Interview with Rite Aid

[Cataly5t]

I recently got a call from rite aid inviting me to an interview for a pharm tech position. I was wondering if you guys had any idea what kinds of questions are typically asked. Any tips on doing well on the interview would also be appreciated. Thanks.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[JJVmom]

I recently got a call from rite aid inviting me to an interview for a pharm tech position. I was wondering if you guys had any idea what kinds of questions are typically asked. Any tips on doing well on the interview would also be appreciated. Thanks.

I have not worked for Rite Aid, but a close friend of mine started working for them as a tech a couple mths ago. At her interview, they told her the position was for 15 hrs/wk, and she'd start at $8/hr, then get an additional dollar after she was trained, and another additional dollar after she received her state license. (In NC, you have to have a job before you send in for your license, unlike CA where you get your license first). They only gave her 1 pay raise, not the other. Another tech told her that if she gets a pay raise, then all their hours will be cut b/c it comes out of the same budget - I'm not sure if that's true or not. They also keep putting her on the schedule full time, and gave her a hard time when she said she couldn't work b/c of school and the PCAT. When you interview, make sure they are very clear about the job pay, hours, and expectations. Don't let a corporation like Rite Aid take one over on you. My friend does like working as a tech, she just wishes that the management and techs worked more as a team. Good luck!

 

[bacillus1]

Another tech told her that if she gets a pay raise, then all their hours will be cut b/c it comes out of the same budget - I'm not sure if that's true or not. They also keep putting her on the schedule full time, and gave her a hard time when she said she couldn't work b/c of school and the PCAT. When you interview, make sure they are very clear about the job pay, hours, and expectations. Don't let a corporation like Rite Aid take one over on you. My friend does like working as a tech, she just wishes that the management and techs worked more as a team. Good luck!

I work for Rite Aid as an intern. Yes it is true that when you get a pay raise as a tech, your hours may get cut because it comes out of the same budget, depending on how your pharmacy manager feels like scheduling people. They also just became obsessed with flu shots. Now they made our store have a tech or intern per day to be a "flu shot ambassador", which just walks around the store for 3 hours harassing people to get their flu shots. My pharmacy manager just let me announce flu shots over the loudspeaker every 20-30 minutes or so instead of walking around, but they're moving her out of our store because our scores are down (and flu shot quotas aren't met). I tolerate where I work only because the people I work with make it tolerable, and because our store has 3 P3 interns (which don't count in the store budget) so we're pretty well staffed now. BTW, in my district they make techs be unionized, not sure if this is true throughout the country. The union-negotiated wage is pretty low (and they fired my friend because the pharmacist at the store where he was a tech decided to pay him more, though he was still fitting into the store budget).

In summary, work for a chain such as Rite Aid only if you have no other options. So far the only other pharmacy job that has presented itself to me is an intern position with CVS, and retail is pretty much the same in the big 3 chains, so that is why I've stayed with "wrong aid".

 

[owlegrad]

I work for Rite Aid as an intern. Yes it is true that when you get a pay raise as a tech, your hours may get cut because it comes out of the same budget, depending on how your pharmacy manager feels like scheduling people. They also just became obsessed with flu shots. Now they made our store have a tech or intern per day to be a "flu shot ambassador", which just walks around the store for 3 hours harassing people to get their flu shots. My pharmacy manager just let me announce flu shots over the loudspeaker every 20-30 minutes or so instead of walking around, but they're moving her out of our store because our scores are down (and flu shot quotas aren't met). I tolerate where I work only because the people I work with make it tolerable, and because our store has 3 P3 interns (which don't count in the store budget) so we're pretty well staffed now. BTW, in my district they make techs be unionized, not sure if this is true throughout the country. The union-negotiated wage is pretty low (and they fired my friend because the pharmacist at the store where he was a tech decided to pay him more, though he was still fitting into the store budget).

In summary, work for a chain such as Rite Aid only if you have no other options. So far the only other pharmacy job that has presented itself to me is an intern position with CVS, and retail is pretty much the same in the big 3 chains, so that is why I've stayed with "wrong aid".

Do you mean the company fired him because he made too much?

I thought a union negotiated wage meant everyone got paid the same. Not so?

 

[bacillus1]

Do you mean the company fired him because he made too much?

I thought a union negotiated wage meant everyone got paid the same. Not so?

Yes, and the pharmacist didn't enroll him in the union and gave him a higher wage, because it was for an evening shift and he had a hard time finding someone else reliable to work that shift therefore my friend was fired because he was making more than the union-negotiated wage. I'm not sure how the PIC could change payroll, maybe the store manager was in on it too, but all I know is my friend was gone within 2 months of being hired.

