Pharmacy Technician Q's

[youko]

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I had an interview with Walgreens last Friday and was told that they'll give me a reply on either Monday or Tuesday. Today's Friday and I haven't heard anything. Do you think I should call and ask? If they don't want me, they should call and let me know, right?

 

[sdn1977]

Welcome to the real world of employment!

No - they SHOULD not call you back when they said they would. It would be nice if they did, but its their job, their circumstance & the ball is completely in their court.

Now...to give you some perspective on how technician employment works.....you apply & if your application looks at all good, you'll get an interview. After the interview, they'll check your references - both "officially" and "unofficially". Officially means they call your past employers & the only data they'll get is dates of employment & official disciplinary actions. That will check out if you lied on your application. They'll also look in their past records to see if you've been employed anywhere else in their system.

Now...the "unofficial" reference is done by having the dms or rpms - whatever the company calls the person in charge - he or she will call his/her friend in your past employment situation if its in pharmacy & chat about new products, wholesaler situations, reimbursement issues & oh - you'll come up as well. Its always done obliquely - nothing is ever documented.

Now it comes to the timing. You had your interview the Friday before the first real holiday of the summer. Folks took off from Sat-Wed, or Mon-Wed, or Wed-this Fri...whatever. When a holiday falls mid-week - nothing administrative of any significance goes on.

So - what do or can you do? Nothing - you just wait. How long? I'd give them until a week from this Friday - about July 13. That gives everyone a full business week to do what they need to do to check you out. It also gives the dm a chance to check with pharmacists in the area to see what their needs are. If you have no experience - you'll need to have some techs around who can spend time teaching you. If you have experience, you'll need to be in a place that can take the hours you're looking for.

My advice - wait another week. Then send a nice polite phone call just checking on the status of your application & to please contact you if there is anything further they need.

Good luck!

 

[aboveliquidice]

Welcome to the real world of employment!

No - they SHOULD not call you back when they said they would. It would be nice if they did, but its their job, their circumstance & the ball is completely in their court.

Now...to give you some perspective on how technician employment works.....you apply & if your application looks at all good, you'll get an interview. After the interview, they'll check your references - both "officially" and "unofficially". Officially means they call your past employers & the only data they'll get is dates of employment & official disciplinary actions. That will check out if you lied on your application. They'll also look in their past records to see if you've been employed anywhere else in their system.

Now...the "unofficial" reference is done by having the dms or rpms - whatever the company calls the person in charge - he or she will call his/her friend in your past employment situation if its in pharmacy & chat about new products, wholesaler situations, reimbursement issues & oh - you'll come up as well. Its always done obliquely - nothing is ever documented.

Now it comes to the timing. You had your interview the Friday before the first real holiday of the summer. Folks took off from Sat-Wed, or Mon-Wed, or Wed-this Fri...whatever. When a holiday falls mid-week - nothing administrative of any significance goes on.

So - what do or can you do? Nothing - you just wait. How long? I'd give them until a week from this Friday - about July 13. That gives everyone a full business week to do what they need to do to check you out. It also gives the dm a chance to check with pharmacists in the area to see what their needs are. If you have no experience - you'll need to have some techs around who can spend time teaching you. If you have experience, you'll need to be in a place that can take the hours you're looking for.

My advice - wait another week. Then send a nice polite phone call just checking on the status of your application & to please contact you if there is anything further they need.

Good luck!

This my friend - should be learned now. Never, and I mean ever, burn a bridge when it comes to former employers.

Now - for this situation. I would wait until mid next week. If you have still not received a reply, a courtesy phone call is not out of the question. A simple " Hello, my name is X, and I just wanted to reaffirm my desire to work here. Is there anything else you need of me at this time??? No, well thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you."

The goal is to get yourself back on the radar - in a positive way.

~above~

 

[youko]

Thank you. I'll just wait.

 

[pharmacia]

I just moved to CA and called nearby Walgreen, ended up having interview but haven't heard from the manager either. In my case, I made it clear that I have a full-time job and and my limited time availability(that might be the main reason for not calling me back). But I also didn't have very good working relationship with my previous boss(personal). In Walgreen application, I specify that I didn't want them to contact my previous pharmacy manager but did provided two other pharmacists as my references. The cureent pharmacy manager seem to be so eager to hire me right off but then he always gives excuse that it was crazy and hectic that he forgot to call me.
Finally, when I showed up for part 2(skills assessment) of in-store application, he did tell me that he's concerned that I only can commit few hours and he's looking for someone who can invest more hours. However, he said he definitely wants to hire me so he'll keep my profile on-line(how long?) and asked me to call him back when I have more availability.

