switching between retail stores

[pharmacology888]

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Hi,
I am currently thinking of switching from CVS to another retail store (or perhaps to a hospital). The location I currently work for is very busy and understaffed; so I am constantly running between the pickup window and the drive through ringing people up. I don't feel as if I have gained much experience (besides knowing how to ring customers up) in my past months of working and I'm afraid of this situation prolonging. I understand that everyone starts off at the register, but I really want to feel as if I'm put to good use. I don't blame the pharmacists for not giving me a chance to input prescriptions because I know I can't handle such a fast pace store. I was thinking maybe starting at a slower pace store will benefit me more, so I tried to switch to another location but the other less busy locations don't need any more help. So that's why I have now decided to switch to another retail store.

I need some suggestions as to what to tell the people I currently work with at CVS (because they have been so patient with me and I don't want to offend them in any way) and what to tell the other retail stores I want to work for when they ask me why I left CVS. Do I tell them the truth? If I tell the other retail stores I left CVS simply because it was a busy store, would they think I can't handle retail?
thanks

 

[MountainPharmD]

Hi,
I am currently thinking of switching from CVS to another retail store (or perhaps to a hospital). The location I currently work for is very busy and understaffed; so I am constantly running between the pickup window and the drive through ringing people up. I don't feel as if I have gained much experience (besides knowing how to ring customers up) in my past months of working and I'm afraid of this situation prolonging. I understand that everyone starts off at the register, but I really want to feel as if I'm put to good use. I don't blame the pharmacists for not giving me a chance to input prescriptions because I know I can't handle such a fast pace store. I was thinking maybe starting at a slower pace store will benefit me more, so I tried to switch to another location but the other less busy locations don't need any more help. So that's why I have now decided to switch to another retail store.

I need some suggestions as to what to tell the people I currently work with at CVS (because they have been so patient with me and I don't want to offend them in any way) and what to tell the other retail stores I want to work for when they ask me why I left CVS. Do I tell them the truth? If I tell the other retail stores I left CVS simply because it was a busy store, would they think I can't handle retail?
thanks

Your kidding?!?!?!? CVS busy and understaffed? I am shocked!

 

[twester]

Have you spoken with your pharmacy manager about what you want to get out of your experience there? I worked register exclusively only for my first days at individual pharmacies. I made it clear that I wanted to learn a variety of functions by asking detailed and relevant questions and putting myself in the position of performing those functions. In most of the pharmacies I work in regularly, I just go where I'm needed most because I have some skills at every function in the pharmacy. I have my favorite station, but only rarely get to work at it exclusively.

If you're feeling under-utilized then speak up and get the skills to make yourself valuable in other areas. 😉

 

[pharmacology888]

Yes, I do feel under-utilized but I don't know how to go about making myself more valuable (I practiced with the rx2000 discs so many times but that's still different from actual experience). If I do speak to the PIC and the if the PIC lets me try my hand at the drop off, I'm going to hold up all the stations and at such a fast pace store it's just not going to work. That's why I want to try to start off at a slower paced store so I can get more practice.
I have tried to 'glide' over to the other stations when there's no one else at the drive through or the pickup, but as soon as another customer comes (which doesn't take very long), I am expected to return to the register b/c no one else would since I'm the newest member there so I can never obtain the experience I desire.
Has anyone ever switched retail companies? What do you tell the company you work for and the company you want to work for as the reasons for leaving?
thanks once again

 

[GrignardRX]

How many people do you have working at each station? Why don't you ask your PIC if you can just be an extra guy at the drop-off station so you can enter in prescriptions on your own pace but not slowing down the work flow since there will be other people there doing the same thing. Do this for a couple of days and you should be able to enter basic prescriptions in fine. One thing that the training modules on the CD do not prepare you for is reading the actual prescription itself. A lot of doctors write like they use their feet instead of their hand, so it might take a little while before you get use to it. When I got trained, I had an experienced tech by my side pretty much guiding me through and telling me what the hell is written on the prescription. Then after that maybe you can be an extra at the Production station and practice how to fill prescriptions at a fast pace. This is what my PIC does at our store when we get a new guy.

 

[dgroulx]

Don't you rotate areas? If someone has worked drive through for 2 hours straight, then they move to in-window or filling. We call this workflow at Walgreens and it's up to the pharmacist to enforce it. Otherwise, no one would ever get out of the drive through, which is what seems to be happening in your case. You need to talk to your pharmacy manager.

 

[sdn1977]

None of us here are going to change your PIC or your situation. You want to know how to resign from a job without burning any bridges - right?

If you've not worked for them for at least 6 months, there is no good way to do this. You can be as polite, kind, grateful as you can possibly be and the PIC is still going to view all the time, training & patience which went into working with you as a waste of time.

That may not be what you want to hear, but you've got to keep a job for a least 6 months....a year is better. Thats pretty much a rule of thumb, so don't take a job unless you want to stay there for a few months.

But, if you do want to resign and when you do it, you prepare a brief letter (resignations must be in writing) telling the PIC you are resigning (with a minimum of two weeks notice), thanking him/her and his/her staff for all they've done for you and mentioning how fortunate you have been to work for CVS. You never give a reason for a resignation in your written letter - from the cashier to the CEO. You must ask for some private time with your PIC and your letter should be in an envelope with his/her name on the front, although not necessarily sealed. You hand him/her your letter and thank him/her for everything they've done for you and give him/her your last day. Be sure to say they can always call you if they need some help (this commits you to nothing - it indicates your willingness to continue to work with them & that you have no problems with the staff).

Now...when they ask you why in conversation, that is when you tell them you'd like to broadenn your professional skills. Thats all you need to say - no blame, no complaints. Just make this all about you (wanting to expand your skill set) & not about them (not letting you or giving you opportunities).

Your PIC may just says thanks & its been great working with you. Or he/she may say is there anything we could have done to make you want to stay? Thats when you bring up the things twester mentioned (& practice them first). Again, no blame. As you've identified, often really busy places are not the best locations in which to learn.

Good luck!

 

[Old Timer]

1) I would ask the PIC to have the tech trainer come in and work with you. Each employee is granted 32 training hours that DO NOT count against the store.

2) Once you have been trained, take your PIC aside and explain you are eager for more responsibility and you would like to get off of the register as a permanent station.

3) If after a fair trial of 1-2 above then follow the suggestions given by sdn1977 on the proper and professional way to resign your position.

 

[OUTexan]

What time of day do you work? I started at CVS about a year and half ago with no experience. I worked the register for about a month or two. Then, I went to filling. Then, I finally ended up inputting. My advice to you is be a sponge. Learn as much as you can in down times. One thing I would suggest is ask if you can work later at night times. If you can be the closing tech, that gives you an extra hour or two where you can type some scripts in. At our store, we do about 2200 a week. From 8-10 pm, we probably get about 10 or 15 new scripts. This is a good time to learn and usually you are caught up and most people will pick up tomorrow.

I think you need to show your PIC that you are the hardest worker there. This will help show your PIC that you are competent and worth putting you in situations that will further benefit the pharmacy.