Walgreens Or Cvs

[muksyed]

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IS IT BETTER FOR ME TO WORK AS PHARMACY TECHNICIAN AT CVS OR WALGREENS. WHICH ONE HAS THE BETTER PAY, BENEFITS ETC.

ALL TECHNICIAN'S INSIGHT IS NEEDED🙄🙄🙄🙄

THANKS IN ADVANCE

 

[TTUMike]

I currently work at Walgreens and have been working for years so my opinion may be biased. I'm not certain but I hear that Walgreens pays more than CVS. The one thing I am certain about is that Walgreens has far better benefits if you are thinking long term. As far as retirement is concerned, Walgreens currently pays $3.25 to every $1 that you put into your retirement. This is unheard of in any company. They also offer compensation if you decide to continue your career after pharmacy school. They will pay $3,000 for prerequisite work after acceptance from pharmacy school then $1,500 for every year in pharmacy school. You could also earn signing bonuses from $10,000 to $25,000 depending on what city you would like to work in. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[GatorRxGirl]

holy caps lock, batman.

 

[Sparda29]

I've been told that Walgreen's pays more, but with that extra pay comes a stricter dress code, and less flexibility when you need days off.

When you need days off at CVS, all you need to do is find someone who wants your hours for the week. They are usually cool about it unless you find a n00b to cover your hours.

 

[TTUMike]

I'm not sure about every Walgreens but the same goes as far as time off is concerned. That is a matter of discretion. Most managers do not care if you want time off in short notice so long as you find someone realiable enough to fill in for you.

 

[Sparda29]

I just wish that the scheduling system was computerized. That way, if a tech/intern needed a day off, they could post it up on the computer like 3 weeks in advance, and at the same time there could be a parallel system where you can request additional hours, and thus the computer automatically places the person who is requesting additional hours into the timeslot of the person who is requesting a day off.

 

[ALLNuclear]

Alright. Slightly off topic. Speaking of dress code...

I'm currently a nursing student, so maybe you won't understand my enthusiasm behind this question.

As a pharmacist, can you usually get away with wearing your hair down if it's long?

Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever come across a pharmacist with long hair, but I want to keep mine.

 

[TTUMike]

No, it must be in a hairnet. Well of course you can wear it down, you can even wear it in pigtails if you like.

 

[TTUMike]

I just wish that the scheduling system was computerized. That way, if a tech/intern needed a day off, they could post it up on the computer like 3 weeks in advance, and at the same time there could be a parallel system where you can request additional hours, and thus the computer automatically places the person who is requesting additional hours into the timeslot of the person who is requesting a day off.

wow CVS catch up with the times. Walgreens already has that in place. Sparda you need to quit CVS and work for Walgreens. Although, you may be spoiled because we have computers.

 

[ALLNuclear]

You're a mean, mean individual.

"Mom! DAD! I'm going to pharmacy school! They'll let me wear my hair down!!"

What an incredible answer to the "Why Pharmacy?" question. They'll never see it coming!

To anyone who actually thinks I'm serious, boo to you. 😛

 

[IamGnart]

IS IT BETTER FOR ME TO WORK AS PHARMACY TECHNICIAN AT CVS OR WALGREENS. WHICH ONE HAS THE BETTER PAY, BENEFITS ETC.

ALL TECHNICIAN'S INSIGHT IS NEEDED🙄🙄🙄🙄

THANKS IN ADVANCE

i've been at tech at Walgreens for a little over 5 years now. my co-worker has a brother who works for CVS, and he said that CVS's computer system isn't advanced as Walgreens'. and plus, whether it's for a single transfer or a simple "please reverse your claim," do all CVS's like to put you on hold for a really long time or is it just me? well i've got Walgreens pride so i say work for Walgreens! haha

although i heard CVS pays more in my area, i'm sticking to Walgreens since i don't have much complaints being here. i'm part of their profit sharing plan and have accumulated alot of money into it, so hopefully, if i get into pharm school, i'll continue to stay w/Walgreens..at least that's where my mind is set at

 

[Stelazine]

There will never be a clear winner in the Wags vs CVS debate. Your experience in a retail pharmacy depends in large part on the other people that work there. I've never worked for another chain before, but there are plenty of posts arguing that one chain is better than another. Personally, I have worked for CVS for over 8 years and I think it is a great company. I think that they pay me very well, the hours are incredibly flexible and the benefits are excellent. In fact I had no interest in the field of pharmacy whatsoever until I started to work for CVS while getting a degree in socg.

