CVS Intern Interview

[JanuviaGrl]

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Has anyone ever done a cvs intern interview? I heard they would ask questions relating to drugs, calculations and conversions. I would like to get some info about questions to expect to get me prepared for one. Pls, any input will be very appreciated. Thanks in advance 🙂.

P.S. I will be starting P3 year in the fall...

 

[Old Timer]

Has anyone ever done a cvs intern interview? I heard they would ask questions relating to drugs, calculations and conversions. I would like to get some info about questions to expect to get me prepared for one. Pls, any input will be very appreciated. Thanks in advance 🙂.

P.S. I will be starting P3 year in the fall...

Who will be doing the interview.

 

[JanuviaGrl]

Was told it would be an Intern Coordinator. The pharmacists don't interview interns.

 

[Auriel619]

I'm not sure if it's different for a P3, but for a P1 the interview process was extremely light. I had already worked in the store as a tech for about a year and just to show how much the interview mattered, the Intern Coordinator showed up 40 minutes late with the PIC after they had to stop a fire (metaphorically) in another store.

Just some basic questions for me like why Pharmacy, what do you want to get out of it, etc.

There were like 4 questions and the rest of the time was them talking about my add'l responsibilities as an intern.

 

[Old Timer]

Was told it would be an Intern Coordinator. The pharmacists don't interview interns.

That depends on the area. I hired two interns this summer, one from SDN and one was a walk in. So it's not like that company wide. We do use the intern coordinator when we don't get any applicants on our own. With three pharmacy schools in town, it's usually easy to get applicants.

 

[daabc]

Has anyone ever done a cvs intern interview? I heard they would ask questions relating to drugs, calculations and conversions. I would like to get some info about questions to expect to get me prepared for one. Pls, any input will be very appreciated. Thanks in advance 🙂.

P.S. I will be starting P3 year in the fall...

In my pharmacy, when a tech/psa gets into a pharmacy school, they just ask to be promoted to intern. As long as you have been working for the company, probably not very hard.

 

[CVSstinks]

Don't do it... Unless you plan to absolutely sign with them later, you are just wasting your time being underpaid as an intern for them. Trust me, I know from experience.

 

[bacillus1]

Don't do it... Unless you plan to absolutely sign with them later, you are just wasting your time being underpaid as an intern for them. Trust me, I know from experience.

So would you rather have her not work at all? Especially if her state requires intern hours?

She's going to be a P3, and therefore it's pretty hard for her to get hired anywhere. Might as well do CVS.

 

[Style]

Has anyone ever done a cvs intern interview? I heard they would ask questions relating to drugs, calculations and conversions. I would like to get some info about questions to expect to get me prepared for one. Pls, any input will be very appreciated. Thanks in advance 🙂.

P.S. I will be starting P3 year in the fall...

Yes to have done interview. No to Q about drugs, calcs, conversions.

 

[JanuviaGrl]

That depends on the area. I hired two interns this summer, one from SDN and one was a walk in. So it's not like that company wide. We do use the intern coordinator when we don't get any applicants on our own. With three pharmacy schools in town, it's usually easy to get applicants.

Oh. So what kind of questions do you ask during the interview. I have only started working at an independent pharmacy about 2 weeks now. I have done a month rotation at target and also a month in a hospital. I wanted some experience with a chain pharmacy. I've been to a couple of walgreens and was told by the managers that walgreens is on a hiring freeze. I have been applying to cvs even before I got into pharmacy school. I almost got hired one time. Did the interview and drug test and the manager told me he would call me to let me know when to start but never did. Each time I called he would tell me he would call me back - countless times. Until I figured he probably didn't want to tell me the position has been filled or something.

I hope I get the intern position this time.

 

[JanuviaGrl]

Don't do it... Unless you plan to absolutely sign with them later, you are just wasting your time being underpaid as an intern for them. Trust me, I know from experience.

I just need the experience. I don't want to graduate without a chain pharmacy experience, just in case I get a job offer. I don't want to start work as a pharmacist feeling completely like a fish out of water. Walgreens is on a hiring freeze at this time.

 

[JanuviaGrl]

In my pharmacy, when a tech/psa gets into a pharmacy school, they just ask to be promoted to intern. As long as you have been working for the company, probably not very hard.

How about someone who hasn't been working for the company, and with not much experience?

 

[Auriel619]

That depends on the area. I hired two interns this summer, one from SDN and one was a walk in. So it's not like that company wide. We do use the intern coordinator when we don't get any applicants on our own. With three pharmacy schools in town, it's usually easy to get applicants.

