Help looking for a job as a Tech

[April Lee]

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Hey guys,

I've been trying to look for a job as a tech for the past 2 months and haven't had a single response. It just does not seem like people are hiring these days. I've applied to hospitals, Walgreens, and Costco. Resumes sent both online and in person.

I know times are bad, but do any of you have any helpful tips as to where to search or what other little detail I'm missing? Any help is appreciated!!

 

[Okie7123]

I've had the same luck. I said screw it and I'll just take whatever job I can.

 

[April Lee]

really? even as a pharmacy student?

 

[SHC1984]

really? even as a pharmacy student?

Do you have a flexible schedule? can you work full time? I just know it will be very hard to find a job if you don't have a flexible schedule or can't work full time...most people want to hire someone that can work anytime they need them to work! If you are a student right now and can't work on certain days...that might be the reason why they do not want to hire you.

 

[Jaded03]

1. Well, there's a hiring freeze for corporate and hospitals. You won't get a job unless someone leaves in many cases. So I wouldn't take that too personally.

2. If you're going to apply you better apply with priority for the establishment. Chances are their established employee is a. experienced, and b. also a student. You should advertise yourself to compensate for this. (I built my schedule to be a flexible employee - I had the luxury to put school second. Night, Friday, or single class days. That way I'd be available to do work during the day, on any day other than the end of the week, or make myself available to work an 8-hour shift or 2 4-hour shifts in a single day, respectively.)

 

[Okie7123]

Yea, I've advertised myself as an accepted student. Doesn't help. But it also doesn't help that my schedule is pretty full finishing my pre-reqs

 

[Kruton]

Make sure you don't just turn your resume in and leave. Talk to whomever is in charge and let them get to know you. It took me a good month of trying everyday before I got hired. Economy is tough so we have to work hard. Good luck.

 

[PharmD321]

Hey guys,

I've been trying to look for a job as a tech for the past 2 months and haven't had a single response. It just does not seem like people are hiring these days. I've applied to hospitals, Walgreens, and Costco. Resumes sent both online and in person.

I know times are bad, but do any of you have any helpful tips as to where to search or what other little detail I'm missing? Any help is appreciated!!

I am also having a hard time too (and I am certified, so it doesn't matter...)! I gave up and use the work time to study hard....

Although, I have one tip I can give you. You can work at safeway (or costco and any other grocery stores) as courtesy clerk first and get to know the pharmacy manager there. Be nice to him and maybe one day you will get an offer to work for him or her.

 

[Rxlele]

Although, I have one tip I can give you. You can work at safeway (or costco and any other grocery stores) as courtesy clerk first and get to know the pharmacy manager there. Be nice to him and maybe one day you will get an offer to work for him or her.

That's EXACTLY what I did. Often it's simply who you know. I didn't even have any experience whatsoever.

 

[PharmD321]

That's EXACTLY what I did. Often it's simply who you know. I didn't even have any experience whatsoever.

Oh wow, that is great! I am curious though, how long did you know the pharmacist or the manager before you got the pharmacy technician job?

 

[kbxc]

I would recommend going in, in person to pharmacy's. That way you can talk to the manager and they will remember you. when it comes to looking at applications. I just got a job as a pharm tech at CVS in south florida where no one is hiring. I have only 3 months of hospital volunteering. So there is hope!

 

[rainsplash]

Target, CVS, Riteaid all want online applications and I tried for months and was unsuccessful. I thinks it is better to go in person and apply to pharmacies that aren't chain stores

 

[Rxlele]

Oh wow, that is great! I am curious though, how long did you know the pharmacist or the manager before you got the pharmacy technician job?

Thanks! I worked at safeway as a courtesy clerk for 8 months through my senior year then moved to starbucks for about three months and as soon as I turned 18 and was legal to work back there, they hired me.

 

[PharmD321]

Thanks! I worked at safeway as a courtesy clerk for 8 months through my senior year then moved to starbucks for about three months and as soon as I turned 18 and was legal to work back there, they hired me.

This is great information. It proves my theory right...👍

Are you full time? or part time?

