I am applying for a pharm tech job at Wal-Mart this week and I wanted to know if anybody else worked or is working for them. I have heard alot of bad things about Wal-Mart but never the pharmacy. I also was not sure if they allow their pharm techs to work full time and have benefits?
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Pharm Tech at Wal-Mart
Started by jessicab
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jessicab said:
I started out at Wal-Mart Pharmacy in 1997. Then, 28 hours were considered full-time, so they made sure to schedule us for 27.5 hours. 😉 I think this has changed, though. According to my sister who still works at the same pharmacy, 34 hours/week is now considered full-time, and she works more than that. I don't know if all tech are allowed full-time positions. It probably varies from store to store.
I worked there for 2.5 years, beginning as a clerk (running the register and zoning) for about 3 months. One day, our only tech for the day called out sick, and I was given a "crash course" in how to do tech work. From that point on, I became a tech and gradually became proficient in many duties required of technicians.
While I won't lie and say I loved Wal-Mart or working in a retail setting, I learned a vast amount there. If I had to do it over again, just for the experience and knowledge, I would. I can't say now, though, that I'd ever want to work in a retail setting again. Who knows? Perhaps one day I'll bump my head, and retail will be the only thing on my mind. 😛
Hope this helps.
FutureRxGal said:I started out at Wal-Mart Pharmacy in 1997. Then, 28 hours were considered full-time, so they made sure to schedule us for 27.5 hours. 😉 I think this has changed, though. According to my sister who still works at the same pharmacy, 34 hours/week is now considered full-time, and she works more than that. I don't know if all tech are allowed full-time positions. It probably varies from store to store.
I worked there for 2.5 years, beginning as a clerk (running the register and zoning) for about 3 months. One day, our only tech for the day called out sick, and I was given a "crash course" in how to do tech work. From that point on, I became a tech and gradually became proficient in many duties required of technicians.
While I won't lie and say I loved Wal-Mart or working in a retail setting, I learned a vast amount there. If I had to do it over again, just for the experience and knowledge, I would. I can't say now, though, that I'd ever want to work in a retail setting again. Who knows? Perhaps one day I'll bump my head, and retail will be the only thing on my mind. 😛
Hope this helps.
FutureRxGal,
I thought of working as a pharmacy clerk at my local Wal-Mart too. What do you suggest to get in? Should I walk straight up to the pharmacist and ask if I can work as a clerk? What's the best approach, or the one that you used?
JD_USD said:
I knew someone who worked in the pharmacy, and she let me know when there was an opening. If I were you, I'd go in and ask to speak with the manager. Ask he/she directly if there are any openings, and if you get a chance, explain that you are a pre-pharmacy student.
I, too, worked as a clerk at Wal-Mart. However, when we got busy, I would help fill. I learned a lot about pharmacy operations (and dealing with difficult customers) while working there. It was overall a good experience for me. I'd recommend it. Just be prepared to be a store tour guide...."Where's Layaway? The nearest restroom? Where do I find lightbulbs?"...etc. etc...you work in the pharmacy, but people automatically assume you know the store inside & out. LOL. I'm sure it's the same way in all retail settings.
jessicab said:
As a clerk, I was able to obtain patient info and new prescriptions from patients to give to a tech or a pharmacist, answer phones, zone the aisles, and run the cash register.
As a tech, I was able to do all of the above, in addition to input and fill prescriptions, order medications, make compounds, etc.
The benefits at Wal-Mart stink so badly that they are not worth paying the premium. The deductible is so fat that the plan is basically only useful if you have a chronic disease requiring lots of medication and or doctor's visits. They will probably underpay you and treat you like crap, too. The computer system is nice, though.
Wal-Mart has an electronic drug selection system approved by our state Board of Pharmacy which lets a clerk/pharmacy assistant count and pour prescriptions.
Wal-Mart has an electronic drug selection system approved by our state Board of Pharmacy which lets a clerk/pharmacy assistant count and pour prescriptions.
At least there's a 🙂 on every aisle.
