Best time to call retail stores asking for openings?

[glory4england]

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Hey guys, I'm going to be entering pharmacy school this fall in Houston and is looking for a part time tech position. I'm mainly going to look around the rural areas of Houston since its unlikely I'll find anything in Houston. I figure the best way to do this would be just calling up the pharmacies and ask instead of going through the applications like CVS and Walgreens have. Is this correct? And if so, what is the best time to call up and ask? I don't want to call up during rush hour and bother them and make a bad impression. And since I'm in Dallas for the summer, I can't make the trip in person unless its for an interview or something similar.

Finally, any advice? lol I know the market sucks right now, but there can't be anyone else willing to drive 45 minutes to rural Texas or work Fri/Sat graveyard shifts right... right... 😛

^^

 

[Allure]

If you plan to work for CVS or Walgreen's, you have to fill out an application online. For Walgreens, when you apply online, all the stores in the area will be able to see your application and will call you for an interview. As for CVS, you can only apply to one store. I only have personal experiences with these two chains. I applied for Walgreens many years ago, way before I started pharmacy school, and I got 3 calls within a couple of days. I applied for CVS a few months ago and the DM called me. You should also look into local hospitals. I also applied for my hospital job online and also got that job. Everything is online now and they prefer it that way.

I don't really like the idea of calling pharmacies to ask for jobs. It just seems weird to me, but if you must do it...I think you should call early in the morning. Don't call around 4-7PM.

 

[SoonerPharmD]

i work at WAG and tell everybody to apply online. plus, if you haven't worked in a pharmacy yet, then i wouldn't suggest going to school and trying to hold down a part-time job at the same time. but if you need the money, then it's a different story. school will take up most of your time, and the time you do have off, you'll want to spend with family and friends.

 

[goldennemesis]

I hate hate hate online applications. Call me old-fashioned, but I like paper applications that you have to walk in and ask for. I have never gotten a job I have applied online for. I have been hired because I walked in and asked for an application. We are too willing to forego face-to-face interaction in the interest of expediency.

I would recommend seeking out independent pharmacies to apply to. In my experience they are much more approachable, and there are many, many advantages to the owner working at the pharmacy.

 

[Sparda29]

Generally the best time of year to ask for openings is in August-September because all the interns and youngin techs go back to school.

 

[solzont]

I hate hate hate online applications. Call me old-fashioned, but I like paper applications that you have to walk in and ask for. I have never gotten a job I have applied online for. I have been hired because I walked in and asked for an application. We are too willing to forego face-to-face interaction in the interest of expediency.

I would recommend seeking out independent pharmacies to apply to. In my experience they are much more approachable, and there are many, many advantages to the owner working at the pharmacy.

Yup. I'm definitely more inclined towards personal relationships when it comes to job seeking. I rarely hear this mentioned but, it's also a time for me to interview my future employer 🙂