So I was fired. Now back to job hunting... questions!

[ll strife ll]

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Hey ya'll,

I've worked in a retail pharmacy as a certified pharmacy technician for past 2 years. During those 2 years, I've had 2 customer complaints.

To keep the story short, after the 2nd customer complaint, the general manager and the pharmacy manager decided that it was time to let me go.

Now, I'm looking for a pharmacy intern position and all the applications ask you to state "reason for leaving" for the previous jobs. I'm worried that putting down "terminated" may prevent me from getting the positions I pursue.

So, I'm rather perplexed over what I should put down. Do I just put down "terminated" in the applications? or is there a way around it? How often do new pharmacy employers actually contact the previous employers? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[genesis09]

A complaint a year is not that bad. The issue must have been rather serious to have been let go with such few complaints.

 

[ll strife ll]

A complaint a year is not that bad. The issue must have been rather serious to have been let go with such few complaints.

To be honest, I'm really not sure what I did. We were going through a computer system change where our usual 20-25min wait time became 45min - 1hr. So, there was a lot of unhappy people for a while.

I think the lady who complained knew the general manager of the store and went berserk about me. Only thing they told me was that I was "disrespectful."

Plus, I think my pharmacy manager knew I didn't really want the hours because she knew I was stressed about school too.

Well, I was bit shocked for being fired but I don't care about it anymore. I just wanna be able to find an intern position soon.

 

[pearljam5a1]

If you're worried about future employers contacting past employers then there should be an option on the application where it asks if it is ok to contact them. If you are worried about negative comments then just say "no" on the form. Unfortunately this will probably look suspicious on your app and you will need to be prepared to defend yourself if and when you get an interview.

Is there anyone at the store that you are still on good terms with? You can put them down as a contact instead of the manager. I'm intrigued as to why you got fired for 2 complaints.

*edit*

Well you answered most of that above.

 

[crazybob]

Are people getting more and more impatient these days?

On the last time I went to a pharmacy to get a prescription filled, I probably waited 30 minutes. It didn't bother me since I went around shopping and I ended up talking to a pharmacy student from my school.

Do people tend to stop by the pharmacy after they are done shopping? Or do they just show up and then expect leave immediately (not literally)?

 

[crazybob]

So, I'm rather perplexed over what I should put down. Do I just put down "terminated" in the applications? or is there a way around it? How often do new pharmacy employers actually contact the previous employers? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.

I heard from one of my teachers in high school who recommended putting down that you quit your job. On the forms I've filled out previously, there was an option you could choose where they ask if they can contact your previous employers. You could check 'no' and see if they can call enough of other people to get references.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Do people tend to stop by the pharmacy after they are done shopping? Or do they just show up and then expect leave immediately (not literally)?

People have a fast-food mentality about Pharmacy. God be damned if the Pharmacist performs some QA on your box of Nasonex with a sticker slapped on it.

 

[johnep34]

The complaint was really about the delay at the store and you were just the unlucky one who was sent out to deal with the customer. She just wanted to vent off and blame someone and you were the fall guy. Much easier for the store to blame you rather than admit systems at fault. Shooting the messenger comes to mind. Unfortunately this also happens in UK. We now have the Pharmacists Defence Association (PDA) to help in these situations. They would probably have got you a pay off for wrongful dismissal. There is a link somewhere on the forum or do a google.
johnep

 

[tlh908]

Something tells me we aren't being told the whole story. I have never heard of a tech get canned for a 45 minute wait time. That is a system problem usually and not a people problem. There has to be something else we aernt being told.

 

[pharmwannebe2]

Something tells me we aren't being told the whole story. I have never heard of a tech get canned for a 45 minute wait time. That is a system problem usually and not a people problem. There has to be something else we aernt being told.

there is something we aren't being told. Who cares about the wait time that much to fire someone.

 

[litetigre]

There's a difference between fire and letgo. If they let u resign, then u can always say you want to go back to school. If you are fired, you must have done something violating company policy. Either way, everything is in your record. Don't think of just making things up.

 

[nafcillin]

you mean board record? I don't think his license was suspended because of an angry customer incident. He didn't divert narcs. I just think the place didn't like him and was looking for a reason to let him go. There is no "record" for reputation as we don't pass around slam books, just the average rumor mill.

