Manager or Pre-reg

[rafhelp]

Hi,

I would like to ask for advice possibly from people who have experience in management positions or similar.

I am in a situation where I can apply for either a pre-reg position or a non-pharmacist manager position within a big multiple. Now for the pre-reg I would have to relocate but for the management I would not have to I can just carry on working at the same place.

I know the salary for the manager job would not be too great and the workload/paperwork I have been told by others could be quite alot but then again you could say that most pharmacist managers dont get paid enough for what they do? Although I have a degree, working as a manager in pharmacy would mean you could make use of the degree for example with drug related queries, OTC etc.. Its basically doing the same job you would be doing as a pharmacist manager but without the checking and regular pharmacist duties such as MURS.

What would be your advice and what would you expect as a reasonable starting salary for a non-pharmacist manager within a big multiple.

[DavidS]

I am in a situation where I can apply for either a pre-reg position or a non-pharmacist manager position within a big multiple.

definitely definitely definitely go for the pre-reg. No contest, IMHO.

The difficulties you had in the past as a pre-reg you will not avoid by becoming a manager.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

[ramroum]

I agree with David S. Go for the pre-reg and get on the register whatever it takes. Please don't give up trying to find a pre-reg placement and doing it. It is a hard year but I reassure you that it gets much better when you are a registered pharmacist. I think community pharmacists earn more than managers.

[Zoggite]

No hesitation, go for the Pre-reg.
As a non-phcist manager for Lds, you could maybe expect £15k p.a., maybe £20k if you're really good and inhuman enough to bully your staff into achieving the impossible targets they're set; but as a Pre-reg, you'll get £14k the 1st year,and then, once you're registered, you can expect £30k to £35k starting salary, with excellent job security and a good choice of careers. You won't regret it in the long run, I promise!

[Fleegle]

I absolutely agree with Zoggite..Complete your pre-reg and qualify as a Pharmacist. You will not look back, as you will always have the opportunity, should you choose to take it, of being your own boss. Non-Pharmacist manager? You're just another brick in the wall...no options..game over.

In my opinion, your choice is an obvious one.

Fleegle.

[frither]

No contest go for the Pre-reg

[Val]

Definitely the pre-reg. Once registered, you will always have a profession and in so many different guises (community, hospital, prison and from being your own boss to part-time locum work). You also have the option (with a little CPD) of doing completely different things, knowing that pharmacy is there when you need it. When I graduated, I didn't want to work in pharmacy straight away, but there was never any chance that I wouldn't have done the pre-reg year.

As for pay rates, career progression, the store manager role is not a good one in my view. I recently did a locum in a multiple where the store manager was a 47 year old ACT who was clearly doing a great job, especially with things like shrinkage, sales targets etc. She was paid £2,500 a year less than a recently-hired 25 year old ACT and there were lots of excuses why that couldn't be rectified. It seems that, as a store manager, they will pay you as little as necessary whereas, at least as pharmacists have some transparency in terms of pay rates.

Best of luck !

[rafhelp]

Thanks for your replies, very helpful and informative.

[imaginegenerous]

I'd also say go for the pre-reg option as reflecting on the story above regrding a store manager being paid less than an ACT, a very similar situation happens in my branch. I'm a pharmacist manager but the branch supervisor who's next in command after me gets paid much less per hour than the Pharmacy Technicians (we don't have an ACT) so definitely go for the pre-reg