Although, this doesn't always happen every time for everybody. I never worked at the safeway about 10 miles east of my house (there is a safeway that is 3 minutes away from my house where I used to work at so I went to the other safeway) and the pharmacist there wanted to hire me before I even did the PTCB exam. I showed her my resume and then she wanted me to meet with her again. When I met with her again, she told me I had a choice. I had to work there full time and give up my admissions to UCD. Or decline the offer and go to school to be like her. She was nice enough to let me decide and I am glad that she gave me a choice.

 

[asianspec]

Try looking at privately owned business like mom and pop owned. also try looking on craig's list.

 

[SHC1984]

I can't believe a tech at my workplace got fired 2 days ago!! She has been with Walgreens for 32 years!! She has been a pharm tech for 5 to 6 years!!! They fired her b/c she her DRE % was too high! 😱 (she makes too many mistakes typing in scripts!) I am so shocked that someone thats been with Walgreens for 32 years just got fired like that! (in 2 seconds!)

I just hope I get into Pharm school soon. B/c Pharm tech = absolutely NO job security! I am still shocked she got fired, and I am soooo tired b/c they are makng me work sooo much to cover her shifts! good over time $$ though! 😉

 

[PharmD321]

I can't believe a tech at my workplace got fired 2 days ago!! She has been with Walgreens for 32 years!! She has been a pharm tech for 5 to 6 years!!! They fired her b/c she her DRE % was too high! 😱 (she makes too many mistakes typing in scripts!) I am so shocked that someone thats been with Walgreens for 32 years just got fired like that! (in 2 seconds!)

I just hope I get into Pharm school soon. B/c Pharm tech = absolutely NO job security! I am still shocked she got fired, and I am soooo tired b/c they are makng me work sooo much to cover her shifts! good over time $$ though! 😉

One thing I need to point out is this red flag,

"she makes too many mistakes typing in scripts!"

This is bad for the pharmacy and I am sure the company was losing money because of her.

Although, the company could have done alternatives such as training her better or reimburse the PTCE fees so she knows what she is doing.

Even if they fired her for no reason then this wouldn't surprise me at all. Walgreens is a big corporation, they can do whatever they want. If you want job security for the rest of your life, then work as a tech or pharmacist at the veteren's affairs office (the government can't fire you after 10 years, with exceptions like if you stole money or something).

 

[fhx06]

High DRE for any reason is bad for both the company and the patient. It really affects the reputation of the pharmacy and compromises patient care. It's sad to see that termination was the solution but sometimes, it just has to be. I think one of the pharmacists I worked with once told me that it is something retail pharmacists must also be prepared to consider.

 

[Dreamer57]

Hey guys,

I've been trying to look for a job as a tech for the past 2 months and haven't had a single response. It just does not seem like people are hiring these days. I've applied to hospitals, Walgreens, and Costco. Resumes sent both online and in person.

I know times are bad, but do any of you have any helpful tips as to where to search or what other little detail I'm missing? Any help is appreciated!!

I'm not sure if you have Kaiser Permanente in your area but Kaiser is always hiring..at least in Southern California. I've noticed that Kaiser doesn't "usually" hire technicians from the outside, they hire pharmacy clerks/assitants and then hire internally for tech positions...Pharmacy assistants start off at a pretty good amount too.

 

[PharmD321]

I'm not sure if you have Kaiser Permanente in your area but Kaiser is always hiring..at least in Southern California. I've noticed that Kaiser doesn't "usually" hire technicians from the outside, they hire pharmacy clerks/assitants and then hire internally for tech positions...Pharmacy assistants start off at a pretty good amount too.

Kaiser always is hiring, but why? It simple, they expect only the best....I applied there at least 10 times the past 3 months (even the on call jobs)......

 

[Kirbypuff]

Hey guys,

I've been trying to look for a job as a tech for the past 2 months and haven't had a single response. It just does not seem like people are hiring these days. I've applied to hospitals, Walgreens, and Costco. Resumes sent both online and in person.

I know times are bad, but do any of you have any helpful tips as to where to search or what other little detail I'm missing? Any help is appreciated!!

my store is in desperate need of help. where do u live?

 

[April Lee]

San Francisco, Bay Area

 

[Rxlele]

This is great information. It proves my theory right...👍

Are you full time? or part time?

