CVS vs Walmart vs Target

[PharmerJ]

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Ok I did a search comparing some of these chains and honestly all that I find are threads saying "do a search" or pictures of a smiley face beating a dead horse. 😉 Nothing older than at least 3 years is coming up when I do a search soooo..... sorry to rehash but I could use some good info here!

I recently interviewed with these 3 companies for a pharmacist position. I'm very torn on where to go but I think I'm leaning toward Walmart right now. Can anyone give any feedback on working for these companies as a pharmacist? Did you leave one of these chains for the other? Why? Was it a good choice?

Here is what I have gathered so far.

1. Walmart - pays the most ($61-$65/hr depending on the store in my area), closes for lunch, has a great computer system (safer but maybe slower?), puts 4% of your salary into 401k but no matching and takes 6 yrs to be vested, good/cheap medical/vision/dental, easy transfer to other regions

2. Target - low volume (although there are exceptions), not sure about the salary but in the interview they made comments like "we don't necessarily pay the most" and "we won't throw money at you to sign" so that gives me the idea that they are probably on the low end, 10% store discount (but must use red card or cash 🙁 why?), huge on leadership/business seminars, activities, morning meetings, store manager is your boss, good hours, lunch breaks

3. CVS - $5k sign on bonus for 1 yr contract, $54/hr, 3 weeks vacation after 1 year (I've heard they try to back out of this somehow), decent benefits (comparable to Target), ability to work up to 60+ hrs/week if you want to (not sure I'd want to but its there if you want it), multiple locations for easy transfer, not guaranteeing me any specific store until long after I've signed, PCI stuff is out of control so I hear 🙁

I'm probably leaving stuff out that I just can't remember right now. Anyone have any advice? Eeek!

 

[rx2010]

Two of my friends who've completed their rotations at Target said they hate how their filling process is done and they would never work for Target after their rotation experience with them. They said Target's filling process very slow and it involves a lot of paper; the time it takes to fill one script at Target, you can do 3-4 at another store.

I just completed my rotation at Walmart, and it wasn't bad, I liked it. Also, I think most Walmarts don't have a drive-thru? Or at least the ones here don't have any...

And for CVS, I don't have any experience with them, but my friends work for them as interns and they said one of the things that they don't care for is that you have to print a list of all the patients that are due to refill soon and call them to remind them about it and also call the patients who are on new medications to check how they are doing and if they are experiencing side effects? I wouldn't mind doing that since I like to counsel patients, but they said the problem is CVS expects you to complete it before the end of the day while still filling scripts within 15 mins and they said those lists can sometimes be very long, like 12-15 pgs long...

 

[PharmerJ]

I've heard the same thing about Target having a very inefficient system. That yes, you do less volume but it's 3 times more stressful and time consuming to do anything. I've also heard some less than positive things about their required "business college" you have to go through before starting.

I know some Wal-marts will be getting drive thrus eventually - they are kiosks in the parking lot with a tube system (no face to face window). Not a fan but it seems like drive-thrus are becoming inevitable these days.

Thanks for the into!

 

[SoQPHARMD]

Thanks for sharing the info. What city are you referring to regarding the 3 companies? I'm looking for jobs in the Bay area through online websites but no one responded to me. How do you go about to find those jobs? I live out of state. I tried to call around to different stores at the area where I want to work but no one seems wanting to help. They wouldn't give me the DM contact info. Please help!!!

 

[J ROD]

are Walmart pharmacies 24hrs? I dont use them and hate going there so I never have looked. I know some stores are and wanted some night work!! Thanks...

 

[crazybob]

are Walmart pharmacies 24hrs? I dont use them and hate going there so I never have looked. I know some stores are and wanted some night work!! Thanks...

the ones i see in my hometown are not even though the wal-mart stores themselves are open 24 hours. are there any wal-mart pharmacies that are open for 24 hours?

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

Ok I did a search comparing some of these chains and honestly all that I find are threads saying "do a search" or pictures of a smiley face beating a dead horse. 😉 Nothing older than at least 3 years is coming up when I do a search soooo..... sorry to rehash but I could use some good info here!

I recently interviewed with these 3 companies for a pharmacist position. I'm very torn on where to go but I think I'm leaning toward Walmart right now. Can anyone give any feedback on working for these companies as a pharmacist? Did you leave one of these chains for the other? Why? Was it a good choice?

Here is what I have gathered so far.

