. It’s like having your own highly effective pharmacist recruiter and it’s completely free. The next thing is to NOT tell prospective employers you are out of work. That is the “kiss of death”. Employers will pass you over if you tell them you have been out of work for long stretches of time; they actually see it as a weakness, which is strange and sad since many well-qualified professionals are out of work for more than 6 months. Remember it’s a buyer’s market today and employers can do and say what they want. Next thing is to get a PT job doing anything. I do construction work on the side. This gets me out of the house, into the fresh air, and I have a purpose and goal each day. It gives me confidence. I feel wanted and needed. I am grateful for and humbled by the experience. Plus the money can help with food/bills. And remember to downsize your personal expenses – just get down to the bare minimum on what you need to survive; this will give you more breathing room and more and more money in your pocket. Next thing is to get out of the house. Get out of the routine of looking for work/sending out your CV. This will help to stop anxiety and depression, your two biggest enemies! I'll email u!

Hi, my self sahith... I'm from India. I'm doing my pharm d 5th year...I am planning to come to u.s after my completion of course...as i know I should go for Naplex test for my registration...but with out registration will I get any job.....can any pls help me....

Has BPS certification helped anyone get employed? I too have been looking over two years. Sad situation, new students outright being lied too about the "exaggerated" shortage.

Ivan Von Messer in Boston, Massachusetts said: I am now unemployed for more than a year (1.5) I have three years of experience in an outpatient setting, certified to provide immunizations, up to date on my CE, and can speak two languages. None of that is helping. It is even difficult these days to contact recruiters by phone because they find every single way not to talk to you. Someone once suggested to visit hospitals' HR departments and directly ask for a job. This is a joke. Nobody will speak to you, and all you will get, "go search and apply at our website" Honestly, I do not believe that once you are unemployed as a pharmacist you can find a job! So far I was unable to accomplish this, and I feel that I simply do not get serious considerations. Within 8 months of continuous search, I only had 3 interviews. I showed up just to hear that I never officially held a supervising pharmacist title, and that they are looking for someone with strong managerial skills. Can't employers see that from my CV??? I sent tones of requests to apply for a job. But I feel that most job postings are fakes, which are created by employers to fake that the economy is getting better. I do strongly believe that HR staff know in advance who they are going to hire before they post positions. However, they have to interview a certain number of people for a "check-mark" so they will not be accused for hiring pharmacists in a corrupted way. I am searching for a job in New York City . I need an advise... How do you overcome the problem that you are unemployed when you search for a job? Employers do not take you seriously thinking that your skills faded or outdated. Guess what? If you ask them to give you a relevant skill evaluation exam, they simply refuse. So if you are unemployed as a pharmacist, do you have to forget about your profession? Please give me an advise; it will be highly appreciated. My email is ivan_kaprielb@hotmail.com. I think that we pharmacists need somehow involv

Danna RPH in Boca Raton, Florida said: stay in canada no jobs in good old USA

news.wfsu.org/post/house-approves-letting-pharmacists-oversee-six-times-many-technicians

Sahith in Hyderabad, India said: Hi, my self sahith... I'm from India. I'm doing my pharm d 5th year...I am planning to come to u.s after my completion of course...as i know I should go for Naplex test for my registration...but with out registration will I get any job.....can any pls help me....

news.wfsu.org/post/house-approves-letting-pharmacists-oversee-six-times-many-technicians

Frances1010 in Brooklyn, New York said: Has BPS certification helped anyone get employed? I too have been looking over two years. Sad situation, new students outright being lied too about the "exaggerated" shortage.

Here you go...

news.wfsu.org/post/house-approves-letting-pharmacists-oversee-six-times-many-technicians

Nick in Seymour, Connecticut said: Apple online directly at Walgreens and CVS or Duane Reade. Dont waste your time with recruiters.

Those 3 companies are always hiring . Dont be afraid to move.

They will help you....

news.wfsu.org/post/house-approves-letting-pharmacists-oversee-six-times-many-technicians

If you are unemployed get a job... But in pharmacy who is kidding who here

news.wfsu.org/post/house-approves-letting-pharmacists-oversee-six-times-many-technicians

CAPharmD in Stockton, California said: Yeah – you’re right! I feel sorry for the pharmacy techs in those lousy schools – they pay 15-20K for their tuition and find out (all too quickly) that there are no technician jobs out there to help fund their debt. Without a job, how can they manage to pay their tuition/debt costs? The schools totally rip them off. And US pharmacy schools are NOT without blame for allowing their skyrocketing tuition to get out of control, knowing full well there are no jobs awaiting their newly-minted graduates. How can they pay their debt if there are NO jobs? It’s such a joke. Friggin’ ridiculous.

There will be PLENTY of pharmacy tech jobs CREATED out there at the various pharmacy ententies: Pharmacy tech's are the future in pharmacy and legislation will make that happen :

news.wfsu.org/post/house-approves-letting-pharmacists-oversee-six-times-many-technicians

CAPharmD in Stockton, California said: Yeah – you’re right! I feel sorry for the pharmacy techs in those lousy schools – they pay 15-20K for their tuition and find out (all too quickly) that there are no technician jobs out there to help fund their debt. Without a job, how can they manage to pay their tuition/debt costs? The schools totally rip them off. And US pharmacy schools are NOT without blame for allowing their skyrocketing tuition to get out of control, knowing full well there are no jobs awaiting their newly-minted graduates. How can they pay their debt if there are NO jobs? It’s such a joke. Friggin’ ridiculous.

news.wfsu.org/post/house-approves-letting-pharmacists-oversee-six-times-many-technicians

Frances1010 in Brooklyn, New York said:

news.wfsu.org/post/house-approves-letting-pharmacists-oversee-six-times-many-technicians

the politicians are ignorant a**holes.... I've worked with many techs that are absolutely worthless... working with them/working by yourself.....same difference..