There’s a certain something in the air right now, and it’s not just the crisp fall weather – it’s optimism! Optimism at the fact that, at long last, the COVID-19 pandemic is mostly getting under control and vaccination levels across Canada continue to rise. Whereas last year at this time we were looking down the barrel of a long, cold, dark winter in lockdown, it certainly seems that we’ll be able to enjoy some semblance of normalcy for the rest of 2021 into 2022. And this is very, very good news for healthcare workers, including pharmacy employees!
At RPI Consulting Group, we’re seeing a very strong demand for pharmacy workers – much stronger than we were in the first half of the year, and it’s a very good time to be a pharmacist, pharmacy manager, pharmacy assistant, or registered pharmacy technician (RPhT). In this article, we’re going to look at the reasons why this is, but don’t forget to check our blog every day for hot job opportunities and healthcare news.
More positions, more opportunities
First and foremost, there are far more opportunities available to pharmacy workers now than there were in previous years, and COVID-19 has also presented more opportunities as well. Many of RPI’s clients are hiring pharmacists for roles beyond simply working in a pharmacy, such as in an office setting working for a virtual pharmacy, or even as COVID-19 vaccine administrators. For these reasons, there really is no better time than right now to seek out a new job if you’re in the market for a fresh start, or if you’ve been out of work for the last few months to a year. Pharmacist wages are as high as we’ve ever seen them, and right now they’re comparable to what we were seeing as far back as 2008. In addition, we’re seeing our clients offer a number of perks and benefits, including:
- Paid lunches and breaks (this is less common in the pharmacy industry than you might think);
- Clients are paying for all necessary expenses for travel assignments, including flights, rental cars, meals, licensing fees, and more;
- Signing bonuses for long-term or full-time contracts are much more common than they have been in the past
On top of this, our clients who are located in more rural parts of the country are essentially offering skilled candidates a ‘blank check’ to have them come and work for them. If you present a realistic and fair figure, chances are that it will be accepted!
It should be noted, however, that not every single client will offer what we’ve mentioned above, but the percentage is much higher than it was in the past – whereas last year we might have had 1 in 20 clients on board with this, the number is now closer to 7 or 8 out of 20. In addition, now that travel is by-and-large possible again, pharmacy owners, managers, and employees will be looking to take vacations, and in many cases will request that RPI helps them cover the work that they’ll be missing.
In closing
We can’t stress this enough – any and all pharmacists or other pharmacy employees who are out of work should take advantage of the deluge of opportunities that we currently have available at RPI! We can help you find work close to home, or out-of-province. We can help you find work in a big city, or in a quiet town located in cottage country. Just be sure that you don’t miss out! Contact our team of friendly Account Managers today, and tell us what you’re looking for!