1. Walmart - pays the most ($61-$65/hr depending on the store in my area), closes for lunch, has a great computer system (safer but maybe slower?), puts 4% of your salary into 401k but no matching and takes 6 yrs to be vested, good/cheap medical/vision/dental, easy transfer to other regions

2. Target - low volume (although there are exceptions), not sure about the salary but in the interview they made comments like "we don't necessarily pay the most" and "we won't throw money at you to sign" so that gives me the idea that they are probably on the low end, 10% store discount (but must use red card or cash 🙁 why?), huge on leadership/business seminars, activities, morning meetings, store manager is your boss, good hours, lunch breaks

3. CVS - $5k sign on bonus for 1 yr contract, $54/hr, 3 weeks vacation after 1 year (I've heard they try to back out of this somehow), decent benefits (comparable to Target), ability to work up to 60+ hrs/week if you want to (not sure I'd want to but its there if you want it), multiple locations for easy transfer, not guaranteeing me any specific store until long after I've signed, PCI stuff is out of control so I hear 🙁

I'm probably leaving stuff out that I just can't remember right now. Anyone have any advice? Eeek!

In your descriptions of the companies, I noticed you started out with payscale for all of them, I would encourage you to look at everything else before evaluating payscale. This is your career we are talking about. Financial compensation is important but quality of life and quality of practice are going to play the biggest part in your longterm/overall happiness with your position.

-Write down your short term and long term goals. e.g. 1-10 years out and ask yourself if you think these stores will help you meet your goals or if they will hinder you from reaching your goals. Goals are needed for a proper evaluation.

-Talk to pharmacists in your area if you can do find out about working conditions, staffing and quality of life in general. Do you acually get to use your vacation the way you want or is it usually just a couple days at a time. What is management like? Do they vaccinate and/or offer other services that are actually promoted/successful?

-Then take a look at retirement and pay.

 

[Sparda29]

With CVS, I get the point of the PCI system now. Especially since I've been making the PCI calls, and since I review the patient profile when I make the calls, I've been catching a lot of drug therapy problems.

 

[PharmerJ]

In your descriptions of the companies, I noticed you started out with payscale for all of them, I would encourage you to look at everything else before evaluating payscale. This is your career we are talking about. Financial compensation is important but quality of life and quality of practice are going to play the biggest part in your longterm/overall happiness with your position.

-Write down your short term and long term goals. e.g. 1-10 years out and ask yourself if you think these stores will help you meet your goals or if they will hinder you from reaching your goals. Goals are needed for a proper evaluation.

-Talk to pharmacists in your area if you can do find out about working conditions, staffing and quality of life in general. Do you acually get to use your vacation the way you want or is it usually just a couple days at a time. What is management like? Do they vaccinate and/or offer other services that are actually promoted/successful?

-Then take a look at retirement and pay.

I mention pay first because it's typically a good starting point for evaluating an offer. Walmart pays the most and as far as I can tell so far also offers the best quality of life (shorter hours and paid lunch breaks).

My long term goals involve the VA Healthcare System. Government takes time though and I'm not willing to sit out of work while I wait 6 months to a year for an opening at the VA in a location where I would want to work. I have some areas in mind and I'll be keeping an eye out for those opportunities.

My concern now is having a good work environment and making a competitive wage so that I can pay down these student loans in about 4-5 years.

I have spoken to several pharmacists in my area but I can always use more feedback.

Retirement isn't a big issue to me yet because I do not plan on retiring at any of the above mentioned locations. But 401K does matter of course and that is why I mentioned the vesting periods. Walmart takes 6 years and of course that is not great for me since I probably won't stay that long.

What is management like? All I have heard is that it sucks big time at CVS and that Walmart is okay and Target is pretty sucky as well (due to a lot of store level micromanaging).

Vacation? All I have heard is that CVS will try to wiggle out of giving you 3 weeks and will change the rules as you go by being vague.

Vaccinations etc? Not sure. Anyone have any info on this, I'd love to hear it.

As for those PP asking about Walmart being 24 hrs, I can't speak for the rest of the country but in my area the hours for their pharmacies are 9-9 (M-F), 9-7 (Sat), 10-6 (Sun). Oh that reminds me, $50 extra on Sundays.

 

[PharmerJ]

The location I'm referring to is rural VA and WV.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

I mention pay first because it's typically a good starting point for evaluating an offer. Walmart pays the most and as far as I can tell so far also offers the best quality of life (shorter hours and paid lunch breaks).

My long term goals involve the VA Healthcare System. Government takes time though and I'm not willing to sit out of work while I wait 6 months to a year for an opening at the VA in a location where I would want to work. I have some areas in mind and I'll be keeping an eye out for those opportunities.

My concern now is having a good work environment and making a competitive wage so that I can pay down these student loans in about 4-5 years.

I have spoken to several pharmacists in my area but I can always use more feedback.

Retirement isn't a big issue to me yet because I do not plan on retiring at any of the above mentioned locations. But 401K does matter of course and that is why I mentioned the vesting periods. Walmart takes 6 years and of course that is not great for me since I probably won't stay that long.

What is management like? All I have heard is that it sucks big time at CVS and that Walmart is okay and Target is pretty sucky as well (due to a lot of store level micromanaging).

Vacation? All I have heard is that CVS will try to wiggle out of giving you 3 weeks and will change the rules as you go by being vague.