Hi Old Timer,

It's really intriguing that you knew/hired someone from SDN since among my pharmacy friends it's more of a secret resource/lurkers. Just wondering, did he volunteer that he frequented SDN or did you mention that you are a regular on the site?

 

[CVSstinks]

So would you rather have her not work at all? Especially if her state requires intern hours?

She's going to be a P3, and therefore it's pretty hard for her to get hired anywhere. Might as well do CVS.

Nope. Why not look at the competitors, hospitals, managed care facilities and independents?

 

[CVSstinks]

I just need the experience. I don't want to graduate without a chain pharmacy experience, just in case I get a job offer. I don't want to start work as a pharmacist feeling completely like a fish out of water. Walgreens is on a hiring freeze at this time.

I completely understand. If you are planning on doing retail as a career, make sure you choose a good company. Don't let CVS fool you. They are not doing well financially either. They are cutting tech hours (as they always do). Your hours don't contribute to store use so they will use you. Just be aware that there are are higher paying positions in less demanding places (ie grocery stores, Kaiser, and possibly some hospitals). Just a thought.
Also bear in mind that during November of next year your retail employer typically offers to hire you. Why not do so at a better employer?

Good luck.

 

[Old Timer]

Hi Old Timer,

It's really intriguing that you knew/hired someone from SDN since among my pharmacy friends it's more of a secret resource/lurkers. Just wondering, did he volunteer that he frequented SDN or did you mention that you are a regular on the site?

I posted a request on the SDN for students in the Philly area and got one that way.

 

[Old Timer]

If you work for CVS and you are in Pharmacy school in the P1-P4 you are automatically an Intern. There is no "internship".

 

[museabuse]

If you work for CVS and you are in Pharmacy school in the P1-P4 you are automatically an Intern. There is no "internship".

that is not true in my area. There is an intern program and this year you had to have an interview to be promoted into it to become an intern status and get increase in pay. There are only so many budgeted intern hours and there were a lot of techs getting into pharmacy school. So some techs did not get promoted to intern status they remained techs. And of the ones that got into the program they are only allowed 5 hours per week. There were a lot of tech hours cut that there are techs looking for more hours so there arent even tech hours to give interns. There aren't any pharmacist opening so maybe they are trying to weed out the bad early.

Also no body wants to live or work in philly so maybe thats why its different HAHAHAHA!!!!!! Philly went from the 5th larget city to the sixth and probably will continue to fall in population rankings hahaha!!!!

 

[Old Timer]

All I can say is, I'm glad I'm not in your area. In my area of the world, I can hire as many interns as I want and they call get paid the intern rate. So it sucks to be you. As far as Philly goes, you couldn't live in a better place. 90 mins from the shore, 90 minutes from NYC, 3 hrs from DC, 2 hrs from the mountains. One of the best restaurant cities in the country. The history is amazing. So blow off Philly all you want....

that is not true in my area. There is an intern program and this year you had to have an interview to be promoted into it to become an intern status and get increase in pay. There are only so many budgeted intern hours and there were a lot of techs getting into pharmacy school. So some techs did not get promoted to intern status they remained techs. And of the ones that got into the program they are only allowed 5 hours per week. There were a lot of tech hours cut that there are techs looking for more hours so there arent even tech hours to give interns. There aren't any pharmacist opening so maybe they are trying to weed out the bad early.

Also no body wants to live or work in philly so maybe thats why its different HAHAHAHA!!!!!! Philly went from the 5th larget city to the sixth and probably will continue to fall in population rankings hahaha!!!!

 

[museabuse]

So blow off Philly all you want....

Since you and mountainpharmd have been having a love fest lately someone needs to pick on you.

 

[Old Timer]

Since you and mountainpharmd have been having a love fest lately someone needs to pick on you.

I have two daughters. They take care of that no problem...

 

[Old]

All I can say is, I'm glad I'm not in your area. In my area of the world, I can hire as many interns as I want and they call get paid the intern rate. So it sucks to be you. As far as Philly goes, you couldn't live in a better place. 90 mins from the shore, 90 minutes from NYC, 3 hrs from DC, 2 hrs from the mountains. One of the best restaurant cities in the country. The history is amazing. So blow off Philly all you want....

Wondered if they lowered intern wages in the last year there? Also, you can hire as many interns as you want? Seriously I have trouble with that. Go to work this week and hire 12 new interns. No concern about budgeted hours or payroll budget for store. Don't ask any pharm supp, DM or intern coordinator? Those people all want to protect their power and they don't care? They don't want to interview them and make sure they fit the CVS model? Heck, hire 15. It would make the day easier and less stressful. Bet the phone rings for you.

