Do pharmacy managers call for references often?

[maria1oh]

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I am starting to finally pull together some references from completing rotations and was wondering if I put them down if they should expect a phone call? Both of my good work references are retired and rarely answer their cell phones. I should have put down their home number but it is too late now. I still want to work as a pharmacy intern in retail and was wondering if having references will help me be hired or if the pharmacy managers are usually too busy to call anyways?

I heard from one of my friends who works at walgreens as a tech that she used her sister as a reference and lied saying she was a former pharmacy manager. She claimed they did call her sister and ask a lot of questions. She told me to do the same but I refuse to lower myself that low. I also don't think of her as a reliable source because she has given me wrong info in the past.

I have had a total of one interview and did not get hired. 🙁 The pharmacy manager kept being friendly with me and telling me he is busy but he will call me tomorrow to set up my drug test, HR paperwork, etc. He made this excuse up three times before I just took the hint to stop calling and following up.

Also when you apply more than once does the pharmacy manager look at both applications or just the most recent?

Thanks for any answers or advice.

 

[confettiflyer]

It really depends, this response isn't going to help you much.

I had a job where they called my references, but they only called to verify employment dates.

I had another job where they had a 3-4 minute conversation with my references asking standard character/reliability questions.

For my hospital job now, they contacted my references electronically AFTER I had gotten the job (go figure) and filled out new hire paperwork/drug test.

For my pharmacy tech. job, I don't even think they bothered calling anyone...the pharmacy manager who interviewed me was probably too busy.

Don't trust your friend, be honest with your references and, if you can, alert them that your references are retired and you might have trouble getting a hold of them...maybe offer a current co-worker/current manager that works at the establishment now (and knows you...but didn't necessarily supervise you).

 

[Old Timer]

Don't lie about things like that. You will only get caught and then what. Where are you? What city? What School? How many places have you applied to?

 

[OldPharmer]

It is against Walgreens company policy to give any references. Anyone calling is supposed to be told to call corporate and they (corporate) are only allowed to give the dates of employment and position.

 

[pharmwannebe2]

wow that is odd. how about if an intern wants to do a residency. They can't get a reference from a pharmacist at walgreens.

 

[VancTheTank]

.

 

[confettiflyer]

Generally speaking, our HR department calls to check references.

If I receive an application listing a pharmacy/pharmacist I am familiar with as a reference, I contact them for more info on the applicant. Pharmacy is a small world in most places. Falsifying a reference is a very bad plan.

Small world it is, one of the people who interviewed me for my current position sat on the accrediting panel for my school and previously worked with the top brass at my school. He didn't even ask for references (HR did for requirement purposes after I got the offer), he knew exactly who to call.