BTW, how long does it take to get a tech license? I found out I have to wait few weeks even to get live finger scan done and on average, it takes 3 plus months to get a tech license. what a bummer!

How's it like to work at 24 hour drivethru walgreen?

 

[StringTheorist]

I would call them back. When my pharmacy manager interviewed people, she would do them in bunches, and those who called in to check stuck out in her mind because they seemed to want it more.

 

[sdn1977]

I just moved to CA and called nearby Walgreen, ended up having interview but haven't heard from the manager either. In my case, I made it clear that I have a full-time job and and my limited time availability(that might be the main reason for not calling me back). But I also didn't have very good working relationship with my previous boss(personal). In Walgreen application, I specify that I didn't want them to contact my previous pharmacy manager but did provided two other pharmacists as my references. The cureent pharmacy manager seem to be so eager to hire me right off but then he always gives excuse that it was crazy and hectic that he forgot to call me.
Finally, when I showed up for part 2(skills assessment) of in-store application, he did tell me that he's concerned that I only can commit few hours and he's looking for someone who can invest more hours. However, he said he definitely wants to hire me so he'll keep my profile on-line(how long?) and asked me to call him back when I have more availability.

BTW, how long does it take to get a tech license? I found out I have to wait few weeks even to get live finger scan done and on average, it takes 3 plus months to get a tech license. what a bummer!

How's it like to work at 24 hour drivethru walgreen?

OK - as aboveliquid mentioned...you've started to light a fire under one end of your bridge.

First - the tech license in CA - can take months - honestly!!! For the May/June graduates of pharmacy schools - they are just now getting their dates for taking their exams. So....tech licenses are put on the back burner for now. Truly, the state board in CA is manned (or womanned - whatever) by about 3 full-time employees. Also - it takes FOREVER to get info back from the FBI which your fingerprints will go to. So - time is now your friend because you got nothin' else to do but wait.

As for your application - the first red flag was your request not to contact your previous manager. That right there would have been a big red X for me. You didn't say if the previous personal issues were in this state or were with Walgreens as well...but lets just say - whatever was known has now been found out. If you hadn't said anything at all, the manager would probably have given it to Walgreens HR & had done a standard HR check in which all they do is give dates of employment & if you'd left under proper circumstances (given a two week notice - in other words have been rehirable). But - you gave them a reason to call up & chat with the pharmacist personally. Your transgressions were probably not listed, but there are plenty of ways to say things without actually saying them. For future information - don't request a no call again.

The second issue is your full time job. If Walgreens needs a tech, they need a tech to be fully there. Even if you work only 4 hours, if that 4 hours comes after you've already done an 8 hour day - you won't be as alert, careful, patient & concientious. Remember the 20/20 segment??? They want someone who is not overloaded. If you only want part-time - be a checker - you won't kill someone checking out candy & Hallmark cards.

You can expect they'll keep your application on file for 1 year. However, he's already told you, unless you can give him more availability, you'll not be considered for the position.

Be more cautious next time - good luck!

 

[pharmacia]

Thank you for your seasoned advice sdn 1977!

I worked at Target from other state for six months as a part-time(about 8 hours a week) tech before I moved to CA. There wasn't work-related problem exactly but it was more personality conflict. My boss was on drug(both illegal and prescription drugs for depression) which made it more difficult to work with. I think I tried to maintain good working relationship but Target pharmacy managers in that area do have reputation of scandalous life and management style.

Maybe next time when I apply for tech position at other retail chains, I wouldn't list my previous pharmacy-related experiences. Even with my PTCB, since I don't have CA tech license, I can only work as a cashier even if I do get a job right?

 

[youko]

Hello everyone,

I called Walgreens today. The manager told me that they do want me to work there, but I still need to do a 2nd interview with her supervisor. Does anything like this ever happen with anyone??? If they want me, how come they didn't call?? 😕

Also, just now, CVS called for an interview with me. I didn't know what to do, so I told them the truth that I had an interview with Walgreens. He was nice and told me to call him back if I don't hear anything from Walgreens. Was that a good idea to tell him the truth? Should I just accept their interview without telling him the truth? I don't know, this is my first time applying for these kind of jobs. I'm worry.