 

[RxMTM]

I was accepted to their program but declined for another company. Their interview was very shallow and consisted of questions like "do you see youself working for CVS in the next ten years?", "why do you like retail?", "What are you going to bring to CVS?". They were all business. Keep in mind that these people don't care about calculations or any other academics that you mentioned. All you have to do is pretend you love everything they ask and give them the answers you think they want. good luck.

 

[Old Timer]

Oh. So what kind of questions do you ask during the interview. I have only started working at an independent pharmacy about 2 weeks now. I have done a month rotation at target and also a month in a hospital. I wanted some experience with a chain pharmacy. I've been to a couple of walgreens and was told by the managers that walgreens is on a hiring freeze. I have been applying to cvs even before I got into pharmacy school. I almost got hired one time. Did the interview and drug test and the manager told me he would call me to let me know when to start but never did. Each time I called he would tell me he would call me back - countless times. Until I figured he probably didn't want to tell me the position has been filled or something.

I hope I get the intern position this time.

I make the general assumption you are smart as you got into pharmacy school. I could care less about what you know about drugs. I look for two things and two things only:

Do you have sechel?
You can be a brainiac with a 4.0 GPA, but if you don't know that you can't tell a customer to f-off, well we need an additional kind of smarts to deal with the public.

Do you have a work ethic?
I need someone who wants the job and wants to work hard. I expect you to take off the day before an exam. If you need two weeks before the exam to study, you should change careers. I need someone who wants to work. Look up Sparda29, see what he does, do the opposite. You need to work the hours and times you agreed to work to get the job, that's why I hired you.

I'll ask questions about what duties you performed at a previous job. About why you chose pharmacy, why you selected the school you went to and general chit chat to see how you stack up on my two qualifications.

This is a trade off. I will work you hard and I expect more form you than from a tech. In return, I train you to be a pharmacist. When I am done with you after three or four years and you walk into a store the first day as a pharmacist, you won't need depends.

 

[Old Timer]

Wondered if they lowered intern wages in the last year there? Also, you can hire as many interns as you want? Seriously I have trouble with that. Go to work this week and hire 12 new interns. No concern about budgeted hours or payroll budget for store. Don't ask any pharm supp, DM or intern coordinator? Those people all want to protect their power and they don't care? They don't want to interview them and make sure they fit the CVS model? Heck, hire 15. It would make the day easier and less stressful. Bet the phone rings for you.

Well, no duh. Of course you can't exceed your allotted hours. But If I want to fill all of my night and weekend positions with interns, I am free to do so.

 

[scoobygrl79]

As far as Philly goes, you couldn't live in a better place. 90 mins from the shore, 90 minutes from NYC, 3 hrs from DC, 2 hrs from the mountains. One of the best restaurant cities in the country. The history is amazing.

Oh now I'm super stoked for my 1st visit there!! Counting down the days, less than 180 to go....😳....guess if its one of the best restaurant cities, better do my usual lose 5lbs so I can gain it back technique.😎

 

[CUpharmD2013]

I was hired as an intern after my P1 year, so it may be different for a P3, but I wasn't asked any knowledge based questions. I was asked:

1. Why pharmacy
2. Why I chose the school that I did (with a discussion about Creighton's distance program since the recruiter wasn't very familiar).
3. Why retail

I had also done a 4 hour shadow experience in a CVS pharmacy, so they already had a little background of me in a pharmacy setting.

Like any interview, have questions for them about the company/internship program/etc.

The interview was conducted by the local recruiter and a current P4 who was on rotations with the company.

Good luck.

 

[Sparda29]

All I can say is, I'm glad I'm not in your area. In my area of the world, I can hire as many interns as I want and they call get paid the intern rate. So it sucks to be you. As far as Philly goes, you couldn't live in a better place. 90 mins from the shore, 90 minutes from NYC, 3 hrs from DC, 2 hrs from the mountains. One of the best restaurant cities in the country. The history is amazing. So blow off Philly all you want....

Lies, every time I go to Philly, I get stuck in a traffic jam. Do not say a word about the Mets, I know, they suck ass right now. I could have put together a better team than this guy Omar Minaya.

 

[Old Timer]

Lies, every time I go to Philly, I get stuck in a traffic jam. Do not say a word about the Mets, I know, they suck ass right now. I could have put together a better team than this guy Omar Minaya.

I guy from New York complains about the traffic in Philly. NY, where the cab drivers think it's the demolition derby.....

 

[Sparda29]

I guy from New York complains about the traffic in Philly. NY, where the cab drivers think it's the demolition derby.....

Yup, cab driver's don't own the cars. They don't care.