Starting pharmtech job...please offer advice

sunnys · May 6, 2011

I am starting a pharmacy tech job in a couple weeks at a retail pharmacy that works alongside a clinic. Could you offer some advice on being a good pharm tech and things I should prepare myself for. I plan on getting certified in a couple months. Thanks for your help!

crazybob · May 6, 2011

sunnys said:
I am starting a pharmacy tech job in a couple weeks at a retail pharmacy that works alongside a clinic. Could you offer some advice on being a good pharm tech and things I should prepare myself for. I plan on getting certified in a couple months. Thanks for your help!

What kinds of previous work experience do you have?

owlegrad · May 6, 2011

I really should save this somewhere rather than retyping it each time.

Attitude: It's a service industry. Customer happy = You winning. If you can't wrap your head around the idea that making the customer happy is your job, you probably will never enjoy it.

Some tips: Keep a cool head. Do not let angry customers upset you. Just do your job and do it well. Take some pride in a job well done. (Job well done = happy customer)

I always say this, I wonder if anyone does it? Keep a notepad in your pocket. Anytime someone shows you how to do something, write it down. Everyone's time is valuable, do not waste theirs by making them show you the same thing twice.

Do not be overwhelmed by a line. You can only do one thing at a time, so do that much only. It is nice to greet people as they come up though. Do not feel rushed into making a mistake.

Be proactive! I can't even tell you what a difference this makes. Apply it everywhere. Do not wait until a customer comes to pickup a med to let them know their insurance rejected. Do not wait until someone is complain about the wait to tell them you will be right with them. Do not wait for the customer in the drive thru to honk the horn before you tell them it will be a minute before you can help them. I could go on, but I think you get it. The difference between an easy day and a nightmare is often as simple as being proactive. It makes everyone's day easier if you work proactively.

Congrats and good luck. :luck:

sunnys · May 6, 2011

I've mainly worked on campus in different labs: corn lab, nutrition lab, clinical research lab...never been a pharm tech before. I have experience working with people and I tend to double check things in my research so I don't make a mistake with people. Just a little nervous about handling medications. I hope I do a good job and don't make a mistake.

sunnys · May 6, 2011

owlegrad: Thank you for your advice. I will definitely take notes!

aren't all medical fields service industry, or is pharmacy more so than doctors, nurses, etc?

owlegrad · May 6, 2011

sunnys said:
owlegrad: Thank you for your advice. I will definitely take notes!

aren't all medical fields service industry, or is pharmacy more so than doctors, nurses, etc?

Much moreso. We have drive thrus for goodness sake! Ever had a rectal exam through a window?

But seriously, you will be fine. I think I covered the most important topics: Attitude, Respect, Proactive. Everything else comes with time. Nothing special when it comes to handling meds, any place you work (particularly chains) are going to have many, many safeguards in place to prevent errors.

Oh that's one more thing to add to the list! Do not circumvent the system. I know it sounds stupid, but I guarantee within the first month of working you will meet "super-tech" whose powers include actively circumventing the systems in place to prevent errors. Other powers include the ability to avoid any work as well as the power to shift all blame on to others.

cjflahave · May 8, 2011

owlegrad said:
Much moreso. We have drive thrus for goodness sake! Ever had a rectal exam through a window?

But seriously, you will be fine. I think I covered the most important topics: Attitude, Respect, Proactive. Everything else comes with time. Nothing special when it comes to handling meds, any place you work (particularly chains) are going to have many, many safeguards in place to prevent errors.

Oh that's one more thing to add to the list! Do not circumvent the system. I know it sounds stupid, but I guarantee within the first month of working you will meet "super-tech" whose powers include actively circumventing the systems in place to prevent errors. Other powers include the ability to avoid any work as well as the power to shift all blame on to others.

Some days I get stuck filling all the 360 count scripts...

hyperlycomatose · May 8, 2011

I've been trying to get a job as a pharm tech before taking my certification because I feel I'd be more prepared with on hands experience first. What company do you work for? I've tried CVS and Walgreens? Is it different for individual locations if they accept pharm techs without certifications?

sunnys · May 11, 2011

Well I learned about the position through a pre-pharmacy club announcement...they didn't put the job listing online. The announcement said they would be willing to train so I went ahead and applied for it. I work for Hyvee grocery store and will be starting at 8.50, which I think is super low...oh well. some good experience at least.

owlegrad · May 11, 2011

sunnys said:
Well I learned about the position through a pre-pharmacy club announcement...they didn't put the job listing online. The announcement said they would be willing to train so I went ahead and applied for it. I work for Hyvee grocery store and will be starting at 8.50, which I think is super low...oh well. some good experience at least.

