Ask the Experts: Don’t Expect Your Employer to Train You
ningcontentQuestion:
I’m considering a career as a pharmacist but I don’t want to spend years of my time and tens of thousands of dollars on tuition to get a pharmacy degree only to discover that I don’t like the work. One option that I’ve been considering is to first become a pharmacy technician. Is that a good idea? Will my employer then pay for my pharmacy degree?
First Answer:
Requirements vary for pharmacy technician positions. Employers may require prior experience, an associate’s degree, and certification – or none of the above. Adding to the mix, some companies don’t offer certification reimbursement as part of an employment package, therefore, waiting for an employer may delay your plans.
Take the initiative to start the training program. You could holdout for an employer, but putting your foot forward will be the best course of action, in my opinion. The National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) offers the information you’ll need to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician [CPhT], along with offering a continuing education program through STAT Educational Services.
While taking classes, work for an employer that doesn’t require the certification. Gain work experience – even if limited – while taking classes, and learn in the evenings to subsequently benefit your job.
— Teena Rose, a certified and published râ©sumâ© writer and career specialist with Râ©sumâ© to Referral
Second Answer:
My quick response to this is that the marketplace has become increasingly competitive. While I don’t know the cost of online classes, if they are in your budget, I’d suggest that you take the initiative and start learning whatever it is that you need to know. If an employer wants to train you on the job, you can always stop taking the online classes or let them pay for the rest. Employers are always more interested someone who is already skilled, or at least in the learning process. They aren’t necessarily going to want to lay out the money and time for your education, so going now will make you more marketable.
— Alison Blackman Dunham, life & career expert, columnist, personal public relations consultant, half of THE ADVICE SISTERS¬Ã, and the author of the ASK ALISON career advice column
Third Answer:
The answer to your question depends on whether or not you have already truly chosen to pursue formal education in pharmacy. If you have not yet determined that you’re willing to invest the time and money into a graduate degree in pharmacy, working as a pharmacy technician will provide you with insights into this particular career choice. And if you have identified an opportunity to be hired as a pharmacy tech with on-the-job training, certainly take it! Since many pharmacies, especially hospital pharmacies, will only hire experienced and/or nationally certified technicians, you may need to invest in training to become a pharmacy technician.
However, if you have already decided that you are going to apply to a graduate program in pharmacy, then I would offer you different advice. Focus your efforts on your undergraduate work and into the pharmacy school application process – which may include passing the pharmacy school admissions test (PCAT). Why? While there’s a chance that experience as a technician might look good on your application, few students accepted into pharmacy programs have this type of experience. As with other competitive graduate programs, the ingredients for success are great grades, glowing letters of recommendation, solid PCAT scores, and positive entrance interviews at your chosen pharmacy school.
Once you’ve been accepted to a pharmacy program, you will be required to register with the state to become a licensed intern pharmacist and work in a pharmacy throughout your educational program. This will ensure that you develop practical, hands-on skills and experiences to get your pharmacy career off to a great start.
Wishing you best of luck with your career! Whatever choice you make, study hard and strive for excellence!
— Tracy Laswell Williams, certified job and career transition coach, accredited resume writer and founder of CAREER-Magic.com
Fourth Answer:
Go to the source! Scheduling time to talk to pharmacy managers and technicians will help you to ensure you’re not only preparing for a successful pharmacy career but that you know what to expect and what the career track will look like.
Make a list of the major pharmacies in your area–including large chains (CVS, Walgreens, Eckard), embedded pharmacies in grocery stores (Safeway, Giant, etc) and local, small pharmacies. Create a list of questions (including your question about training) that you would like the answers to about a pharmacy career. Determine what hours are less busy in the pharmacy and call and ask to speak to the pharmacy manager. Indicate that you’re doing research on pharmacy careers and ask if he or she has a few minutes to talk. If not, ask if you can make an appointment to spend fifteen minutes asking a few questions.
Once you complete several conversations, you can compare answers from each of the different types of pharmacies and determine your options. You’ll also have great contacts in each of the local pharmacies so when it comes time to apply for jobs, you’ll have more options and better connections!
— Susan Strayer, Assistant Director, Career Services, School of Professional Studies in Business and Education at the Johns Hopkins University and founder and President of University and Career Decisions
Fifth Answer:
The farsightedness of this question is impressive. It shows focus and steps toward mapping out a program to reach a specific goal. It also reveals the first steps to researching the requirements of attaining that goal.
I recommend that you visit the job descriptions for Pharmacists, Pharmacy technicians, and Pharmacy aides that are produced in the Occupational Outlook Handbook by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.(For the benefit of my readers, there is a link to it in my Career Center.) Those descriptions will help you understand the nature of the work, training and other qualifications, find related careers, and other important information about the options you’re considering.
In regard to which path to follow after reading the BLS job descriptions, I decided the best way to make a decision was to ask a pharmacist at a large retail chain in California. What was impressive was after being very forthright about what I was seeking, the pharmacist was very generous with information as well as her personal recommendation.
Her recommendation was to start out as a clerk and get some work experience and exposure to the type of work involved. With that, a person can work part time while attending school and taking the state licensing exam. This work experience also casts a favorable light on those applying to pharmacy school (work done after obtaining one’s bachelor’s degree) because it shows initiative and exposure to the field.
The materials from BLS tend to concur with the pharmacist’s recommendations. In answer to your question, I would say that in this instance do not take the online classes but get on-the-job experience. May all your Entrances be through the doors of success!
— Yvonne LaRose, career and professional development coach, Career and Executive Recruiting Advice