I've worked in several different CVS stores and some I've really enjoyed working in and others not so much, but again it all boils down to who your coworkers and managers are. In order to make this decision, you need to talk to people who work in the stores that you are actually interested in applying to. Gross generalizations about the mega-corporations are not going to tell you what kind of experiences you will have working in your pharmacy

 

[Sparda29]

What I do know about CVS is that if you take an extended vacation, your profile might be deleted in the system then you have to go through the whole hiring process again.

I'm really worried about that since I'm not gonna be working for like 2-3 weeks at the end of August and beginning of September.

 

[nimitz25]

My opinion:

I worked for both companies - about 2 months at walgreens and now almost 2 years at cvs
difference - walgreens has a better computer system, cvs has more employees working making it easier on workload, its more fun to work at cvs. In terms of pay, walgreens pays a little more but cvs is catching up as well as cvs computer system is being upgraded I believe October (not sure). In terms of benefits, walgreens has more options like you can invest into the company and they match whatever you put in. If your going to be a pharmacy student walgreens has a scholarship ($10,000 I think). CVS has one too but you can only apply during your 2nd year (p2). There are alot of differences but overall, I felt more comfortable at CVS.

 

[GoCats327]

I work for Walgreens as Senior Certified Pharmacy Technician, they payed for all of my training and have been an amazingly wonderful company to work for in my experience. As a Senior Tech I get bonuses on top of my hourly pay which in my own research is competitive pay for the area I live in, so that is a very nice incentive.

I have a question--what does CVS stand for?

 

[omnione]

There will never be a clear winner in the Wags vs CVS debate. Your experience in a retail pharmacy depends in large part on the other people that work there. I've never worked for another chain before, but there are plenty of posts arguing that one chain is better than another. Personally, I have worked for CVS for over 8 years and I think it is a great company. I think that they pay me very well, the hours are incredibly flexible and the benefits are excellent. In fact I had no interest in the field of pharmacy whatsoever until I started to work for CVS while getting a degree in socg.

I've worked in several different CVS stores and some I've really enjoyed working in and others not so much, but again it all boils down to who your coworkers and managers are. In order to make this decision, you need to talk to people who work in the stores that you are actually interested in applying to. Gross generalizations about the mega-corporations are not going to tell you what kind of experiences you will have working in your pharmacy

+1

I am an intern at Wal-Mart and I personally thought that it would be a personal hell working there. However, the pharmacists and tech there are helpful and kind while the Connexus computer system is updated and efficient.

Simply put, having a nice hourly rate, computer system, and patient population is moot if your coworkers and management are grade-A d*uchebags.

Some questions you could ask the pharmacist when applying are:

1. What's the computer system like?
2. How many scripts do you fill a day (300-400 is intermediate, anything below that is slow and anything more is a little fast)?
3. How many people are employed in this pharmacy right now? (A lower script load may be deceptively fast if you work in a place with a few people versus a high-script store with ten people employed)
4. What's the turnover rate here?
5. Are there any discounts? Hey, most of us are poor so discounts are good.😀

 

[fiorio]

I work for Walgreens as Senior Certified Pharmacy Technician, they payed for all of my training and have been an amazingly wonderful company to work for in my experience. As a Senior Tech I get bonuses on top of my hourly pay which in my own research is competitive pay for the area I live in, so that is a very nice incentive.

I have a question--what does CVS stand for?

cheap to employees, vicious to customers, stupid in company management.

don't work for CVS, i have been in the CVS trap for 2 years. trying to get out of it.

 

[TTUMike]

ClosingVerySoon

 

[Sparda29]

LOL, I thought our 220 scripts a day was busy for a pharmacy. Then again, the most amount of techs we ever have during a specific day is 3.

