Walgreen-Pharmacy Tech

[EpicPharm]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Alright so I have decided to start working at Pharm Tech by using the in store training method rather than going with Ptcb. My school semester will start approximately two weeks and I have to decide with what retail chain I want to start. I have a preference for Walgreen and hence any advice with this store would help me a lot. However, that is why not I made this thread.
I am not sure on how the process will proceed. Considering I have no certification or registration of any kind. I also do not have any pharmacy experience. If I apply to Walgreens instore application what will happen next? How will they know if I am there for training program. And say if they do accept me for the position how will the training proceed? Will I still be payed during that time period? How long is the training (considering I have on campus jobs/school work/volunteering)?
Also if I later want to gather my training knowledge and in a year start working for a independent pharmacy, would quitting Walgreen look bad for my pharmacy application and future pharmacy career?

-->>Main reason I want to go Walgreens is because I heard they are not union; while likes of CVS/Rite Aid are union based chains. I am not sure how that will affect me though.

Any information regarding my questions would be reallly appreciated! I do not know any pharmacist and the prepharm students I know do not give information out because they see me as competition. So this is my last resource before I break away from the stream and start swimming in the ocean 🙂.

 

[photografreak]

I think it all depends on which state you are from and the requirements of being a tech there. My advise would be to visit each store, introduce yourself as a prepharm student to the pharmacy manager, and ask them how the process is. They are the ones who can give you a definite answer. Also, it depends on the pharmacy manager if they're willing to hire you despite a limited availability.

Don't limit yourself to only Walgreens. Apply to other chains and independent pharmacies as well.

 

[EpicPharm]

Would be awesome if i could get an insight of someone who has worked at Walgreens before either as technician or Pharmacists! I am planning to apply and visit the store in a week, so anymore advice would be very appreciated.
*Most probably will also try applying to Gaint and RiteAid, if anyone can tell me anything about those two chains that would be helpful too.

 

[JQT]

Would be awesome if i could get an insight of someone who has worked at Walgreens before either as technician or Pharmacists! I am planning to apply and visit the store in a week, so anymore advice would be very appreciated.
*Most probably will also try applying to Gaint and RiteAid, if anyone can tell me anything about those two chains that would be helpful too.

I am a pharmacy technician with Walgreens (24 hour pharmacy) for a little over 2 years now. I can say it has definitely been stressful and challenging. I always mentally threaten to quit but that's not me. There is always high volumes of patients, RXs, etc and there is ALWAYS a problem to fix. Most of the time I see retail pharmacy like McDonalds, a joke. But you know all these experiences will most definitely help me when I become a pharmacist. Patient care, assessing patient information, insurance, consultations, etc.

As a pharm tech, we are the first line of defense dealing with most of the patients other than pharmacist consultations... we get yelled at, bitched at, blamed for things going wrong.

Out of my 25 months of working here, I was complimented twice on how HARD our pharmacy staff works. One just recently.

Also my store is nicknamed "control city" because of all the controls we fill and now that there are some new laws coming, I believe workflow can be much better.

Well this is my two cents on being a pharmacy technician...