 

[owlegrad]

Yes, and the pharmacist didn't enroll him in the union and gave him a higher wage, because it was for an evening shift and he had a hard time finding someone else reliable to work that shift therefore my friend was fired because he was making more than the union-negotiated wage.

Not many unions here in FL, so I am not at all familiar with how unions work. But I just don't understand what you are saying. You can fire someone for making above the union wage? I don't understand how.

And why would the pharmacist do that, unless he didn't know that would happen? I guess I am trying to get a feel for how common this is...

 

[owlegrad]

Yes, and the pharmacist didn't enroll him in the union and gave him a higher wage, because it was for an evening shift and he had a hard time finding someone else reliable to work that shift therefore my friend was fired because he was making more than the union-negotiated wage. I'm not sure how the PIC could change payroll, maybe the store manager was in on it too, but all I know is my friend was gone within 2 months of being hired.

Is being in the union a condition of employment?

 

[bacillus1]

Is being in the union a condition of employment?

Yes, that's why my friend had no case to argue after he was fired, since he was technically not following company policy. Just saying that unionization isn't always a good thing, as the wages for techs are pretty low and have no prospect of becoming higher. I wouldn't know the full details of unionization, as I started with the company as an intern and of course interns aren't unionized.

 

[xswtxstinax]

that is very true. I work as a technician at Rite Aid but I started as a clerk first. everyone hired at Rite Aid, clerks and technicians, are supposed to be in the union. The union usually sends them a letter to sign up within a couple of months. However, some people somehow go unnoticed and never get this letter from the union so they never had to pay the dues. But when they do get caught, they have a LOT of money to pay back for the length of time they have worked there. With our current contract in the local union the tech can make up to $17.50. However, that is a long ways a way because you start at $11. For every certain amount of hours you work you get a little raise until you meet the max of the $17.50 as denoted by the union contract. Don't forget though, this is according to my union. Depending on where the Rite Aid is located and what district it's in, they may have a whole different contract.

now back to the original topic, I didn't even know they interviewed people because at my pharmacy we just hire people, no formal interviews. the people just have to do this phone questionnaire that pretty much acts as the interview. being a technician is pretty fun but it can get extremely stressful. with the economy the way it is, Rite Aid is cutting budget here and there. We have barely enough people to function but then again my store is second highest volume in the district so we are super busy.

I would guess in the interview you should emphasize qualities that a technician must have: communication skills, customer service, multitasking, speed, learn easily, not computer illiterate, phone etiquette, patience! just giving you a heads up that patience is extremely important because you WILL get customers who wants things right then and there no matter how busy you are. there will be customers who scream and curse and make you feel like crap but then are also customers who are like your family and are super nice that brings you treats and stuffs. just want you to know what you're getting yourself into

I am so sorry about the super long post. I guess I got carried away

 

[bacillus1]

that is very true. I work as a technician at Rite Aid but I started as a clerk first. everyone hired at Rite Aid, clerks and technicians, are supposed to be in the union. The union usually sends them a letter to sign up within a couple of months. However, some people somehow go unnoticed and never get this letter from the union so they never had to pay the dues. But when they do get caught, they have a LOT of money to pay back for the length of time they have worked there. With our current contract in the local union the tech can make up to $17.50. However, that is a long ways a way because you start at $11. For every certain amount of hours you work you get a little raise until you meet the max of the $17.50 as denoted by the union contract. Don't forget though, this is according to my union. Depending on where the Rite Aid is located and what district it's in, they may have a whole different contract.

now back to the original topic, I didn't even know they interviewed people because at my pharmacy we just hire people, no formal interviews. the people just have to do this phone questionnaire that pretty much acts as the interview. being a technician is pretty fun but it can get extremely stressful. with the economy the way it is, Rite Aid is cutting budget here and there. We have barely enough people to function but then again my store is second highest volume in the district so we are super busy.

I would guess in the interview you should emphasize qualities that a technician must have: communication skills, customer service, multitasking, speed, learn easily, not computer illiterate, phone etiquette, patience! just giving you a heads up that patience is extremely important because you WILL get customers who wants things right then and there no matter how busy you are. there will be customers who scream and curse and make you feel like crap but then are also customers who are like your family and are super nice that brings you treats and stuffs. just want you to know what you're getting yourself into

I am so sorry about the super long post. I guess I got carried away

11? Wow. I know a year and a half ago the starting pay here was 7.65. Not sure what it is now, but I don't imagine it's much higher.

 

[Cataly5t]

You wouldn't happen to know what kinds of questions your friend was asked during the rite aid interview, would you? Are they situational? (what would you do if a customer is being very difficult, etc) Or are they more traditional? (why do you want to work here?, Why pharmacy? etc.). The pharmacist also gave me a screening number for me to call. Any idea what that's about?