Although, this doesn't always happen every time for everybody. I never worked at the safeway about 10 miles east of my house (there is a safeway that is 3 minutes away from my house where I used to work at so I went to the other safeway) and the pharmacist there wanted to hire me before I even did the PTCB exam. I showed her my resume and then she wanted me to meet with her again. When I met with her again, she told me I had a choice. I had to work there full time and give up my admissions to UCD. Or decline the offer and go to school to be like her. She was nice enough to let me decide and I am glad that she gave me a choice.

I'm part time until my training is over with and then I'll be getting around 35 hours.
So I take it you're at UCD now? And yes it is a rare circumstance, but if someone is willing to dedicate themselves to becoming a good tech empolyers can see that.

 

[PharmD321]

I'm part time until my training is over with and then I'll be getting around 35 hours.
So I take it you're at UCD now? And yes it is a rare circumstance, but if someone is willing to dedicate themselves to becoming a good tech empolyers can see that.

Holy smokes, part time now and then full time? How many classes are you taking now?

Yes, I go to UC Denver now. It is chilled university but is a commuter campus (it is really hard to make friends there compared to the dorm life at DU). But the pharmacy school is on the same street, so I might have a chance to get in that school, but who knows.

 

[Jaded03]

Kaiser always is hiring, but why? It simple, they expect only the best....I applied there at least 10 times the past 3 months (even the on call jobs)......

What? This is completely subjective. The fact is they demand a LOT from you. They do like to hire experienced people who don't plan on advancing anytime soon; they need longevity and less training for their staff. They require you to push the limits of your labor laws without incurring OT and they require you to work full-time every time. Not everyone can commit 40 without exceptions, especially pre-pharmacy and once they get hired, they are let go should they seem to not keep up with this full-time expectation. If it was part-time, can you comply with their variant vacancies in their schedule 100% of the time? With the new economic downturn, per diem staff are basically never going to get a call due to the higher wages. Lastly, most of Kaiser (as far as I know) is union-based. Once they offer you a job, it is hard for them to fire you. This is the reason for all the above. They're not demanding the best, but they refuse to incur a loss because they hired someone who will not be available when expected or leave with valuable training time and money wasted.

Edit: I'm not defending Kaiser. I actually do not believe they have "the best". They simply pay "the best".

 

[prepharmgirl09]

Hey guys,

I've been trying to look for a job as a tech for the past 2 months and haven't had a single response. It just does not seem like people are hiring these days. I've applied to hospitals, Walgreens, and Costco. Resumes sent both online and in person.

I know times are bad, but do any of you have any helpful tips as to where to search or what other little detail I'm missing? Any help is appreciated!!

I have been having the same problem as you. I agree with trying to go to mom and pop pharmacies--you will have a better shot. Also, try to volunteer at hospitals. Times are rough, but it is also about who you know. Even I have friends that are RPh's and they can't get me in--their techs have been there forever and won't leave!! I personally think that pharmacies should ONLY hire pre-pharm and pharmacy students in order to fill tech positions. Pre-Pharm and Pharm Students are committed to the profession and are serious about it. The regular tech are just there for a paycheck and could give a crap less. Best of luck to you.

 

[Jaded03]

I personally think that pharmacies should ONLY hire pre-pharm and pharmacy students in order to fill tech positions. Pre-Pharm and Pharm Students are committed to the profession and are serious about it. The regular tech are just there for a paycheck and could give a crap less.

This isn't professionally true. Yes, a lot of graduates from tech schools are not good employees, but I think that it comes with the low pay and high skill level required. I think your statement unfair because some technicians actually do treat their job as a career (as economic sustenance) and treat it seriously. I think students are usually the biggest flakes, their school comes first and they're the first to leave. They work only for a resume and they usually don't appreciate their work there (ie. "I will never be a retail pharmacist"). They just long for the position of pharmacist and are relatively bad technicians. We've stopped allowing interns to work at our pharmacy simply because they give us snobby attitudes about working. They think counting pills and cashiering is below them. Mainly, pre-pharmers are just looking to leave and this is not productive to the store. It takes a lot of time to train; not everyone learns quickly by being thrown into work. Just my input.

