Job decisions

[gledeasy]

I'm just looking for unbiased thoughts and opinions.

Background: I'm in the pharmacy field. I managed a local retail pharmacy in our grocery store for the last 10 years (basically my dream job/location for the field). Earlier this year it was announced that our company was selling to a larger corporation. Anyway, the beginning of that transaction did not go well (huge pay cut) and I decided to leave. I've recently started working in a similar location but now have to commute 40 miles one way (I know that's not bad) three days a week (35 hour work weeks).

I was looking forward to working less, spending more time with my family, but also having the option to pick up extra shifts as I desired.

My current job is great, but I'm not sure it's my long term solution at my age. Being in the city is just different.

Where I live there are only two places that employ pharmacists. One is the place I left, the other is a hospital. I've been offered a part-time position (20 hours a week) that would turn into full-time once someone fully retires. They anticipate 6-12 months, but I know from experience how that could go.

Long term the local hospital feels like a better option. It builds my resume, is close to home, and offers a better retirement. I however don't want to work that many total hours each week, especially with no exact end date in sight. Add to the fact that I would be entering into an area of the field that I'm not currently as comfortable in.

My wife just wants me to do what I feel is best and says she would support either way. The last few months have been a mental rollercoaster trying to figure this work/life thing out. I go back and forth regarding what I want and feel is the right path. Timing kind of stinks in my mind, but it is what it is. I guess I'm just trying to determine if the short term pain is worth the long term potential gain.

Just trying to gain outside perspective etc. If you have anything to share it would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[arrow179]

Ask yourself where you want to be in 20years and figure out what steps you need to take to get there. If changing to the hospital job gets you there then go for it and pick up other jobs in the meantime until you are full time. 6-12months will go by very quickly. I would hate commute that far the rest of your working years.

 

[Ucsdryder]

5 years from now, this will seem like a moment in time. What’s the best option for 5 years from now. Don’t make a short term decision that has long term consequences.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Driving 40 miles each way for a 35-hour work week is a horrible tooth-to-tail ratio. That’s 10 hours a week you could be not sitting on your ass, burning gas, doing anything else.

Pick the job that challenges you the most to work with actual humans and develop real skill and experience in your job. Make yourself as AI-proof as possible.

 

[K9kodi]

My time in my current job is approaching 20 years in a couple months. 20 frickin years, doesn’t seem it, doesn’t feel like it.

I’ve often been faced w decisions like yours, while not the exact same decision, decisions amount to value. Value is not placed only on cash or tangible’s, value is placed on anything w meaning to you.

So ask yourself, if you took the part time job in addition to what you do now, is the extra money and time away from the family temporarily worth it to be where you wanna be down the road.

In the flip side, knowing you have xxxxx amount of potential earning, for round numbers part time over 2 years , 75k, would you give away 75k to have the life your living now?

Understanding the hardship comes with extra income, the hardship is temporary.

Understanding the hardship not only allows for more earned value, but if it takes you out of your comfort zone it also gives you value as an employee down the down in the event a situation like this happens again you as an employee will be more valuable and have more options due to that value add.

Either way, sounds like you have a phenomenal support system at home. That’s awesome.

I have been lucky in my field that I have always taken opportunities. Some were pure luck and some were opportunities that my previous decisions created. Growth comes with discomfort.

 

[RockAndSage]

I however don't want to work that many total hours each week, especially with no exact end date in sight.

As in, not enough hours?

Add to the fact that I would be entering into an area of the field that I'm not currently as comfortable in.

All growth occurs outside our comfort zones - round yourself out even further, even if it's just for a year or two as a trial-run. You'll be a better pharmacist for it, separate from being more employable.

Timing kind of stinks in my mind, but it is what it is.

It's about ready to get a lot worse. Our economy is at the absolute peak of the business cycle in some tremendously dangerous and over-inflated ways, with lots of its pillars already crumbling - expect it to collapse over the next 6 months. This has nothing to do with AI - it's a predictable, established, well-studied cycle. But AI is going to make it a lot worse. As @Q_Sertorius noted, also make yourself AI proof.

One hybrid path might be for you to do the hospital, while pursuing side work with specialized online pharmacies - not the ones in Absurdistan, just ones that need extra staff for legit, US-based operations.

A third option is to figure out how to start your own specialized pharmacy. EDIT: One terrible problem you could address, is just in consulting for patients who have multiple meds from multiple doctors - Boomers and older are not realizing just how often their different doctors' meds are contra-indicated.

