Job interviews

I've had 5 jobs in my life. My first job was in an automotive shop. I was the service writer. That job lasted a month. Then I cashiered at one of the retail giants. That job lasted almost two years. Then I got my first pharmacy job at that same retail giant. That lasted about a year. I moved on to another pharmacy. That job lasted 2 months then I was snatched up by another pharmacy for a pay raise of
$.50. Yes I know that's not much but more money is always better. That job lasted 6 years.

The funny thing about these jobs is that I truly only interviewed for 1 of them, at the automotive shop. For me, an interview consists of me dressing up, preparing a resume, and sitting down to talk to the hiring manager about pay rates, benefits, schedule, etc. For the cashier job and my first pharmacy job, I just transferred departments. For the second pharmacy job, I talked to someone over the phone about a possible position and was told to show up ready for training. For the job that lasted 6 years it went like this. Do you want a job? Me: Yes. Them: Show up on Monday for a drug test and training.

I don't know how I got so lucky at landing jobs.

So a week ago, I formally had the second job interview of my life. I didn't even wear a tie. I was slightly nervous but once I started talking with the owner of this independent pharmacy all that nervousness went directly out the window. The first thing the guy said to me was, "Come in, have a seat but don't sit on that pillow, one of technicians wasted water on it." I knew then that I would fit right in. He explained that he needed someone full time, explained some of the problems he was having with the part-timers, explained what is done on a daily basis, then offered me the job. He glanced over my resume and we only talked about one of the clinical rotations I had done at school which was my favorite one at the long term care pharmacy. It had to be some kind of act of GOD for him to pick out my favorite rotation out of the 8 I did to ask about. We chatted a bit about the job I had for 6 years and why I didn't stay with them. He must have liked me and my responses because within 30 minutes he was making plans to add me to the schedule.

He wanted me to work on Friday for 6 hours as the pharmacist. He said I would be trained for 3 and a half hours then I would be alone with only a technician. The old me would have said that's a bit much but the out of work for the past 6 months me said OK. The other thing odd about this interview is that he kept being interrupted and had to repeatedly go out to talk to someone or do something. I had to remind him everytime he came back of what we were talking about. That was hilarious!! I was so happy to have a job that I didn't ask about pay or benefits. I want at least $50 per hour. He wants to start me off part time then talk again before I start full time. If the board doesn't quickly send my license I am going to have to ask him to let me start full time just to have rent money for August. My money situation is tight. I have not paid not one June bill other than the rent. And I only have rent for July. They can turn everything off if they want too but I'm going to have a roof over my head.

Anyway, I had to tell him that I didn't yet have my license. I had only known that I had passed my exam for 5 days. When he told the pharmacist who wanted to be off on Friday, she didn't look happy. I still ended up coming in on Friday for training. She was nice and was pulling me all over the place. The computer software is badly out of date. You have to check all prescriptions by hand and when doing refills you only check to make sure the drug is correct. What if a pharmacist made a mistake the first time? Since I am not seeing the prescription at every refill that mistake will happen over and over. I don't like that. There is also no way to check for interactions using their software and the technicians tell the people coming in that their prescription will be ready in 5 minutes. So what if the pharmacy is not busy? So what if they fill about 50 prescriptions a day? I also noticed that the customer's come in in spurts, when they first open, then around noon, then in the late afternoon. Other than that, its pretty laid back in there and easy going. You still have some assholes that call in but the technician seems to be able to handle that quite well.

I do love the hours at this job---8:30AM to 6PM Monday through Friday and no weekends. That's the best thing.

I didn't have the heart to tell the owner that I plan on moving back south in about a year. He really wants someone who is going to be there. He said he had been there for 26 years and wanted to go out to get more contracts and possibly expand. The other pharmacist has been there about 20 years and wants to spend more time with her family. They have alot of part timers for which they have been running into problems: mistakes, missing drugs, etc. That's really why he wants someone full time. I needed a job and needed it badly. Even in today's economy, pharmacist are having a hard time getting a job.

Even though this is not my ideal job, I think its going to be good. The hours are great, the people seem ok and the customers are not difficult and at least they all have insurance that works and a card to show for it. I'm loving that.

So, I am spending my last few days with the biggest smile on my face. I am getting ready to finally start enjoying life. I have already picked out a BMW that I want!!!

Smoochies!!!!!