That and, people just seem to come in bursts at our pharmacy. Like there would be a period of like 40 scripts in one hour, followed by 5 scripts for the next 3 hours, then 20 in one hour, etc.

 

[Nhieny]

ClosingVerySoon

LOL truly hilarious. I wish that was the case for the CVS I worked at for 12 months. My pay was HORRIBLE - slightly more than minimum wage and I was busting my butt while the other techs goofed around. After I got tech certified, they refused to give me a raise because I had not been there a full year. I'm with a better pharmacy now and though our script count is only 15-100 depending on the day, I am getting paid A LOT better and it's fun going into work and actually being able to socialize with the patients and peruse the sale racks :-D Yes those 15 script days can sound quite boring, but it's all about what you do with your time. There is always something to do in a pharmacy.

 

[GoCats327]

Hahaha!! Hilarious. I know that at work, we had a pharmacist who had previously worked for Rite Aid, and calls it Wrong Aid. So at our pharmacy we all call the chain by that title amongst ourselves hehe.

 

[Aggie07]

Consumer Value Stores

 

[UTPharm]

Yup, I worked for CVS back after my first year of pre-pharm as a tech, and got paid 6.50 an hour as a tech. 500+ script a day store, it blew. Manager would schedule me for six 4 hour shifts some weeks, and I told her several times that I lived ~20 min away, and i didn't want to be driving 40 min total to work 4 hours. LOTS more complaints, but those were the 2 biggest. Thankfully after the 3 months I went back to school, and the following summer I worked at a hospital.

LOL truly hilarious. I wish that was the case for the CVS I worked at for 12 months. My pay was HORRIBLE - slightly more than minimum wage and I was busting my butt while the other techs goofed around. After I got tech certified, they refused to give me a raise because I had not been there a full year. I'm with a better pharmacy now and though our script count is only 15-100 depending on the day, I am getting paid A LOT better and it's fun going into work and actually being able to socialize with the patients and peruse the sale racks :-D Yes those 15 script days can sound quite boring, but it's all about what you do with your time. There is always something to do in a pharmacy.

 

[BioKim]

I work for F1 aka Walgreens (inside joke) but 220 scripts are a blessing in Vegas we have stores that do 800 scripts a day and there is a Walgreens every block. Walgreens is great but I hope I get out without high blood pressure and anxiety problems. Thats why Im opting to do clinical pharmacy when I graduate.

 

[calnation]

Cvs stands for GNARLY-LAME.

 

[RxWildcat]

Hahaha!! Hilarious. I know that at work, we had a pharmacist who had previously worked for Rite Aid, and calls it Wrong Aid. So at our pharmacy we all call the chain by that title amongst ourselves hehe.

Rite Aid is definitely Wrong Aid

 

[GoCats327]

haha F1 aka Walgreens I like that, BioKim 🙂

 

[mrblah]

edit

 

[Gitana]

In order to make this decision, you need to talk to people who work in the stores that you are actually interested in applying to. Gross generalizations about the mega-corporations are not going to tell you what kind of experiences you will have working in your pharmacy

Stores can differ greatly within the same chain. I just started at Walgreens around a month ago, I work full time and I already have every other weekend off, plus the manager agreed to also give me the day I need for my Org Chem.

Dress code? Our manager decided we should all wear jackets (just like his 😀) and bottoms can be anything solid and dark-colored (including jeans), as long as they look nice and are not blue jeans. Our senior tech wears this ugly, funny-looking shoes sometimes. Of course, we are this very small, very slow store (something like 120/day). We probably wouldn't be able to get away with that in a bigger store.

Bottom line, I absolutely agree that you should try to research stores, not chains, specially if you're not thinking about staying long-term.

 

[optimistic828]

Sorry to bring up an older thread but I wanted insight on something.