Half the entrepreneurs I know started their business to escape some sort of pain - about half of those did so when they couldn't get a job, often in a bad spot during an economic cycle. They're some of the richer people I know.

 

[180ls1]

Hospital job and diligently invest the excess time in you or wife's career + the kids.

Get in the other workers ears about talking to a financial advisor, they very well could retire sooner than they think.

 

[gledeasy]

Just to answer some questions, I would not be quitting my current job. They are providing benefits, including paying 100% of insurance premiums. So I would be working 5 days a week at 55 hours total. My oldest kids are just starting their teenage years, one of the reasons why working 3 days a week is so appealing.

 

[hand skills]

How about taking the Hospital job, show management you know your stuff and give them a positive feeling about secession. Plant a seed, well before the Full Time position comes us;

What about 2 part time pharmacists?

You'll have a better sense of the job by then, and if it's a good fit, both sides could be motivated to make it work.

I work for a hospital as a plant supervisor (power engineer) scheduled 23hrs a week. The freedom is tremendous. If I use Stat holidays intelligently I can get 10 consecutive days off using only 8h of my holiday bank.

I could make a lot more money 7 on 7 off in the oilfield, but at this point in my life, being home every night and freedom to pursue my own interests is priceless.

Good luck in your ventures, wherever they lead

 

[Wrench]

I chose to travel 64 miles to work every day. Winter can be a challenge as nearly all of it is on a drift infested highway. My typical drive is 1.25hrs each way. I hate the drive. I could work closer to home.....but it's a $100k a year pay cut to do so.....so I focus on the money and remind myself that I am lucky to have what I do....and it's only 4 days a week unless I choose to work over my schedule.

I could move, but I like the rural community.

 

[fngTony]

Just to answer some questions, I would not be quitting my current job. They are providing benefits, including paying 100% of insurance premiums. So I would be working 5 days a week at 55 hours total. My oldest kids are just starting their teenage years, one of the reasons why working 3 days a week is so appealing.

So you would be working two jobs totaling 55 hours a week?

 

[atmat]

Clinical + prn retail shifts to make up the cash difference

If needing benefits, clinical + current situation.

Clinical pays well, is interesting, and will be a good long term situation.

 

[Mangata]

I would bet on team Hospital/Clinical for long term stability, benefits, and flexibility if they are a well established and ethical healthcare system. Working yourself up through those ranks should improve your reimbursement and offer incentive to stay engaged in your ongoing career.

As well, others have mentioned keeping aware of other options that may present for entrepreneurial ventures can provide an on-ramp to new opportunities.

Best of luck!!

 

[gledeasy]

So you would be working two jobs totaling 55 hours a week?

Yes my current job, which is retail with benefits (35 hours). The second would be clinical at our hospital (20 hour). The hospital would have some benefits available even at part time (retirement match and PTO). And is anticipated to become a full time position.

 

[Reburn]

Yes my current job, which is retail with benefits (35 hours). The second would be clinical at our hospital (20 hour). The hospital would have some benefits available even at part time (retirement match and PTO). And is anticipated to become a full time position.

Work both. You can always drop one off if it gets to be too much or you decide you like one better. Put the higher paycheck in savings and make yourself live on the smaller so you adjust your financials to match.

 

[Ralphie]

If 6-12 months of working 55 hours puts you in a better position in the long term I’d do that in a heartbeat.

 

[ztc92]

Speaking as a physician who currently works in a small town hospital but has also worked in some bigger hospitals, I feel like the hospital job is the better long-term move. I see retail pharmacists come and go all the time but a good hospital/clinical pharmacist is a very sought after asset for any health system. I think it’s especially telling that the job you gave up was a retail pharmacy that changed ownership and no longer valued you appropriately. I think that would be far less likely to happen if you worked for a small town hospital and made yourself an asset to them.

 

[199p]

I may have missed the age detail, but I'd recommend taking on the 55-hour weeks and putting the extra 25 hours into a high savings/investment fund.
With everything getting more and more expensive all the time the earlier you put more away the better the financial curve

 

[WeiserBucks]

55 hours a week is part time work in some households.

 

[K9kodi]

Shit, I don’t think I’ve see the relaxation of a 55hr week in some time. I’d consider 55hr a week like others consider 40.