My last few days of freedom

Hello All,

Things are truly looking good for yours truly. As you all know, I have been stressing about taking my board exam since April. Well, I took it on June 15. After it was over I didn't feel any better about it than when I took it in March. I studied hard. I used a wealth of study aids: GOD, APhA, Kaplan Qbank, Exam Master, Kaplan notes, etc. I studied for this exam like it was a full time job, from sun up to sun down. I was totally exhausted. I took a pre-test about a week before the actual thing and despite not finishing the last 5 questions I scored a 94. This test is very predictive of what you will score on the actual exam and to my surprise it was very accurate. I scored a 93 on the actual exam!!! I prayed nightly to pass this exam and sent everyone in my phone a text message to add me to their nightly prayers cause I truly believe in the power of prayer and dear GOD, it worked.

I got my exam results two days after I took the exam. I cried, I shouted, I sang church songs, I shouted some more. I hadn't been this happy in a long time. I told my grandma and before I could really say what was happening she was shouting and had passed the phone on to one of my aunts. I called my mom who was at work and she had to go outside crying. My family was so relieved.

Today marks the 13th day since I took the exam and 11 days since I got my results. I am currently waiting to receive my license from the state board of pharmacy and it can't get here quick enough. I already have a job and they are itching to put me on the schedule and I am itching to make some real money. I've waited a long time for this.

So, it looks like my days of sleeping in are coming to an end. I think I'll be upset until that money rolls in!!!!!

I've got the Blues

Hello All,

Yes, I know its been a while since I've blogged. But today I got into the blogging spirit. For those of you who don't personally know me, I was born and raised in the deep south (Deep South= Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi) in a small town in Alabama. At an early age, I gained a true apprecitation for the blues. It was played regularly in my household and in my relatives houses also. I've got an aunt who constantly played the blues greats: BB King, Little Milton, Johnnie Taylor, Denise Lasalle, Shirley Brown, etc. My very own mother was a big fan of Marvin Sease. My mom and I spent every Memorial Day at a Blue's show in someone's cow pasture or a field. I never understood why those shows were always back in the woods off a dirt road or two. We would drink and carry on and have such a good time. For one time a year we were more friends than mother and son. I truly miss that. Every memorial day away from home is like a cut to my childhood.

My grandparents played the Blues on Saturday's in the Summer. I heard Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, KoKo Taylor, Bobby "Blue" Bland and many others during many hot Alabama summers.

What I learned from the blues is that heartache and troubles can happen at any time. I learned that this world is going to be unfair and that I'd just have to make the best of my short time here on this earth.

This music in a weird way sometimes soothes me. The voice of Aretha Franklin from about 1967 to 1976 cuts through me like a hot butter knife, so full of pain, so full of soul. From the greatest joy to the greatest sorrow all in one swoop. KoKo Taylor had a voice like a freight train. She sang this song once that said "If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all." She said, "Hard luck and trouble is my only friend, I've been down since I was 10." Alot of the time, I truly feel that way. Anyway, I've gotten off track a bit.

I left Alabama almost 6 years ago for what I figured would be a better life. I decided to pursue another degree at our nation premier black institution. Little did I know that these would be the worse 6 years I've seen in all of my 29 years on this planet. It has been hell and continues to be hell. Last December I earned my second degree. Now I have the word Doctor added to my name. Every so often, in the middle of the night, I sneak a peek at my degree to make sure that its actually my name on it.

My board exam is scheduled for June 15th at 3PM. I failed it the first time by 3 points. Do I feel any more prepared than the 1st time? No. If I had my way I probably wouldn't take that exam until around August. If I had my way I would purchase more study guides or attend a board review course. I've got a friend who took his back in May. Failed it by 5 points. I just knew he would pass. He was a math genius.

I'm sure you're asking then why dummy are you taking this test in 12 days? Unfortunately for me, my finances will not sustain me until August. I need a job and need it now. I've got to pass it to keep my apartment and avoid moving back in with family in Alabama.

Everybody keeps telling me not to worry about it. Everybody keeps saying it will be fine. It was only 3 points and I will surely pass this time. There is no guarantee that I will pass. Like I have said in earlier posts I know a pharmacist who took hers four times before she passed and another 3 times. I know one pharmacist who was licensed back in December and has yet to find a job. This is weighing heavy on my spirit and this is another time in my life where I don't know what to do. I've been constantly studying, practicing my math and using all of my available resources of which I don't think I have enough. I take a pre-test next Tuesday and hopefully that will turn out a success. If it does it will really put my mind at ease.

All I can do right now is fix me a cute drink, give my brain a little rest, send up some prayers and continue studying. At this point I am totally out of options. Will this madness ever end?