 

[SHC1984]

High DRE for any reason is bad for both the company and the patient. It really affects the reputation of the pharmacy and compromises patient care. It's sad to see that termination was the solution but sometimes, it just has to be. I think one of the pharmacists I worked with once told me that it is something retail pharmacists must also be prepared to consider.[/quote]


Retail pharmacists gets DRE too?? I didn't know that! lol...

 

[PharmD321]

What? This is completely subjective. The fact is they demand a LOT from you. They do like to hire experienced people who don't plan on advancing anytime soon; they need longevity and less training for their staff. They require you to push the limits of your labor laws without incurring OT and they require you to work full-time every time. Not everyone can commit 40 without exceptions, especially pre-pharmacy and once they get hired, they are let go should they seem to not keep up with this full-time expectation. If it was part-time, can you comply with their variant vacancies in their schedule 100% of the time? With the new economic downturn, per diem staff are basically never going to get a call due to the higher wages. Lastly, most of Kaiser (as far as I know) is union-based. Once they offer you a job, it is hard for them to fire you. This is the reason for all the above. They're not demanding the best, but they refuse to incur a loss because they hired someone who will not be available when expected or leave with valuable training time and money wasted.

Edit: I'm not defending Kaiser. I actually do not believe they have "the best". They simply pay "the best".

Great explanation, I understand better now. It is the same way with Safeway, the pharmacist there expected me to choose education or work full time the same position for the rest of my life. 👍👍

 

[jyw003]

This isn't professionally true. Yes, a lot of graduates from tech schools are not good employees, but I think that it comes with the low pay and high skill level required. I think your statement unfair because some technicians actually do treat their job as a career (as economic sustenance) and treat it seriously. I think students are usually the biggest flakes, their school comes first and they're the first to leave. They work only for a resume and they usually don't appreciate their work there (ie. "I will never be a retail pharmacist"). They just long for the position of pharmacist and are relatively bad technicians. We've stopped allowing interns to work at our pharmacy simply because they give us snobby attitudes about working. They think counting pills and cashiering is below them. Mainly, pre-pharmers are just looking to leave and this is not productive to the store. It takes a lot of time to train; not everyone learns quickly by being thrown into work. Just my input.

I absolutely agree. I think it is unfair to hire just pre-pharm and pharm students. A lot of times, as stated above, students put "academics" first. "Oh, I have a test tomorrow. Sorry, I can't work". At my store, we've had techs that have been working full time for 4 years. Pharmacy technician is a career choice and doesn't make it an exclusive route to pharmacy school. Of course it would be great to get some pharmacy experience, but if you can't work in a pharmacy, you can always try volunteering~ I volunteered at the hospital for 2 years before I found a job at a pharmacy. With your pharm tech certification, the hospital will allow you to do a lot more than what typical volunteers do. You are legally able to count, dispense, type scripts...etc. Just my 2 cents~ Good luck---

 

[Transformer]

I personally think that pharmacies should ONLY hire pre-pharm and pharmacy students in order to fill tech positions. Pre-Pharm and Pharm Students are committed to the profession and are serious about it. The regular tech are just there for a paycheck and could give a crap less. Best of luck to you.

"pharmacies should ONLY hire pre-pharm and pharmacy students in order to fill tech positions"?

-I disagree. Most pharmacy supervisors prefer to hire non-students with flexible hours. Pre-pharm students are often (yet not always) seen as a burden. We go to school and make the supervisors work around our schedules. Many of us get accepted to pharmacy schools and leave after a year or two. This means the supervisor has to retrain another tech to fill the void. This can be financially costly and time consuming for both the company and the supervisor.


"Pre-Pharm and Pharm Students are committed to the profession and are serious about it. The regular tech are just there for a paycheck and could give a crap less. Best of luck to you"

- This is not always true. Many regular techs I know are extremely serious about their jobs and most of the time, they need this job more than us, pre pharmacy students. Think about it, if they weren't serious, they too would get fired! On top of that, most of them have families, a mortgage to pay for, and many other responsibilities. Yes, like anyone who holds down a job, they are there for a paycheck, but that is no reason to speculate all or most of them don't give a crap about the quality of their work. Many regular techs I know do care for their patients as much as their own love ones.

