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

[tooneedyme]

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?

Prcurement - drugs and medical equipment. Wholesale to sell on for a large retail chain, an online company, hospital trust etc etc.

You'd need to do some CIPS training and training in contract law. Law degree is not required but specialist knowledge is very useful especially for a product which is so high risk. Lots of procurement professionals have come out of industry. You can expect between £50-£130k depending on the size and seniority of role. At the top end you’d be managing a team of buyers.

If you would find the Law interesting, you could approach a set with an interest in pharmacy/pharmaceuticals and ask them whether your background plus the PG conversion course/GDL would open any opportunities. It's not an easy option, but you could find it fascinating.

You would eventually need pupillage, of course.

Gosh, that sounds horrific. I’m so sorry and also very thankful for what you do. The pharmacy at my local Boots store has several posters up reminding people to be polite and not take out their frustrations on the staff. Has it always been this bad with the public? I work in customer service and have noticed more anger directed our way.

I have to say though, every person I have interacted with at any pharmacy has been calm, polite and efficient. I appreciate all you do.

All you pharmacists need to lobby government to ensure your profession doesn't suffer a massive exodus which damages the UK's population. Fight for better roles.

How much do you need to earn?

Are there any retailer head offices near you? I work for a high street chain which has pharmacies and sells healthcare products and we have a whole team.of pharmacists who sound similar to the PP big pharma job in that they sign off anything which goes into the shops

Honestly, some of the replies on here! She asked for an insight into some real life possible jobs, which could then help in her online research…

As mentioned, I would think medical writing or regulatory affairs could be good options.

PS - Don’t go into teaching!

I am a pharmacist working at the ICB - we have been expanding with new commissioning responsibilities so there have been lots of opportunities. I enjoy working in a team of pharmacists with lots of clinical input to guidance and policy. Hybrid working so some wfh.The structure may be different in Scotland but might be worth investigating.

Pharmaceutical sales?
university lecturer? You don’t need the teaching qualification before you start, you can do it in work time in the first year.

No such thing, pharmacists can legally dispense medication for cats if it is something the vet doesn't have otherwise the vet does this.

I’m in regulatory affairs at a big pharma company. Been in this area for about 25 years. My background is pharmacology but lots of colleagues are pharmacists. I don’t think too many of them have ever worked in community or hospital pharmacy beyond the minimum required. There are a broad number of roles but you obviously cannot just walk into them with no experience. Being a pharmacist doesn’t give you writing skills or a thorough understanding of drug development in a company setting, compliance, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, sales etc. While you are an experienced pharmacist, you have no experience for any of these roles so likely you would be coming in at entry level. Many companies recruit graduates through specific schemes and look for people who have graduated within a few years.

My advice would be to start educating yourself about the different roles in pharma and see what entry level roles might be available. Get yourself on LinkedIn and get in touch with pharma specific recruitment agents, If you are very motivated, you can enrol for conferences/courses to start to develop your knowledge. Someone mentioned above what compliance does. It’s a hell of a lot more beyond signing off marketing material. Generally this is done by a physician according to ABPI.

Take a look at the websites of big pharma companies as this may help and look at jobs advertised on LinkedIn etc. Big companies include Roche, GSK, AZ, Eli Lilly, Pfizer etc. There may also be opportunities with smaller companies.

Finally, do not think you can take a job with these companies, get a good salary and for it to be stress free. The stress can be immense but it can come in peaks and troughs. You do not get paid the big bucks for a stress free life. Many of us earning well with these companies have worked there for a long period of time. The companies want their pound of flesh so the stress is still there. It can be very high on occasion as you rise up through the company and are required to give advice that can result/not result in drugs being developed in wrong way. No such thing as easy money.

Some of these may help.

https://www.abpi.org.uk/careers/

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/science-and-pharmaceuticals/overview-of-the-science-and-pharmaceuticals-sector

https://www.rpharms.com/development/career-support/working-in-the-pharmaceutical-industry

https://www.fpm.org.uk/our-specialty/careers/

@tooneedyme what kind of salary are you looking for?

Pharmaceutical industry - as other posters have mentioned. You might have to start in a lower level role but that doesn’t mean you get a ‘graduate’ salary, they pay for skills and experience.
Clinical research, pharmacovigilance, medical affairs, medical operations, regulatory - search for a company that places people in this sector and take on feedback if you don’t get any roles. In my company you have to be a Dr or Pharmacist to sign off certain documentation that can be shared outside the company.

I’m a pharmacist too, went from community to primary care. I am stressed in a different way but at least people need an appointment to speak to me, I get a lunch break, I only have to focus on one thing at a time, I get to sit down, plus I’m earning £10K more than I was in community. Have also been funded to do extra qualifications and I can take these to other jobs. I’m still not particularly happy but would definitely say it’s been good to leave community just to realise there’s more out there. I’m definitely more confident to apply for other roles now as I don’t feel so pigeon-holed. Feel free to DM me.

Which region of the country do you live in, OP?

I can't find any big pharma companies based in my area

Central belt Scotland near Glasgow

Near Glasgow

I was offered a job in Primary Care a few years ago and turned it down. Don't see myself as an office worker and the shorter work days and lower salary were a finsncial sacrifice. Not sure how able Iam to complete the IP course which is necessary. All that being said it might be a better pathway than what Iam on now.

Physicians associate? 2 years training, better pay than doctors in some cases.

I don’t approve of the role but it would suit and ex pharmacist.

How about becoming an optician.

Have you thought of going into teaching Chemistry? Not amazing pay or conditions apart from holidays that would avoid need of childcare but always in demand! Good luck!

Still a challenging post but a change - pharmacist in a Community MH team. Ours work with psychiatrists, patients and GPs with prescriptions and tritating, meet with patients for reviews (often completing their full 6 month review in lieu of the psychiatrists), involvement in mdts and clinical treatment planning and so on. Also have much more knowledge than the psychiatrists regarding the interplay between psychiatric meds and other meds.

These are completely different jobs and would require complete retraining and then starting at the bottom of the Band 5 pay scale, considering she's dismissing starting at the bottom of Band 6 this is absolutely not an option!!

I can't find any jobs listed in Scotland for this role so would be apprehensive at retraining in a field where there are no vacancies.