Years Experience: 10-19 years (Canada)

I didn't get where I am today just by doing what I'm supposed to or expected to do. I go beyond that. I worked hard and long to get where I am today. I always made myself the corner stone or pillar of the team. Continually striving to improve and continually learning. My team sees me as an invaluable member. I am often consulted for many things in pharmacy. I do my best and set high standards for myself beyond what is normally expected of me. I strive to be more involved in the pharmacy and other areas within the store. I also train upcoming pharmacists and technicians. There's nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it. If you know you are capable of expanding your knowledge and role, then do it. Don't wait for someone to come along and hand it to you. Take control of situations you can handle and don't let it slide. Be on top of it. Maintain a level head and calm atmosphere. You'll be amazed at how much that can help others in your team.

Started working in government health care after several years in private sector. This industry is bureaucratic and political. Not for the creative or entrepreneurial.

I had made some incidental errors giving meds and was said to be too laid back, but the big no-no that lost me the best position I had ever had was coming on to a co-worker. That person reported me and then the bottom fell out of my world.

I may still have to face disciplinary action from the professional college which might result in a suspended or discontinued licence.

A good balance is a job you can leave at the office and not always worry how and when the tasks will be done when you are ill or need a break.

I've negotiated for a different title and higher salary and GOT IT! What I was finding is that my company was using "Administrative Assistants" for anyone who was in administration. Based on the level of the executive I worked for and the type of duties I did, I created a profile for similar positions in the area that had better titles. I took it farther and identified the appropriate salary range they needed to compensate me with in order to keep me there. They were receptive to my research and suggestions, and I got the title changed to Executive Assistant for all the Admins working with Execs - and, for myself, I got the increase in salary I was looking for. Be thorough and industry-applicable in your research to get the results you want.

Hello: I worked 8 years to the day for a Company that came after me to change career and work for them. They had a dismal record for safety and accidents and needed experience and knowledge to fix the problem. I worked hard, long hours, weekends and so on for this employer, and, after the first year they were already reaping the benefits of the NEER program. As time passed the numbers got better and they forgot about the reason they sought me out. Given my high salary and the fact they forgot about the past, they wanted to replace me with someone less qualified and save the money. How could they do this without spending a great deal of money? The answer was use of emails and all the wrongs involved with the system, so, beware of emails. An email was sent to a female coworker unknown to me, showing it came from me and sent to her. I was fired on the spot without even the abillity to ask my accusers what and how this may have happened. As I was leaving, my replacement was just coming in the door, what a feeling.

I have learned a great deal from this experience, first beware of emails, second, beware of co workers as they can squash you as easy as snapping their fingers.

I won my wrongful dismissal suit, but paid a high cost with my health and personal well being. If you suspect your boss wants to get rid of you for lesser money, approach him or her and confirm this. If it is the case, work out a settlement and be on your way, as if not, it is going to take place anyway.

Take care, thank you for the forum to share this.

Be factual. Do NOT use emotions (i. e., bought a new house)for argument.

I am a retired nurse. For eight years, I provided a long-time friend ailing with cancer and other illnesses with all manner of support, as a nurse would to any person confined to a wheel chair, managed household accounts, managed other staff hired both to relieve me and for specific duties such as heavy housework, gardening and maintenance. For that, I never received more than minimum wage, nor any bonuses or enhanced pay for working on Christmas, New Years, Éaster, etc. I was even paid substantially less than the relief workers, who cared for my former employer in my absence despite my vastly superior qualifications, experience and duties. My employer has since been moved out of province by two of her daughters, who are unhappy that I asked my employer to give me as a sort of severance package, the equivalent of a dollar an hour for each of the 45,000 hours I worked over that time. The daughters are now asking that I return this money, although this was no financial hardship on my friend who is extremely wealthy. They are complaining that it is costing a great deal more to keep their mother in her new home and need the money. Of course it is costing them more. They are paying staff more than double what I was paid. I am very fond of my friend and sorry that this has caused such issues with her children. I am thinking of returning some of the money. I could well use it, but I can also live without it. If I do this, I will also send an accounting of the difference between what I was paid for my services against the going rate for the period to underline my position that I was only asking for my fair due, and not taking advantage of my friend. I would like to know if anyone else out there has had a similar experience.

Be firm and assertive when discussing numbers. Show that you're confident and truly believe that you are worth every penny.

Review your financial situation and set a clear compensation goal (salary, bonus, shares, etc.) prior to the 1st interview.