I recently got a job as a Pharm tech at a smaller chain drug store called Sav-on Drugs. There is just a couple of them in the area compared to walgreens and CVS which you can find within every mile. So I was just wondering does it matter where you get a job? I figured, experience is well... experience! I still get to work with a pharmacist in a community pharmacy so would there be a difference between this and a walgreens/cvs?

they seem to be more flexible and relaxed when it comes to dress code and days off so that totally works in my benefit.

would adcoms look down upon this compared to someone who has the same amount of experience but at a bigger chain or a more nationally known pharmacy?

any thoughts would be appreciated! thankss

 

[jmcfa002]

CVS all the way!
It really depends though...On who you work with and who your regular patients are. They make up the pharmacy. Good pay and benefits wouldn't make up for poor conditions. But you can't tell which is better until you've worked in each one, so .....ya

 

[optimistic828]

it's in a great central location... and it seems to be very busy too. The manager said that they fill about 400 scripts a day so I guess that's a lot?!

I just don't want to be robbed of my community pharmacy experience or for it to look down upon 😱

 

[parabolic]

Sorry to bring up an older thread but I wanted insight on something.

I recently got a job as a Pharm tech at a smaller chain drug store called Sav-on Drugs. There is just a couple of them in the area compared to walgreens and CVS which you can find within every mile. So I was just wondering does it matter where you get a job? I figured, experience is well... experience! I still get to work with a pharmacist in a community pharmacy so would there be a difference between this and a walgreens/cvs?

they seem to be more flexible and relaxed when it comes to dress code and days off so that totally works in my benefit.

would adcoms look down upon this compared to someone who has the same amount of experience but at a bigger chain or a more nationally known pharmacy?

any thoughts would be appreciated! thankss

Not everyone can get a job at a CVS or Walgreens, and smaller chains need employees too! Nothing wrong with it at all. So long as you make the Sav-On Drugs job a valuable experience --and articulate that in your personal statement and interview-- it's worth just as much as any other pharmacy experience.

 

[nervoushabits]

I'm a Walgreen-er. I enjoy it a lot! The best part in my opinion is that when I go to school, I can transfer to another store without any issues. I don't know if CVS is the same or not, but it's really nice if you want to pick up some hours during the school year. Also, the pharmacists and store managers are generally nice. I applied to CVS, and the guy I interviewed with was a jerk, so I have it out for CVS to begin with.. 🙂

 

[jmcfa002]

I'm a Walgreen-er. I enjoy it a lot! The best part in my opinion is that when I go to school, I can transfer to another store without any issues. I don't know if CVS is the same or not, but it's really nice if you want to pick up some hours during the school year. Also, the pharmacists and store managers are generally nice. I applied to CVS, and the guy I interviewed with was a jerk, so I have it out for CVS to begin with.. 🙂

Ya you can transfer between stores at CVS as well. I will be doing the same

 

[Bowler11]

I'm a Walgreen-er. I enjoy it a lot! The best part in my opinion is that when I go to school, I can transfer to another store without any issues. I don't know if CVS is the same or not, but it's really nice if you want to pick up some hours during the school year. Also, the pharmacists and store managers are generally nice. I applied to CVS, and the guy I interviewed with was a jerk, so I have it out for CVS to begin with.. 🙂

Oddly enough the guy that interviewed me at Walgreens was a jerk. I have worked at CVS for a little over four years and have enjoyed it. As a tech, the pay was competitive with Walgreens, but as an intern, CVS pays more (Green Bay area). There positives and negatives about both companies, but as of now you just want to find a job at a pharmacy. Both look good on resumes and thats what you need. Since there are so many shout outs towards walgreens I have to say.....GO CVS!

 

[TonyRx]

I have been an assistant manager for walgreens for 3 years, and on a slightly biased opinion...I'd go with Walgreens for sure.

I know a CVS store manager, and a CVS pharmacist...both are not very pleased with how CVS operates. That being, on a store level, both in the pharmacy and front of the store(self service). With my little personal exposure to their stores, I don't care much for how they do things either.

I will say that Walgreens has a superior benefits package(profit-sharing, 401k, vacations, health insurance, stock options, etc.), if you are looking to stay with them in the long run(5+ years). Example: I contributed a simple $400 to profit sharing last year, and Walgreens turned around and matched that with giving me $1240. That's a 3.1:1 match on my dollar.

