Call from CVS!

[AmandiLee]

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A few weeks ago I talked to the pharmacist at the CVS next to where I work now and asked if she had any pharmacy tech positions open. There aren't many positions at all around here since we have a pharmacy school (VCU) within 20 minutes of here and they prefer to use the students for summer work, so I wasn't very hopeful. However, the pharmacist was very encouraging, and even though she didn't have any open tech positions, she said she would speak with other local CVS's and see what they had open.

So, I checked my voicemail today and had a message from a pharmacist at another CVS asking if I was still interested in a job there. And from what I've heard, it's a bit hard to get into a CVS without tech certification, so I'll be really happy if I get this job. The pharmacist works the evening shift, so I can't call her back until 6, but I'm optimistic! 😀

Oh, and another really great thing I found out. The pharmacist I originally talked to is in charge of placing the pharmacy interns at VCU, and she's also on the board of admissions, so score one for making connections!

 

[aboveliquidice]

if you do land that job - make sure to reintroduce yourself with a thank you... Face time with a ADCOM member is definitely a positive thing.

~above~

 

[eddie269]

And don't be late! 😀

Talk about getting a letter of rec from a member on the admissions committee. Good luck.

 

[StringTheorist]

thats wonderful!!! congrats.... networking is everything nowadays 😀 have fun!

 

[AmandiLee]

Thanks! I have an interview on Saturday! 😀

 

[AMO69657]

wow good luck!

 

[117296]

And don't be late! 😀

Talk about getting a letter of rec from a member on the admissions committee. Good luck.

Some schools don't take LOR from someone on the ADCOM if you are applying to that school. They view it as a conflict of interest. However, it does look good to other schools.

Just some food for thought!

 

[luckyPharmD.stu]

Geez...you just killed two birds with one stone...congrats, anyways. 😀 I, on the other hand, am still searching for a job despite applying in 10 different locations...😡

 

[AmandiLee]

I got the job!! But I have to go through their training program before I can start working. Does anyone have any experience with this program? The pharmacist said that after my drug test, she would need to sign me up for classes, and I'm probably a dunce, but I'm trying to figure out how exactly I am going to be trained.

 

[asc05]

My CVS training program as a tech was actually only 1 day (about 8 hours) long. From what I remember, you go over all the CVS policies, do all the HIPPA training (on their computers), and get general instructions on things like filling rxs and running the cash register. My first month at CVS (as a PSA) all we did was run the cash registers and kind of slowly built up to more responsibilities.

 

[AmandiLee]

Yeah, I thought training would be really short, but she did say "we'll sign you up for classes," leading me to believe that mine is going to be more than a day. I know that right now that CVS only has one pharmacy tech working 40 hours a week and he's going to college when school starts, and thus I am going to be the only tech working.

 

[rxlynn]

Yeah, I thought training would be really short, but she did say "we'll sign you up for classes," leading me to believe that mine is going to be more than a day. I know that right now that CVS only has one pharmacy tech working 40 hours a week and he's going to college when school starts, and thus I am going to be the only tech working.

After the introductory ones mentioned by the poster above, there is a series (I think it might be 3 now) of classes (mostly computer based) that give you more training on inventory, prescription processing, insurance, etc. The tech trainer in our district usually tries to have a live class if she has enough new people at the same time to justify it, and then you also work through the CD-roms. But, you probably won't do all this when you first start - I think corporate likes new techs to get through it in 6 months.

 

[No1 Pusher]

How much are they paying you? If you dont mind..

 

[AmandiLee]

I'm getting kind of confused. My new boss said I will be doing training/classes for the rest of the summer and won't even be able to work until around when I start school. I don't see how three classes could take that long.

And I don't know how much I'm making yet, we didn't go over that (we won't until the background check and drug test are over).

 

[Doctor M]

The training is not a big deal. You will learn all you need to know by actually doing the work. To be honest, the training is a waste of time in my opinion. But whatever! Good luck and have fun at work!

Dr.M

 

[aboveliquidice]

Congrats!!!

 

[No1 Pusher]

I'm getting kind of confused. My new boss said I will be doing training/classes for the rest of the summer and won't even be able to work until around when I start school. I don't see how three classes could take that long.

And I don't know how much I'm making yet, we didn't go over that (we won't until the background check and drug test are over).

what is the "training classes"?

do you sit in a class or something?

 

[AmandiLee]

what is the "training classes"?

do you sit in a class or something?

I have no idea. The pharmacist didn't say "training classes," though. She said that we had to get me signed up for classes and then I'd start training. I have a feeling that I will be sitting in a class, and the plural leads me to believe there'll be more than one. Our local community college has a mini Pharm Tech certification program that has an affiliation with CVS, so I was thinking that might be what she's talking about, especially since I have about two months until they'll have any hours available for me to work. I don't know- but I guess I'll find out soon enough.

 

[rxpharmtech]

tech training for cvs is a computer based program that you go thru cd's and do practice scenarios and learn policies and how to use the computer. it is pretty efficient, but make sure if you are going to stop the cd 1/2 way thru u start again on the same computer. after u go thru a module the pharmacist will call in the completion code to corporate. good luck and enjoy

 

[No1 Pusher]

Is it possible to skip the training classes if the technician has enough knowledge of the daily grind? And just take the CVS Tech exam if there is such thing.

To the OP, Im speculating that CVS will start you (non certified) off at $7-9/hr?

How come CVS pay so 👎? The Stop & Shop Pharmacy here starts at $10/hr. for non certified techs.
Is CVS the walmart of all pharmacies? Walmart will hire illegal aliens for a cheap rate.
CVS cheap? Or could it be my district only... Oh well.

 

[crzyUCIstudent]

So it's not technically a requirement at certain companies to have a certification? i have an interview tomorrow as well at a local CVS store (but for clerk) but if there's an option to ask for some training to be pharm tech i'd definitely ask them too!

 

[AmandiLee]

So it's not technically a requirement at certain companies to have a certification? i have an interview tomorrow as well at a local CVS store (but for clerk) but if there's an option to ask for some training to be pharm tech i'd definitely ask them too!

I'm not a certified tech, and I've never been a tech before, but CVS is starting me right in that program/position. I don't even have to start as a Pharmacy Service Associate. I'm not sure why exactly, but I'm not complaining.

 

[AmandiLee]

To the OP, Im speculating that CVS will start you (non certified) off at $7-9/hr?

I'm not sure how much CVS starts their non-certified techs at. I do know a tech in this area (Richmond, VA) that works at CVS who is also not certified yet and he makes about $12/hour. I'm not sure if that's unusual or not, though.

I don't think I'll start at that much, however, because I told the pharmacist straight out that I have another job for the summer where I make $10/hour (with no taxes taken out, how I do love contract labor) and that I'm just doing this for the experience. I honestly don't care if they give me $5.15/hour- I've never worked during school before, so any income is more than I was previously getting.