Let's try to be open minded and realize there are both "good apples and bad apples" in both regular techs and techs who are pre-pharmacy students.

 

[jyw003]

lol..Transformer, you could have just said you agree with Jaded. haha

 

[prepharmgirl09]

"pharmacies should ONLY hire pre-pharm and pharmacy students in order to fill tech positions"?

-I disagree. Most pharmacy supervisors prefer to hire non-students with flexible hours. Pre-pharm students are often (yet not always) seen as a burden. We go to school and make the supervisors work around our schedules. Many of us get accepted to pharmacy schools and leave after a year or two. This means the supervisor has to retrain another tech to fill the void. This can be financially costly and time consuming for both the company and the supervisor.


"Pre-Pharm and Pharm Students are committed to the profession and are serious about it. The regular tech are just there for a paycheck and could give a crap less. Best of luck to you"

- This is not always true. Many regular techs I know are extremely serious about their jobs and most of the time, they need this job more than us, pre pharmacy students. Think about it, if they weren't serious, they too would get fired! On top of that, most of them have families, a mortgage to pay for, and many other responsibilities. Yes, like anyone who holds down a job, they are there for a paycheck, but that is no reason to speculate all or most of them don't give a crap about the quality of their work. Many regular techs I know do care for their patients as much as their own love ones.

Let's try to be open minded and realize there are both "good apples and bad apples" in both regular techs and techs who are pre-pharmacy students.

I still stand by my statement and I really don't care if "career techs" have a mortgage to pay, etc. Pharm students need the experience over them--period.

 

[Jaded03]

I still stand by my statement and I really don't care if "career techs" have a mortgage to pay, etc. Pharm students need the experience over them--period.

Retail pharmacists would not completely agree. The only reason to hire a pre-pharm, as in my case, was that I would be unlikely to flee after working a really hard day. Unless you put forth a lot of hours, 20+ hours, you will not learn much nor improve workflow significantly. If you've seen what happens when you hire a whole bunch of student part-timers, you would see how the retail pharmacy falls apart. I think this is an immature statement to make. If you weren't happy with the statement you quoted, you should read mine.

 

[Transformer]

I still stand by my statement and I really don't care if "career techs" have a mortgage to pay, etc. Pharm students need the experience over them--period.

You make it sound like pharmacy interns are fighting over hours with pharmacy techs. This is seldom the case...

Pharmacy students will get their experience and techs will get their hours too. They both can coexist and work as a team to provide the best care for patients.

It's this superior attitude you give off that is disconcerting to me. The perception that pharmacy students are better than techs, or clerks as people. I believe a compassionate person respects others and care for them as they do their own love ones. If you don't care and don't have anything good to say to people; it's better you keep it to yourself.

We need more compassionate pharmacists who go the extra mile to care for others, and if you don't care about people now; when will you ever care for them later as a pharmacist?

 

[kismet]

I still stand by my statement and I really don't care if "career techs" have a mortgage to pay, etc. Pharm students need the experience over them--period.

Who do you expect to train you so you can get this experience??

In both retail and hospital, I was trained by career techs. I've been at my hospital position for 3 years but sometimes something just comes up where I have to ask the career tech, "What did you do last time this happened?" because she's been there a heck of a lot longer than me and has seen more than I can hope to see working part-time for 3 or 4 years.

Sure the pharmacist probably knows the answer too, but they're kinda busy being a pharmacist. There are things you can learn from everyone, whether they are "above" or "below" you in the hierarchy, and pharmacies need some sort of stability to make up for the students that roll in and out every couple years.

 

[Kruton]

I am not even pre-pharm yet (still in HS) but I do work at a pharmacy as a clerk. I love our career techs. The pharmacist says they do great work and they are all really nice people. I will admit that the ONLY reason the pharmacist hired me was because I want to go to pharmacy school but I do not think he puts me above any of the other employees at all. 👍👍👍 for career techs. Just think, we will need them in the future.

 

[rphfan2009]

Hey guys,

I've been trying to look for a job as a tech for the past 2 months and haven't had a single response. It just does not seem like people are hiring these days. I've applied to hospitals, Walgreens, and Costco. Resumes sent both online and in person.

