I come seeking advice

DrDubzz · 01-14-2010, 09:46 PM

Alright asylum, I have a potential dilemma, and I'd like some impartial input on the matter.
Preface: I graduate from pharmacy school 4 months from today, and I'm not sure what to do for employment, but I have options.

As I posted in the troops room, I am trying to join the Air Force (was Navy, but that changed for financial reasons

) to be a pharmacist. It has always been a dream of mine to serve, which makes this a great opportunity both for the pride of service and the professional experience (Air Force pharmacy is an excellent practice setting). As it stands now, I have submitted all paper work, done my physical and am waiting on an Interview and medical approval from the surgeon general. Hopefully everything will be wrapped up (including being selected or not) by the end of Feb. - I would enter as O-3.

OR

The other option is this - back in July I did a rural rotation at an independently owned pharmacy in a small town (15K) about an hour from Amarillo. The owner and I really hit it off (he's younger, 42 I believe) and he basically said I was the best student he had had through there, etc etc.
But he had a second pharmacist at the time (my preceptor actually). About two weeks after my rotation was done she turned in her 30 days notice. This shocked him, but opened a door for me. That was in august, and he still hasn't hired anyone to fill that spot.
He has offered me the job, good pay, all the benefits etc.
Now, I'm not crazy about the town, but it's not that big of a deal, it is, however really far away from both my family and my wife's. This is all secondary though, because houses average 60 or so dollar a square foot and we can get a nice sized house for "cheap" and family can visit any time.

The real catch is, he wants to sell the pharmacy in the next 10 years, and he would want me to buy it. Now, that sounds great, and really it is, BUT... while the money would be excellent I would be married to the job. We're talking 60-80 hour weeks, lots of stress, managing a large business (the pharmacy has a large Home Health department and a radioshack), etc etc.

So (and that's the abbreviated version), I'm trying to figure out what to do. I still think the AF is my first choice, but this other opportunity almost doesn't exist anymore. The big chains have killed the little guy, most independents are selling out or have gone out of business. This pharmacy has the infrastructure to last the duration, but I would be stuck in a small town in the middle of nowhere for...a while.

Now, that all said, if you were me, how would you approach this? Short term, the money wouldn't be appreciably different. Long term - Military has great retirement as you may know, but I would earn less in the mean time. I would make a great deal more owning the pharmacy, and would, presumably, make a good amount of coin when I finally sell it. Money is not everything though, I always vowed I would never be married to work. So, if you will, lend me your advice. I'm 26 and have never had a full time job for longer than 3 months at a time (summers), I've been a student non-stop since Pre-school.

01-14-2010, 09:46 PM	#1
DrDubzz Formerly RX2010 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tim Location: Virginia Posts: 2,201 Trading: (34)	I come seeking advice Alright asylum, I have a potential dilemma, and I'd like some impartial input on the matter. Preface: I graduate from pharmacy school 4 months from today, and I'm not sure what to do for employment, but I have options. As I posted in the troops room, I am trying to join the Air Force (was Navy, but that changed for financial reasons ) to be a pharmacist. It has always been a dream of mine to serve, which makes this a great opportunity both for the pride of service and the professional experience (Air Force pharmacy is an excellent practice setting). As it stands now, I have submitted all paper work, done my physical and am waiting on an Interview and medical approval from the surgeon general. Hopefully everything will be wrapped up (including being selected or not) by the end of Feb. - I would enter as O-3. OR The other option is this - back in July I did a rural rotation at an independently owned pharmacy in a small town (15K) about an hour from Amarillo. The owner and I really hit it off (he's younger, 42 I believe) and he basically said I was the best student he had had through there, etc etc. But he had a second pharmacist at the time (my preceptor actually). About two weeks after my rotation was done she turned in her 30 days notice. This shocked him, but opened a door for me. That was in august, and he still hasn't hired anyone to fill that spot. He has offered me the job, good pay, all the benefits etc. Now, I'm not crazy about the town, but it's not that big of a deal, it is, however really far away from both my family and my wife's. This is all secondary though, because houses average 60 or so dollar a square foot and we can get a nice sized house for "cheap" and family can visit any time. The real catch is, he wants to sell the pharmacy in the next 10 years, and he would want me to buy it. Now, that sounds great, and really it is, BUT... while the money would be excellent I would be married to the job. We're talking 60-80 hour weeks, lots of stress, managing a large business (the pharmacy has a large Home Health department and a radioshack), etc etc. So (and that's the abbreviated version), I'm trying to figure out what to do. I still think the AF is my first choice, but this other opportunity almost doesn't exist anymore. The big chains have killed the little guy, most independents are selling out or have gone out of business. This pharmacy has the infrastructure to last the duration, but I would be stuck in a small town in the middle of nowhere for...a while. Now, that all said, if you were me, how would you approach this? Short term, the money wouldn't be appreciably different. Long term - Military has great retirement as you may know, but I would earn less in the mean time. I would make a great deal more owning the pharmacy, and would, presumably, make a good amount of coin when I finally sell it. Money is not everything though, I always vowed I would never be married to work. So, if you will, lend me your advice. I'm 26 and have never had a full time job for longer than 3 months at a time (summers), I've been a student non-stop since Pre-school.