The pharmaceutical industry is responsible for manufacturing drugs. These drugs could save lives, prevent diseases and some are preventative medicines. From a simple aspirin pill to serums and anti-cancer drugs, all produced by pharmaceutical companies big and small. A pharmacist, following the doctor’s order, must dispense certain drugs. About 250,000 pharmacists are employed in clinics, hospitals, internet pharmacies, drugstores, and mail order system. Self employed pharmacists earn more than employed pharmacists do.
According to the survey, more than 300,000 pharmacy jobs were filled in January 2010 in seven states alone including Illinois, NC, Texas, Pennsylvania, California, and Indiana and NJ. These states have the most concentrated pharmacy jobs in one location. The FDA regulates the pharmaceutical industry. Let us see what jobs to look at in the pharmaceutical industry.
As mentioned on the outset, many have turned to technical jobs and related professions in the industry. There are many pharmacy jobs like researchers, technicians, and engineers that are waiting for you. Some of these employees test new drugs and do research to make better drugs. They are biological technicians, chemists, veterinarians, biologists and doctors. These scientists study and test drugs and ascertain they are safe for human use. For approval, this drug is presented to the FDA. After the approval then the drug technicians, engineers and pharmacists prepare for the mass production of the drug. Drugs can come in many forms including gas, liquid, syrup, or gas.
Drug production today is highly automated. The pharmaceutical operators are responsible for operating the machines which there are many of in the production areas in every production stages. Here are some of them: the compounders are in charge of treatment of chemicals to make powder or creams. Granulators operate machines that break down large chemicals to smaller sizes. The compressors operate machines to compress chemicals and ingredients to press them to make tablets. Quality assurance officers weigh and inspect finished products and determine that the tablet meets company standards. The ampoule machine operators on the other hand operate machines that fill ampoules with liquid drugs and bottles. The QA officer for ampoules inspects the ampoules and the contents.
There are pharmacy jobs in the manufacturing plant as well. They represent the final stages in the production processes. These are shippers, quality control managers, maintenance, and packaging. Procurement managers and clerks are needed in the manufacturing plant as well. If you have sales skills, you can be medical sales representative or detailers. Detailers’ job is to market the products to doctors, and
Pharmacists, check the drugs’ expiration, and replace them when necessary.
Pharmacy jobs education and training requirements varies. It all depends which job you want. Many pharmaceutical companies offer training for new employees. While some of the jobs mentioned here are taught at school, there is job training you have to undergo and it is learned on the job.
In the production and maintenance jobs, a high school diploma will suffice. These workers are trained on the job and start out as helpers while they observe how their seniors do things. The technicians should finish a program a 2 year college in science and technology. These technicians may start as assistants in the lab, until they can fill the job. In the engineering, pharmacist and science positions, a bachelor’s degree or higher is required. If you have experience and know other languages besides English, it is a big plus.
The outlook for pharmacy jobs is excellent. A huge increase of about 27% is projected until the next 5 years so there is good news for the career changers and newly graduates.
Self-assessment of personal skills, knowledge, and abilities is the first step in choosing a career. Once you have determined that, you have to explore your options to match your interests and personality. There are many ways to research for jobs and most of these services are free of charge. If you have the patience to research and plan the career possibilities that you want you will be able to acquire all the necessary requirements to fulfill your long term goals. After all the requirements needed for the job are fulfilled you will be able to write your resume and prepare for the interview.
You can find more job listings in pharmacy jobs by visiting PharmaceuticalCrossing.com and sign up for a risk free trial today to find jobs that are just right for you!