I know times are bad, but do any of you have any helpful tips as to where to search or what other little detail I'm missing? Any help is appreciated!!

So back to the original post...Any advice for those of us looking to get a technician position somewhere?

 

[Kruton]

So back to the original post...Any advice for those of us looking to get a technician position somewhere?

Apply

 

[PharmD321]

With your pharm tech certification, the hospital will allow you to do a lot more than what typical volunteers do. You are legally able to count, dispense, type scripts...etc. Just my 2 cents~ Good luck---

Are you serious? I guess I will try harder to find volunteer position. I should go to University of Colorado hospital and volunteer there. Which hospital did you work at?

 

[SHC1984]

So back to the original post...Any advice for those of us looking to get a technician position somewhere?

apply to as many places as possible...go in PERSON to talk to the pharmacy manager AND realize that if you are a full time student that chances are they will NOT hire you b/c its very diffcult to work around your schedule...they want someone that can work ANYTIME they say and not only on certain days/hours of the week! good luck!

 

[Hels2007]

I still stand by my statement and I really don't care if "career techs" have a mortgage to pay, etc. Pharm students need the experience over them--period.

Now, when you become a pharmacy student and can actually do things that techs cannot - then you become useful. Otherwise, as a pre-pharmacy student, you are below a full-time tech on the totem pole. Your attitude is extremely disconcerting, and I wouldn't hire you for that reason alone. I don't need someone who doesn't know a thing about pharmacy strutting around thinking they are half-way to godliness.

As far as pre-pharmacy students with a more reasonable view on things 😉 : look for pharmacies with large number of pre-pharmacy/pharmacy students working there, such places are more likely to have shifts that are created specifically for students (such as 4 or 5 hour evening shifts), be willing to work weekends, late nights (such as until midnight), and other less desirable shifts. Have a pleasant attitude, and display that you do want to learn, and you will do any tasks assigned to you - be it drive through, taking trash out at 9pm, spending the entire shift on the registers or at the fill station, etc (for some reason, all techs always want to be on the order entry?). Remember, we don't owe it to you to hire you and spend time training you just because you want to be a pharmacist - there is nothing less pleasant than working with a new hire for the first month or so because they are slow, and make too many mistakes, and I have to watch them very closely lest they say or do something wrong, and with a very part-time employee that students tend to be (working sometimes just 5 hours a week), that painful time period is prolonged.

Good luck! 🙂

 

[rphfan2009]

Now, when you become a pharmacy student and can actually do things that techs cannot - then you become useful. Otherwise, as a pre-pharmacy student, you are below a full-time tech on the totem pole. Your attitude is extremely disconcerting, and I wouldn't hire you for that reason alone. I don't need someone who doesn't know a thing about pharmacy strutting around thinking they are half-way to godliness.

As far as pre-pharmacy students with a more reasonable view on things 😉 : look for pharmacies with large number of pre-pharmacy/pharmacy students working there, such places are more likely to have shifts that are created specifically for students (such as 4 or 5 hour evening shifts), be willing to work weekends, late nights (such as until midnight), and other less desirable shifts. Have a pleasant attitude, and display that you do want to learn, and you will do any tasks assigned to you - be it drive through, taking trash out at 9pm, spending the entire shift on the registers or at the fill station, etc (for some reason, all techs always want to be on the order entry?). Remember, we don't owe it to you to hire you and spend time training you just because you want to be a pharmacist - there is nothing less pleasant than working with a new hire for the first month or so because they are slow, and make too many mistakes, and I have to watch them very closely lest they say or do something wrong, and with a very part-time employee that students tend to be (working sometimes just 5 hours a week), that painful time period is prolonged.

Good luck! 🙂

Since you are a pharmacist: Is it true that most pharmacies won't hire students b/c of their school schedules? I won't be offended if you say yes. I'm just looking for some honesty. I'm just wondering if I should even stress about getting a tech position and just focus on my schooling. I'm new to the forum and in my mid-30's...have a bachelors degree and am switching careers. Also: Do you think my experience as a CVS assistant manager (2 years) will be sufficient enough experience for my application? We did a lot of work with the pharmacists and techs, etc. Kind of like the managers at Walgreens to do--required to spend time in the pharmacy, etc. Let me know...thanks again.