 

[genesis09]

Techs are generally fired for two big reasons stealing or being late for work. I've had people complain about the wait time, but no one has ever gotten disciplined over it. The wait time is something we can't control.

 

[litetigre]

you mean board record? I don't think his license was suspended because of an angry customer incident. He didn't divert narcs. I just think the place didn't like him and was looking for a reason to let him go. There is no "record" for reputation as we don't pass around slam books, just the average rumor mill.

Not the board record...employment record. It will go toward unemployement record and company record just in case the laid-off/fired person applies for unemployment/sues the company.

 

[scavok]

In the OP's defense (and I'm not saying I can guarantee he's telling the truth), but the company I work for just spent millions on getting a new computer system for the whole chain's pharmacies. The system cost way to much, is much less efficient and it just plain frustrating. For a while business dropped because our wait time more than doubled during the transition. Business went down but effort work went up because of the computers. They had to let people go since they had to pay for the system and lack of business which kept the wait time high and everyone overworked.

When a customer demands action be taken to prevent yet another 45 minute wait (and the company isn't about to admit their mistake in buying a POS system) letting a cranky, overworked technician go has happened plenty of times.

When I've had the issue of not wanting a new employer to contact an old one I just checkmark that box saying not to. During the interview I tell them that I still work there and they don't know I'm looking around at new jobs. I never did that in the realm of pharmacy, but it worked in other retail aspects.

 

[Short Round]

Are people getting more and more impatient these days?

On the last time I went to a pharmacy to get a prescription filled, I probably waited 30 minutes. It didn't bother me since I went around shopping and I ended up talking to a pharmacy student from my school.

Do people tend to stop by the pharmacy after they are done shopping? Or do they just show up and then expect leave immediately (not literally)?

you'd be surprised. I have people that drop off the RX and just HOVER at the counter...others ask how long and I tell them like maybe 10 min cuz its sort of slow and they give me a disgusted look and huff and puff away... i just shake my head (and spit in their recon amox-clav...jk... )

 

[crossurfingers]

Are people getting more and more impatient these days?

On the last time I went to a pharmacy to get a prescription filled, I probably waited 30 minutes. It didn't bother me since I went around shopping and I ended up talking to a pharmacy student from my school.

Do people tend to stop by the pharmacy after they are done shopping? Or do they just show up and then expect leave immediately (not literally)?

Some jerk face patients think everything, including the pharmacy, should revolve around them. I got reported to corporate by some guy who was outraged that a refill would take 45 minutes. It was 5:30pm, we had one out of two techs call out sick and had 20 prescriptions still needing to be typed, 25+ needing to be filled and verified as well as a steady stream of customers in the in/out window. He complained to the store manager that his prescription "should only take one minute" and that it was mine and the tech's fault for being incompetent. Lovely experience overall. 👍

 

[johnep34]

'Can I have it right away, it's only tablets.' Often pt has waited few minutes in a queue all saying the same with others waiting behind as well.
Pharmacies are now treated like fast food outlets and are to blame for parking fines, children/dogs left in cars and anything else the customer can think of. All part of the 'me' culture.
johnep

 

[crazybob]

'Can I have it right away, it's only tablets.' Often pt has waited few minutes in a queue all saying the same with others waiting behind as well.
Pharmacies are now treated like fast food outlets and are to blame for parking fines, children/dogs left in cars and anything else the customer can think of. All part of the 'me' culture.
johnep

I thought there were enough parking spaces at every pharmacy. If there are no spots and they have to park on the street why wouldn't they choose to go to a different pharmacy?

 

[crossurfingers]

I thought there were enough parking spaces at every pharmacy. If there are no spots and they have to park on the street why wouldn't they choose to go to a different pharmacy?

Maybe the OP means people having to feed the meter and getting a ticket if the time expires. Don't you just love the "I have a cab waiting for me outside with the meter running" and "I have to be at the airport in 10 minutes". Another one that has been increasing in frequency lately is, "I'm a doctor and I'm tired and going home from work. I'll be there in 5 minutes." Right.