Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Easy well paid career change for 40 year old with a Masters Degree.....

109 replies

tooneedyme · 20/12/2023 21:55

I hate my job. I am a Pharmacist. It's stressful, undervalued, underpaid and the demands on us as a Profession are getting more and more and more with no increase in wages. I'd like to change career but at 40 with 2 kids I don't feel I have the time, mental ability or motivation to fully retrain. I enjoy being home but my current job doesn't allow me to do this. I love cooking but that doesn't earn alot of money and I don't have patience to make it look fancy. Any genius advice?

OP posts:
SlB09 · 20/12/2023 23:14

@LittleMrsPretty yes, community pharmacist

Original poster
tooneedyme · 20/12/2023 23:15

Hairofthemonster · 20/12/2023 22:31

Compliance or another role in big pharma. Well paid and good perks.

Iam not sure what this is?

OP posts:
Hairofthemonster · 20/12/2023 23:18

tooneedyme · 20/12/2023 23:15

Iam not sure what this is?

Show quote history

Compliance signs off on the marketing materials about a particular drug as the pharmaceutical signatory. Different to the legal team but essential for legally marketing the drug in different international markets.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Jobs
Original poster
tooneedyme · 20/12/2023 23:21

Forcedoutoflurking · 20/12/2023 22:40

Sorry no advice but curious to know how a pharmacy job is so stressful. Is it not just about dispensing medicine?

Pharmacists bear the responsibility of checking prescriptions are accurate and clinically safe. I intercepted 3 prescriptions written by GPS for the wrong items, dose or interacting medicines which could have caused patients alot of harm. Anything goes wrong in the Pharmacy the blame lies with me. Understaffed and increasing workloads we are supposed to lead the team and train them. More demands from Drs and patients to do prescribing, vaccinating, make up compliance aids, monitor drug addicts compliance, provide needle exchange, emergency contraception, answer 90 million questions every day in person or on the phone all with 1 or 2 other members of staff also worked too hard and also underpaid. We are shouted at, cursed and blamed for everything that has gone wrong in a patients journey thus far. All that whilst being interrupted several times, inability to sit down without someone complaining about having to wait 10 minutes longer for their prescription alongside the responsibility that one mistake from me could have fatal consequences, and lead to me being imprisoned too, makes it pretty stressful!

OP posts:
Original poster
tooneedyme · 20/12/2023 23:22

Hairofthemonster · 20/12/2023 23:18

Compliance signs off on the marketing materials about a particular drug as the pharmaceutical signatory. Different to the legal team but essential for legally marketing the drug in different international markets.

Show quote history

How do you get into this sort of role?

OP posts:
Original poster
tooneedyme · 20/12/2023 23:24

FaiIureToLunch · 20/12/2023 22:04

Medical writing and editing is a really well paid job! I’d do that! You can pull in £60-80k if you have the right degree and experience.

How do you get a job in medical writing?

OP posts:
Original poster
tooneedyme · 20/12/2023 23:25

TurnthePotatoes · 20/12/2023 22:28

Not the likes of anything beyond 50K though?
What's 'well-paid' to you OP?
What about being a private pharmacist?

Show quote history

What is a private Pharmacist?

OP posts:
cariaaad · 20/12/2023 23:29

Doggymummar · 20/12/2023 22:34

My mum was a pharmacist in doctors surgery, she loved it and retired at 55 on full NHS pension. When she retired she took a practice manager's job in a nearby surgery until state pension kicked in. Would something like that work?

Unfortunately the days of retiring at 55 on a full NHS pension are long gone.

Chocolate101 · 20/12/2023 23:32

I was in your shoes and I made the change just over a year ago. I moved into primary care but working for an independent company. The primary care jobs are not badly paid now and there’s usually room for negotiation. Plus way better work life balance.

pinkdelight · 20/12/2023 23:36

You can look all this stuff up of course - his to get into medical writing, compliance in big pharma etc. Mumsnet is great for advice and support but you have a Masters, it's not that hard to look into it all, see what the qualifications and salaries are and whether they're of interest to you.

DramaticBananas · 20/12/2023 23:38

A Regulatory Officer for a Pharmaceutical company? They get the drugs through the various and lengthy stages of the drug licencing process.

unsync · 20/12/2023 23:47

Can you go into research or higher education?