 

[jyw003]

Are you serious? I guess I will try harder to find volunteer position. I should go to University of Colorado hospital and volunteer there. Which hospital did you work at?

I am in California, so the license is required to handle any drugs. I am not sure what the laws are like in Colorado~ But, I do highly suggest volunteering~ You can gain experience and donate your time ^^, plus you can tell all about it at interviews---hehe

 

[Hels2007]

Since you are a pharmacist: Is it true that most pharmacies won't hire students b/c of their school schedules? I won't be offended if you say yes. I'm just looking for some honesty. I'm just wondering if I should even stress about getting a tech position and just focus on my schooling. I'm new to the forum and in my mid-30's...have a bachelors degree and am switching careers. Also: Do you think my experience as a CVS assistant manager (2 years) will be sufficient enough experience for my application? We did a lot of work with the pharmacists and techs, etc. Kind of like the managers at Walgreens to do--required to spend time in the pharmacy, etc. Let me know...thanks again.

Let me start with making a point that I expected to be implicitly understood, but which for some reason never seems to come up in this type of discussions here on SDN.

Pharmacies do not exist in the vacuum, nor do they exist to educate students. Like any other business, pharmacies hire according to business need. Most of the time, you are fully staffed according to your need (or according to what district management thinks you can have). Therefore, the only time a pharmacy would be hiring, would be when a) tech hours expanded/new shift created (in this economy - pretty much not happening), or b) one of the current employees leaves and needs to be replaced.

Accordingly, you may be the best employee in the whole wide world, but if I don't need you, I don't need you. And if I need you, I need you for specific shift(s), and if you can't work them, then again I am not going to wreck the schedules of everyone else to accomodate you, unless it's been a few weeks and I still haven't found anyone to work those specific hours.

Getting to your specific questions.

As a student, I worked at a Walgreen's which had only three full-time techs, and about ten students (a couple of them pre-pharm, but mostly pharmacy interns - interns are much better because they can take voicemail, do basic counseling, etc.) And accordingly, the full-time techs worked day shifts, while two 5-hour shifts every night and all the weekends were covered by students. Other stores in the area had maybe one or two pharmacy students and were otherwise staffed with some 5 full-time techs. That's why I suggested a store which already has a lot of students working there, shifts are built to accomodate that, and they need to be replaced yearly. So definitely it is very possible to be hired as a student - just look around at which places may need a student, don't try to convince a store that needs a tech 9-5 M-F that you with your 6-10pm availability is the best thing ever - not going to work.

As a CVS assistant manager you should have some experience in the pharmacy, right? A lot of Walgreen's assistant managers are certified techs (even though they spend too little time in the pharmacy to be proficient, at least they know basics of what they are doing and more importantly, what not to do - can't underestimate that!). So I think it is a good thing to list on your resume, and be prepared to talk it up. Good luck! 🙂

 

[rphfan2009]

Let me start with making a point that I expected to be implicitly understood, but which for some reason never seems to come up in this type of discussions here on SDN.

Pharmacies do not exist in the vacuum, nor do they exist to educate students. Like any other business, pharmacies hire according to business need. Most of the time, you are fully staffed according to your need (or according to what district management thinks you can have). Therefore, the only time a pharmacy would be hiring, would be when a) tech hours expanded/new shift created (in this economy - pretty much not happening), or b) one of the current employees leaves and needs to be replaced.

Accordingly, you may be the best employee in the whole wide world, but if I don't need you, I don't need you. And if I need you, I need you for specific shift(s), and if you can't work them, then again I am not going to wreck the schedules of everyone else to accomodate you, unless it's been a few weeks and I still haven't found anyone to work those specific hours.

Getting to your specific questions.

As a student, I worked at a Walgreen's which had only three full-time techs, and about ten students (a couple of them pre-pharm, but mostly pharmacy interns - interns are much better because they can take voicemail, do basic counseling, etc.) And accordingly, the full-time techs worked day shifts, while two 5-hour shifts every night and all the weekends were covered by students. Other stores in the area had maybe one or two pharmacy students and were otherwise staffed with some 5 full-time techs. That's why I suggested a store which already has a lot of students working there, shifts are built to accomodate that, and they need to be replaced yearly. So definitely it is very possible to be hired as a student - just look around at which places may need a student, don't try to convince a store that needs a tech 9-5 M-F that you with your 6-10pm availability is the best thing ever - not going to work.

