Years Experience: 5-9 years (United States)

This job is great for someone looking to have the last 5-10 years before retirement.

I now finally realize that being a certified pharmacy technician is a joke. It took me 8 years and $8,000 to realize it, but now I do. We are treated like crap by pharmacists, look down at by nurses and physicians (which would be semi worth it if our pay wasn't such crap), our job is demanding and you need to be sharp and smart, but we get paid crap, no matter how many years of experience you have. But as soon as something is wrong, they are quick to blame the pharmacy technician. I've decided...enough is enough and I'm getting out while I still have my sanity and can still put a smile on my face. I'm leaving an oncology practice as a pharmacy technician to go and sell make-up at a Macy's counter for more money and better hours. My advice is...if you're fed-up and unhappy...make that change.

Employer has implemented salary freezes for the last several years. It would seem the only way to maintain fair pay is to change positions or employers, as there have been no merit-based or market-based salary adjustments. Bonuses, when earned by exemplary performance, appear to be considerably less than could be earned by expending the same energy and effort on a second job.

5 years ago I was at the same company I am at now, but I was a Customer Service Rep. with not even high school diploma and no experience in the Jewelry Industry. Now I'm a Graduate Gemologist, and head of Estate & Antique Jewelry Research. In order to climb the company ladder in this industry you have to participate in everything you possibly can even if it has nothing to do with your position at the time. This will build trust and confidence with the employer so that when the time comes they will know who they can turn to for the most important tasks. This quality will also give you the leveridge you need to negotiate raises in the future. Always be trustworthy, honest and respectful Never burn bridges because you never know who you will need to call, the jewelry industry is all about relationships make sure to constantly make new ones and sustain the ones you already have! Hope this advice helps someone!

If you are ambitious, well educated, have a passion for fairness and justice, want to make a contribution to a better world, run from this job. Government managers will do anything and everything to drive out passion, independent thought, innovation. Ambition is seen as a threat. It is all about the pecking order except when it is about blatant favoritism. Things are done because they have always been done this way. If you want to work for change, do not go here. Too many people get into this field because their parents actually pass down the business to them. Licensing requirements make breaking in tough.

Keep this in the back of your mind knowing that there are more engineers than there are technicians in this field and employer will find it difficult to hire experienced technicians.

I am not happy living just average and I am sure we were not put on this earth to just to the basic. We are suppose to push our minds, our bodies and spirts to reach the highest level we can reach.

I am 45 years old and still in pursuit of finishing my education. I will not give up. I have invisioned myself graduating from college and working in the field I desire. My advice to all is keep the dream alive and make it happen. Even if you take one class at a time. You can never have the salary you want if you do not finish your education. Keep shooting for higher and dont settle.

All staff under me are seasonal employees, however, though years of coaching and developing, I have built a structured team with an Assistant Director, area manager and strong team leaders and have them manage their own locations. Life has been much easier with those seasoned and competent team leaders in my work.

I had only been with the company less then a year and advanced two times. My second advancement with the company was the icing on the cake. There were no position advancement within my field but after searching for a new job within the company and sending in my transfer my manager, not wanting to loose me, created a new position with new title and new salary. It was awesome because I truly didn't want to leave my department. I came in and worked hard and asked for more work and gave extra time and my manager saw my dedication and hard work and it paid off. So don't think you can't move up if there is no position to move into if they really want to keep you they will create one. I also showed how much more I was going to be making if I transfered so they gave me more then that.

There's stable amount of engineering work around Hampton Roads due to the presence of the Navy base, the shipyards, Siemmens VDO, NASA, STIHL, and various government contractor temp agencies. All the above companies are still hiring during the recession.