Ouch. Just keep telling yourself that it is good experience. Also, with some experience you can try "trade up" to a higher paying job.

Congrats and good luck. :luck:

Niosh · May 11, 2011

sunnys said:
Well I learned about the position through a pre-pharmacy club announcement...they didn't put the job listing online. The announcement said they would be willing to train so I went ahead and applied for it. I work for Hyvee grocery store and will be starting at 8.50, which I think is super low...oh well. some good experience at least.

I quit working at a Hy-Vee Drugstore after 6 years. I was making 10.00/hr when I quit. Also, no benefits. Minimum wage was 5.15 when I started though so I think you got a good leg up when they increased that.

I now work in a hospital making significantly more, plus health insurance, PTO, proper work differential/holiday comp. I feel that my experience at HyVee did really help me get my job now. So yeah, it should be some excellent experience for you.

sunnys · May 12, 2011

I would think that they should pay pharm tech good wages....I mean these are people who are handling all the medications! plus with all that pharmacists get paid, does a dollar or two more per hour for a pharm tech really make that much difference.

30Percent · May 12, 2011

sunnys said:
I would think that they should pay pharm tech good wages....I mean these are people who are handling all the medications! plus with all that pharmacists get paid, does a dollar or two more per hour for a pharm tech really make that much difference.

That's not how it works. Businesses are out to maximize their profits. With the economy this way I think there will be plenty of people who would take a minimum wage pharm tech job to get in the door.

sunnys · May 12, 2011

Do admissions people care how many hours/ months...you have worked as a pharmacy technician? Is there some number they might be looking for or just looking to see that the person understand the workings of a pharmacy.

crazybob · May 12, 2011

sunnys said:
Do admissions people care how many hours/ months...you have worked as a pharmacy technician? Is there some number they might be looking for or just looking to see that the person understand the workings of a pharmacy.

What you have learned and the skills you have obtained from your experience is more valuable than how long you have worked.

You may have worked half as much as the guy next to you at the interviews, but if you know more than the other guy, that says a lot.

sunnys · Jun 9, 2011

So the first couple weeks were pretty good, but I am starting to not like retail pharmacy anymore. Standing for long periods at one place just gets so tiresome. A million things going on at once and pretty noisy too. Plus I am not doing anything with the drugs yet, just learning to use the computer/cash register. I hope it gets better though. I feel I should stick with it a while, at least it will be a learning experience, even if I may not necessarily enjoy it. What do you think?

Also, this is just part of my personality where after a few hours of being social/talking to people...I just want to go somewhere quiet and hide and work on stuff. Anyways the pharmaceutical science is very interesting to me, if people have suggestions on other pharmacy paths I should look into that would be great. Thanks!

R2pharmD2 · Jun 9, 2011

sunnys said:
So the first couple weeks were pretty good, but I am starting to not like retail pharmacy anymore. Standing for long periods at one place just gets so tiresome. A million things going on at once and pretty noisy too. Plus I am not doing anything with the drugs yet, just learning to use the computer/cash register. I hope it gets better though. I feel I should stick with it a while, at least it will be a learning experience, even if I may not necessarily enjoy it. What do you think?

Also, this is just part of my personality where after a few hours of being social/talking to people...I just want to go somewhere quiet and hide and work on stuff. Anyways the pharmaceutical science is very interesting to me, if people have suggestions on other pharmacy paths I should look into that would be great. Thanks!

Whenever I've started a new job, there has always been an adjustment period where I was a bit miserable, even at jobs that I eventually liked quite a bit. I would definitely recommend sticking it out. If nothing else, your experience will be a positive thing when you go to apply for pharmacy school. After gaining some pharmacy experience in retail, you might find it easier to get a hospital tech position as well, if that's something you're interested in.

Starting pharmtech job...please offer advice

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