As a CVS assistant manager you should have some experience in the pharmacy, right? A lot of Walgreen's assistant managers are certified techs (even though they spend too little time in the pharmacy to be proficient, at least they know basics of what they are doing and more importantly, what not to do - can't underestimate that!). So I think it is a good thing to list on your resume, and be prepared to talk it up. Good luck! 🙂

Thanks for the reply. I see what you mean. I'm just not going to stress myself out if I don't find a tech job--I just talked to the pharmacy schools that I'm interested in today and they said that my CVS experience is sufficient enough (because I had some pharmacy experience back there). They told me to concentrate on my PCAT, recomenders, and grades. So I'm relieved. Thank you again for you help.

 

[PharmD321]

I am in California, so the license is required to handle any drugs. I am not sure what the laws are like in Colorado~ But, I do highly suggest volunteering~ You can gain experience and donate your time ^^, plus you can tell all about it at interviews---hehe

Colorado laws are not effiecient. It is easy to become a tech, only need to have high school education. I believe that California is safer because the license system is the barrier to access so it will eliminate all the 'bad' people from coming into the pharmacy profession (while making more jobs available). I should send Mr. Colorado Senator Mark Udall a message about Emily's law (the one from Ohio, here is the story: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2009-01-07-pharmacy-errors-ohio-law_N.htm) and maybe Colorado will change soon (I doubt it will work if I only do it, maybe I should talk to some pharmacists and try to get their support).

Sorry about my long statement, but Walgreens didn't email me back for like two months and I wanted to volunteer there. I guess that won't work but I won't give up and will try to volunteer somewhere else.

 

[Hels2007]

Sorry about my long statement, but Walgreens didn't email me back for like two months and I wanted to volunteer there. I guess that won't work but I won't give up and will try to volunteer somewhere else.

Walgreen's doesn't allow volunteering in the pharmacy, period. You may get a day of shadowing, that's the most you can count on.

 

[Lotus89]

Now, when you become a pharmacy student and can actually do things that techs cannot - then you become useful. Otherwise, as a pre-pharmacy student, you are below a full-time tech on the totem pole. Your attitude is extremely disconcerting, and I wouldn't hire you for that reason alone. I don't need someone who doesn't know a thing about pharmacy strutting around thinking they are half-way to godliness.

As far as pre-pharmacy students with a more reasonable view on things 😉 : look for pharmacies with large number of pre-pharmacy/pharmacy students working there, such places are more likely to have shifts that are created specifically for students (such as 4 or 5 hour evening shifts), be willing to work weekends, late nights (such as until midnight), and other less desirable shifts. Have a pleasant attitude, and display that you do want to learn, and you will do any tasks assigned to you - be it drive through, taking trash out at 9pm, spending the entire shift on the registers or at the fill station, etc (for some reason, all techs always want to be on the order entry?). Remember, we don't owe it to you to hire you and spend time training you just because you want to be a pharmacist - there is nothing less pleasant than working with a new hire for the first month or so because they are slow, and make too many mistakes, and I have to watch them very closely lest they say or do something wrong, and with a very part-time employee that students tend to be (working sometimes just 5 hours a week), that painful time period is prolonged.

Good luck! 🙂

I see what your saying and totally agree. In this economy, if your not needed, then they won't hire you, its simple.
But what about the people (students, like me) that want those undesired shifts? I have been looking for a graveyard shift at a pharmacy EVERYWHERE!!!!! And have yet to find one....🙁
I am willing to work nights and weekends and even overnight. Before my current job, I worked weekends, and nights and didn't complain for almost 3 years, even though I do go to school fulltime, I have worked 25+ hours since sophmore year of high school because I have bills that need to be paid. So I mean what about the pre-pharmacy student that wants all that and STILL can't find a job? Hmmm maybe its my luck, or the crappy economy

 

[ccpharmd]

I submitted an online application for CVS tech position a few days ago, and got a response the next morning... and now I'm just waiting to confirm interview dates. I guess it just depends on where?