Vaccinations etc? Not sure. Anyone have any info on this, I'd love to hear it.

As for those PP asking about Walmart being 24 hrs, I can't speak for the rest of the country but in my area the hours for their pharmacies are 9-9 (M-F), 9-7 (Sat), 10-6 (Sun). Oh that reminds me, $50 extra on Sundays.

Sounds like a plan! I know Walmarts in my area contract nurses to do all flu vaccinations, I am not sure about Target or CVS.

 

[rx2010]

Sounds like a plan! I know Walmarts in my area contract nurses to do all flu vaccinations, I am not sure about Target or CVS.

Target pharmacists administer the flu vaccines and CVS hires nurses to administer them.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

The location I'm referring to is rural VA and WV.

Seems like VA health systems in my area are looking for inpatient/clinical experience, managerial outpatient experience, or a residency so newer grads are out of luck it seems around here. This very well could vary from area to area I am sure, plus times are tough right now so it could change in a few years.

 

[IrishHammer]

With CVS, I get the point of the PCI system now. Especially since I've been making the PCI calls, and since I review the patient profile when I make the calls, I've been catching a lot of drug therapy problems.

What about hookah? Does CVS offer discounts on hookah and hookah accessories, or pay for the cover charge at local hookah bars?

This is important information that the people need to know, Spar.

 

[Sparda29]

What about hookah? Does CVS offer discounts on hookah and hookah accessories, or pay for the cover charge at local hookah bars?

This is important information that the people need to know, Spar.

Cover charge? Damn, where do you go? The place I usually go to charges me $7 for the whole day.

 

[PharmerJ]

Thanks for the input guys 🙂

As far as the VA goes, I have a rotation there now and so far so good! 🙂 But what I am hearing from them is that even after you apply for the VA it can take 6 months or longer to actually get the position and get started. In this particular VA it doesn't seem like getting a staff position requires any particular experience, several of the pharmacists there are either new grads (last years) or came out of retail. I was told over half of them were students on rotation with the VA at some point and have now returned to the VA after becoming jaded with retail.

The management rumors are specific to my area. I have heard bad things about CVS (very bad) management in my area, nothing horrible about Target but in general just a sense of micromanagement but I haven't spoken with any Walmart pharmacists yet because none of them have emailed me back so far. 🙂 (Too busy and stressed perhaps? haha)

But I was told by some CVS people that about 5 former pharmacists have all gone to Walmart and that they love it there and would never come back to CVS. The main reason for that is because of the shorter shifts and hour lunch breaks, safer computer system (albeit slower) and lack of pressure from management to meet numbers and answer the phone on the 2nd ring etc (all CVS things).

CVS is also pressuring people to take make that 1 year commitment (in exchange for the 5k sign on). I do not feel comfortable making a commitment when I am really looking to apply to the VA at the first chance I get. It may be a year or more before a position opens up but then again maybe not. And I don't want to pay back 5k plus the taxes that I had taken out.

I'm not convinced Target would be less stressful. Here is my theory. You can be seriously stressed out doing 100 scripts per day if you are short staffed and have an archaic system that slows you down and makes it difficult to trouble shoot. I would anticipate Walmart patients being more accepting of a long wait because it's cheaper and they have about 5 sq miles of store to shop around in while they wait. Target clientele is likely a little pickier and expect to be treated like a valued "guest". Not that I don't value people but I would imagine there would be complaints if the wait was longer than 10-15 min.

I'd rather fill more scripts with more help than be stranded alone with minimal help.

I guess I really need to have a nice long convo with a Walmart pharmacist in my area. 😀

 

[apteryx]

Sparda, just buy a hookah! I got one a few years ago online, and it's so nice to just chill with some friends with some beers, or to study, or whatever else. I got a 4-hose model so I could bust it out when people come over. The greatest is when I set up the tent outside and smoke it. It's like a Cheech and Chong movie in there, minus the illegal substance.

Then again, if you live in an apartment with no balcony, you're pretty much screwed (unless they allow smoking.) Whatever, I love mine. Pour some cheap wine into the vase, a little double apple tobacco in the bowl...mmm, I know what I'm doing this weekend.

 

[type b pharmD]

Sparda, just buy a hookah! I got one a few years ago online, and it's so nice to just chill with some friends with some beers, or to study, or whatever else. I got a 4-hose model so I could bust it out when people come over. The greatest is when I set up the tent outside and smoke it. It's like a Cheech and Chong movie in there, minus the illegal substance.

Then again, if you live in an apartment with no balcony, you're pretty much screwed (unless they allow smoking.) Whatever, I love mine. Pour some cheap wine into the vase, a little double apple tobacco in the bowl...mmm, I know what I'm doing this weekend.

We used to live in an apt with no balcony, we just set up chairs out on the lawn or sidewalk to smoke. Cigars = outside, but you can smoke hookah inside no problems man!! 👍