I'm a first year pharmacy undergrduate student. I've applied around to boots, local hospitals etc to get a summer placement ages ago. But were all turned down. I've had some experience in a local independent community pharmacy, but my question is should I just do some work in an independent pharmacy over summer or do charity work instead? What will hold more ground for when i apply next time around? Also is it vital to get experience in your first year? As i've heard if you don't you are greatly disadvantaged when applying next summer compared to other people.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Pharmacy placement or charity work?
Collapse
X
-
Re: Pharmacy placement or charity work?
If you have never worked in a pharmacy, then you need experience. What were you doing all through A levels. Ihad a paper round and worked as saturday boy at local Boots. Most pharmacies where I locum employ a Saturday boy/girl who then automatically works in the holidays as I did.
Often I arrive for a locum to find only the Saturday boy as the other member of staff. Once or twice it has been their first day!
johnep
-
Re: Pharmacy placement or charity work?
Originally posted by mysteryman View PostI'm a first year pharmacy undergrduate student. I've applied around to boots, local hospitals etc to get a summer placement ages ago. But were all turned down. I've had some experience in a local independent community pharmacy, but my question is should I just do some work in an independent pharmacy over summer or do charity work instead? What will hold more ground for when i apply next time around? Also is it vital to get experience in your first year? As i've heard if you don't you are greatly disadvantaged when applying next summer compared to other people.
btw - if you live in london or kent then i may be able to get u a summer job at a small multiple.
Comment
-
Re: Pharmacy placement or charity work?
I'd go for the charity work. Don't get too stressed getting pharmacy-relating work experience yet. As long as you have 1, possibly 2, summers worth of experience by the time you apply for pre-reg you'll be ok. If the worst comes to the worst offer to work for free in a local pharmacy later on in your course for experience.
Appropriate charity work gives you many many more skills than slogging in a shop. Try and get medical/social care related work if you can...will shine on your CV.
Comment
-
Re: Pharmacy placement or charity work?
I think 1 or 2 x summer pharmacy placements plus 1 x good charity work looks loads better on your CV than 3 x summer pharmacy placements. Think about the skills you can gain from charity work: communication; team building; adapting to foreign cultures and tradiitions; internation relations; ingenuity; survival etc....compared to 6 weeks in Boots: gained communication skills to imply to customers to feck orf without actually saying it; dispensing.
Enjoy your summer, if you don't you'll look back and regret it.
Comment
-
Re: Pharmacy placement or charity work?
Originally posted by mysteryman View PostI've decided i'm going to do charity work and also do some work in a local independent community pharmacy. When is the best time in a day to go in and ask them if they will be willing to give me some experience?Lively debate is encouraged but please respect the opinions and feelings of others.
Please help keep the forum vibrant by spreading the work to friends and colleagues via word of mouth or social media.
Thank you for contributing to this site.
Comment
-
Re: Pharmacy placement or charity work?
Originally posted by admin View PostWhen they are quiet! I'd say avoid 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm as these seem to be the busiest times in the places where I work, but it can vary of course. Why not ring them up first and ask them when the owner/manager will be there, and what's the best time to come and talk to him. This is a good way to introduce yourself, and it's polite. First impressions count a lot, so make sure you go dressed smartly as well.
Comment
-
Re: Pharmacy placement or charity work?
Originally posted by N.T View PostI'd say avoid 12pm til 2pm too!! All in all you should never ask to talk to the pharmacist cos they'll be too busy!!!! (Seriously tho...best to phone ahead!)47 BC : Julius Cesar : Veni Vidi Vici : I came, I saw I conquered.
2018 AD : Modern Man : I shopped, I clicked, I collected.
How times change.
If you find you have read something that has upset or offended you an anyway please unread it at once.
Comment
-
Re: Pharmacy placement or charity work?
Originally posted by mysteryman View PostI'm a first year pharmacy undergrduate student. I've applied around to boots, local hospitals etc to get a summer placement ages ago. But were all turned down. I've had some experience in a local independent community pharmacy, but my question is should I just do some work in an independent pharmacy over summer or do charity work instead? What will hold more ground for when i apply next time around? Also is it vital to get experience in your first year? As i've heard if you don't you are greatly disadvantaged when applying next summer compared to other people.
GO to a nightmare multiple/factory Pharmacy or a crap hospital, staffed with a squadron of ignorant bullying gade goody type tech's. Realise this is the reality of Pharmacy and jack the course in.
Comment
-
Re: Pharmacy placement or charity work?
Originally posted by openmind View PostMy Advice,
GO to a nightmare multiple/factory Pharmacy or a crap hospital, staffed with a squadron of ignorant bullying gade goody type tech's. Realise this is the reality of Pharmacy and jack the course in.
If you like the clinical side of pharmacy, and are still young enough, why not do that?Last edited by admin; 4, May 2007, 09:41 PM.Lively debate is encouraged but please respect the opinions and feelings of others.
Please help keep the forum vibrant by spreading the work to friends and colleagues via word of mouth or social media.
Thank you for contributing to this site.
Comment
-
Re: Pharmacy placement or charity work?
Originally posted by openmind View PostMy Advice,
GO to a nightmare multiple/factory Pharmacy or a crap hospital, staffed with a squadron of ignorant bullying gade goody type tech's. Realise this is the reality of Pharmacy and jack the course in.
Today I was the least academically qualified and yet by far the highest paid person in a community pharmacy. (An doctor unregistered in the UK because of failing the English exam, and someone with a degree in pharmaceutical science)
Jeff
Comment
-
Re: Pharmacy placement or charity work?
Originally posted by openmind View PostMy Advice,
GO to a nightmare multiple/factory Pharmacy or a crap hospital, staffed with a squadron of ignorant bullying gade goody type tech's. Realise this is the reality of Pharmacy and jack the course in.
Comment
Comment