Pharmacists: Here are 6 Steps to Take if You've Just Been Laid Off

Caution: Affiliate links below. A podcast supplement to this article may be found here.

There's rumors floating all over the internet that one of the big box (biggest?) retailers out there is laying off up to 1,000 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians this week. No notice either - they're just escorting people out. I haven't quite be able to officially confirm the actual numbers yet (although I do know people directly affected), and I'm perturbed that the major news media hasn't been covering it (they're too busy showing us real news, like cat videos, and which movie star is breaking up.)

BTW - if you want to hear specifically where the growth in pharmacy careers is through 2026, watch this.

My displeasure for the news media aside not covering this major issue, I'm very concerned for my brothers and sisters on the retail pharmacy front lines. If you were recently let go, here's a list of resources I and my day job (ASCP) have created for students and the internet in the past and over the years that hopefully can assist you if you've just been laid off and are freaked out by it. (Trust me, I know - I've been there myself.)

First, breathe. Don't panic. Hopefully you have an emergency fund set aside for this. (I call it an oh sh!t fund.)

Second, if you can and the bills aren't piling up, take a week or so to just keep breathing. Don't do anything rash. Think of it as a vacation and opportunity for you to finally figure out what you REALLY want to do next. Go to the library, whip out your card, and check out the following books to help you think through your "next" big thing:

1. Books and Tests for Pharmacists and Healthcare Professionals Who Want to Shift Careers:

• What Color is Your Parachute? 2019
• Designing Your Life
• Retake the APhA Pathway Program to figure out what area(s) of practice you might be interested in for the future.
• Strengthsfinder 2.0
• If that's not enough testing to check in with yourself - I also have the Know Thyself Kit with 30+ other tests you can take on yourself.

These books and tests are my favorite on reinventing yourself, and they're ubiquitous - every library on the planet should have the books. Check them out and work through the exercises about YOU, especially if you haven't checked in with what you really want in your career right now.

Next, here are some other free resources I have put together or my day job at ASCP has put together throughout the years to help people in pharmacy figure out what they want to be and do:

2. Other Resources for Pharmacists Who Want to Shift Career Gears

57 Cool Jobs For Pharmacists

The Future of Work - Part 1 and Part 2

Where I think we're heading for pharmacy jobs

The 5 Roads Out of Retail Pharmacy - Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

50 Shades of Pharmacy Consulting

Listen to other independent pharmacist podcasters - all listed below for great career ideas:

Become a Senior Care Pharmacist and if you want to hear more on what a Senior Care Pharmacist does - check out SenioRx Radio.

Any of the articles I've written for Pharmacy Careers magazine - many of them apply beyond recent grads - some include certifications, and/or going back to school.

If you needs hands on one on one help through this transition, I have a course on career reinvention that includes 1:1 time with me.

3. Next, the LinkedIn Profile and Resume Re-Writes

Then, after you've figured out who you are and where you want to head next, you'll need to re-design your LinkedIn Profile, and rewrite your resume. There are plenty of resources on how to do these - google them. Here's just one place to start.

4. Then, Tell Your Closest Most Trusted Inner Circle

You should next reconnect with your trusted inner circle with your fresh resume, updated LinkedIn Profile, and tell them specifically what you're looking for next. The more specificity, the better, so that they can help you.

5. Get Going on the Job Boards

You have to play this game, and although I've never quite found a job directly from a job board (with rare exception) - you'll need to apply through the systems in order to even be considered. That's just a low bar that everyone has to pass these days with HR. There are other techniques like networking and telling people at the companies you've applied to that you're trying to get in, but to do these really right takes more than a blog post here.

6. Still have questions?

If you're still left with a ton of questions on how to proceed, or even just need to vent along with your questions, I've set up a personal google form to help you do just that. Now that I've started my own podcast, I can try to address as many of your questions as possible on a regular basis as well, in hopes to help many instead of just one on one. If you do share your questions with me and I talk about them on air, I will send to you a free copy of my pharmacist and healthcare certifications list as a thank you for sharing during your tough times.

Good luck, stay strong, and Godspeed!

P.S. - If you're a fellow pharmacist and/or a recruiter and know of pharmacist job openings anywhere, feel free to comment and put them in this string below - please help out your colleagues.

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Erin L. Albert is a pharmacist, podcaster, senior director of education at ASCP, and been there, done that when it came to being laid off. Opinions above are her own, sans the ASCP materials. She has digital downloads for pharmacy, and online courses. Last, you can check out her latest collection of online essays as an e PDF set, here.