FaiIureToLunch · 20/12/2023 23:51

unsync · 20/12/2023 23:47

Can you go into research or higher education?

She isn’t exactly displaying any decent research skills though 😂

OP you’ve been given plenty good suggestions now go and go some Googling and research your own career options!

abbse · 21/12/2023 00:09

SausageCasseroles · 20/12/2023 22:24

Gino - well yes but could be an option?

OP would have to pay £50k to do a three year degree and then start off at £28k. I don’t to j that’s what she has in mind…

coxesorangepippin · 21/12/2023 02:10

What the pp said - research isn't your forte eh

Go Google these jobs and apply!

Dustyblue · 21/12/2023 02:56

Clinical research?

I'm in Australia so don't know the UK training req's. Here, if you start at Masters level plus your work experience, the training is under 12 months, sometimes 6 months.

All wfh and lots of potential employers. But no idea if it's the same in the UK.

Justtryingtounderstand · 21/12/2023 06:15

@tooneedyme - no advice but I really hope you manage to find something to change to.

Not much use but I did also want to say how much we as a family value our community pharmacist - I have a DC with ADHD ( and affected by the drug shortage) and I can’t say just how helpful our community pharmacist has been generally and through this shortage - honestly a total lifeline and just so helpful and kind. The most understanding of all the medical professionals I’ve dealt with! I hope you at least know whilst you try and make a change of job you will also be much appreciated by many!

Rocknrollstar · 21/12/2023 06:28

DP moved from community pharmacy to pharmaceutical journalism but he had always written - school magazine, newsletter for local pharmacists group. Could you move into science teaching? Alternatively, I think you should consider hospital pharmacy or working as a locum where there are not so many responsibilities. Also, large GP surgeries now employ pharmacists to monitor their prescribing and talk to patients about their medications. It might be difficult to change careers without initially losing some of your salary.

erinaceus · 21/12/2023 06:31

Pharmacists in industry can end up in all sorts of roles, not just compliance/regulatory. I knew some in research.

For Big Pharma have a dig around their career websites, and think about whether you have any contacts.

terraced · 21/12/2023 06:38

It depends how much you want or need to earn. I left a teaching career to become a gardener. I earn a lot less and it's tough at times but I wouldn't go back.

cantbecaught · 21/12/2023 06:56

I have no suggestions as I don't know your field but just to say this thread has given me a whole new respect and appreciation for pharmacists. You are undervalued as a profession. I had never realised how stressful your job is. It carries a huge weight of responsibility. So thank you for highlighting this and I hope you find your way to a less stressful career.

Original poster
tooneedyme · 21/12/2023 07:51

pinkdelight · 20/12/2023 23:36

You can look all this stuff up of course - his to get into medical writing, compliance in big pharma etc. Mumsnet is great for advice and support but you have a Masters, it's not that hard to look into it all, see what the qualifications and salaries are and whether they're of interest to you.

Not always Google with best answers though often it's a contact or someone who has dis this before woth best advice.

OP posts:
Original poster
tooneedyme · 21/12/2023 07:52

coxesorangepippin · 21/12/2023 02:10

What the pp said - research isn't your forte eh

Go Google these jobs and apply!

Very helpful foe ones self confidence. Personal experience is often more helpful than Google hence why I asked.

OP posts:
Original poster
tooneedyme · 21/12/2023 07:54

FaiIureToLunch · 20/12/2023 23:51

She isn’t exactly displaying any decent research skills though 😂

OP you’ve been given plenty good suggestions now go and go some Googling and research your own career options!

Show quote history

Thanks for the very helpful comment it really flattened my self confidence. Often personal experience can give better insight than a quick Google hence why I asked.

OP posts:
GMsAWinner · 21/12/2023 08:00

Hope you manage to find another job that suits you. We struggle to keep staff on our whole pharmacy team - often have to get locum pharmacists from miles away, who often get caught in traffic and are late - staff who go to work on the counter, soon leave to work in another area of our organisation with less pay. It's all down to the pressure and, in particular, the amount of abuse and lack of respect the whole team get - customers and patients don't realise how lucky they are to actually have someone the other side of the counter.