Pharmacy Experience

[isw845]

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Hi guys,

So this summer, in addition to some summer school units, I wanted to get some experience in the pharmacy. I've applied to Walgreens, hopefully to do their training program if I get in. I also asked an independent pharmacy, and they agreed to let me volunteer there over the summer.

Which would provide the better experience (assuming I get into the Walgreens one) and potentially look better on the resume - an independent or a chain?

Thanks!

 

[All4MyDaughter]

When I did the Walgreens Summer Internship program it was full time. I don't know how you'd manage that plus class plus volunteering at an independent. But if you are prepharmacy, maybe you aren't talking about the same Walgreens summer program. The one I did was just for pharmacy students.

The big thing is get SOME kind of experience. The kind that will lead to a job if you are lucky. Employers want to see a history of good work experience.

 

[NaOH]

Hi guys,

So this summer, in addition to some summer school units, I wanted to get some experience in the pharmacy. I've applied to Walgreens, hopefully to do their training program if I get in. I also asked an independent pharmacy, and they agreed to let me volunteer there over the summer.

Which would provide the better experience (assuming I get into the Walgreens one) and potentially look better on the resume - an independent or a chain?

Thanks!

As someone who has never worked at an independent... I don't think there'd be a huge difference, really. As a tech, you're going to be doing pretty much the same kinds of work no matter where you go. Assuming an independent is lower volume, you might have more time to observe the pharmacists at work, ask questions, etc.

But Walgreens = getting paid. 😛

 

[R2pharmD2]

Hi guys,

So this summer, in addition to some summer school units, I wanted to get some experience in the pharmacy. I've applied to Walgreens, hopefully to do their training program if I get in. I also asked an independent pharmacy, and they agreed to let me volunteer there over the summer.

Which would provide the better experience (assuming I get into the Walgreens one) and potentially look better on the resume - an independent or a chain?

Thanks!

I would think that actually working as a tech would beat the pants off of volunteering (I assume you mean you've applied for a tech position? Do people apply for volunteer positions??). You're getting paid for one thing. You have a lot more opportunity for hands on as well.

I don't know much about independent pharmacies, but I don't know that volunteering at one would "look better" vs. a chain pharmacy. Maybe one of the other posters with independent experience can chime in here if there are other benefits I've overlooked.

 

[Notecard]

If you are really wanting experience then why not do both? As a volunteer they probably won't be strict as to when you will have to come in. When I volunteered they were fine with me coming in once a week for 4-5 hours. Pretty manageable.

 

[isw845]

What about in getting a recommendation? In an independent I would be working alongside probably the sole pharmacist that owns the shop, but I'm afraid at a retail I wouldn't really have a sole person to ask/get to know.

 

[thecoolpharmboi]

What about in getting a recommendation? In an independent I would be working alongside probably the sole pharmacist that owns the shop, but I'm afraid at a retail I wouldn't really have a sole person to ask/get to know.

I don't think that will be a problem. I shadowed at Walgreens for 8 months and got a recommendation letter from the pharmacy manager. I happened to know it's a really good letter 🙂. I don't think you'll find a problem with getting one from Walgreens, assuming you meet/befriend the right pharmacist(s).

 

[cvstriker]

Does Walgreens put you through a training program if you're hired as a pharm tech? I want to take some summer classes and get some experience as well but I'm not sure if I'd have the time for it.

 

[NaOH]

Does Walgreens put you through a training program if you're hired as a pharm tech? I want to take some summer classes and get some experience as well but I'm not sure if I'd have the time for it.

Yes and no, kinda. They have a pretty extensive training program, but it's all computerized. In my case, they stuck me in the back room next to the office (that stayed about 65 degrees the entire time, geez) and I plowed through it all in 3 - 4 days. After that, it was just on-the-job, mouth-shut-and-eyes/ears-open training.

 

[crazybob]

At at independent, I think they would be able to teach you a lot more and spend more time with you on days that it's fairly slow. As long as you ask questions, they'll probably provide you with explanations and show you examples of what they usually do and what you would end up doing.

You can also see how employees at the pharmacy interact with the people in the community, and if you pay close attention to that, you can notice how working at an independent is different.

 

[cvstriker]

Yes and no, kinda. They have a pretty extensive training program, but it's all computerized. In my case, they stuck me in the back room next to the office (that stayed about 65 degrees the entire time, geez) and I plowed through it all in 3 - 4 days. After that, it was just on-the-job, mouth-shut-and-eyes/ears-open training.

Oh alright, that doesn't sound too bad besides the being stuck in a 65 degree room aspect of it. Thank you!