As for CphT's, Walgreens has introduced our new POWER program. Currently, Orlando is the test market and then Miami. From there, it will be company wide in a few years. Pharmacists are now freed up from phone calls, filling, and distractions....and are allowed to consult patients more. Basically, trying to utilize their expertise in drugs and help the patients on a more personal level. Techs have more control now, and are getting more exposure to the drugs and filling process. Their is a lot more behind the scenes that goes on in our POWER program, but I am not really allowed to talk about it in detail.

I currently have the option to continue on the store management track with Walgreens(still very rewarding), but I have decided I want to pursue my career with them as a Pharmacist. I spend a lot of time in the pharmacy as a manager, and I feel very comfortable and satisfied back there. Furthermore, all the Techs I have talked to seem to be happy and satisfied.

Lastly, both are in a retail environment and anyone deciding to work at either chain will have to deal with the headaches that come along with retail pharmacy. As a lesser of two evils issue....Walgreens wins.

 

[JoJo1972]

My opinion:

I worked for both companies - about 2 months at walgreens and now almost 2 years at cvs
difference - walgreens has a better computer system, cvs has more employees working making it easier on workload, its more fun to work at cvs. In terms of pay, walgreens pays a little more but cvs is catching up as well as cvs computer system is being upgraded I believe October (not sure). In terms of benefits, walgreens has more options like you can invest into the company and they match whatever you put in. If your going to be a pharmacy student walgreens has a scholarship ($10,000 I think). CVS has one too but you can only apply during your 2nd year (p2). There are alot of differences but overall, I felt more comfortable at CVS.

I have worked for CVS and the corp computer will term you after 30 days of no hours input. It really isn't a big deal to get put back in though. You go without your discount card for awhile, but you don't have to go through the whole rehire process. The manager of your home store just rehires you in the computer.

 

[JoJo1972]

I think Wal-greens in better, and applied twice. Yet I am employeed at CVS and they do some things that just are not just. My biggest is they based our raises on the pharmacy dept. triple S score. One bad apple and it spoils the bushell. The second is in my area starting pay in my area is $9.50/hr CVS and $11.25/hr Wal-greens. CVS is in the process of updating their computer systems. They use a system very similair to a DOS program. The system uses "F" keys to access different screens, and and "ctrl" letter keys. Very confusing system to learn. At the stores in my area all counting machines were removed. Very basic pharmacy, and district doesn't provide enough hours for quality customer service. I have not worked any hours in over a month so I'm sure the corp comp. has termed me. I don't mind I have so many other things that need my attention right now. To conclude I say go with Wal-greens or Wal-mart.

 

[PandaDoctor]

Sorry to bring up an older thread but I wanted insight on something.

I recently got a job as a Pharm tech at a smaller chain drug store called Sav-on Drugs. There is just a couple of them in the area compared to walgreens and CVS which you can find within every mile. So I was just wondering does it matter where you get a job? I figured, experience is well... experience! I still get to work with a pharmacist in a community pharmacy so would there be a difference between this and a walgreens/cvs?

they seem to be more flexible and relaxed when it comes to dress code and days off so that totally works in my benefit.

would adcoms look down upon this compared to someone who has the same amount of experience but at a bigger chain or a more nationally known pharmacy?

any thoughts would be appreciated! thankss

Sorry to derail the thread somewhat but did you apply online or in store at Savon? I've been trying to get a job at Walgreens/CVS as a Pharm tech but no luck so far. I found out there's a few sav on drugs in my area and tried to apply online but it keeps giving me a "ACCESS FORBIDDEN" message. Just wanted to know how they do it before I spend gas driving over to the one I want to apply to.

 

[JoJo1972]

Applying online is not the best way to apply at CVS. Online apps go to district. The in store apps print in the pharmacy you applied. Much better chance of getting hired.

 

[Shelabo]

I work for Walgreens as Senior Certified Pharmacy Technician, they payed for all of my training and have been an amazingly wonderful company to work for in my experience. As a Senior Tech I get bonuses on top of my hourly pay which in my own research is competitive pay for the area I live in, so that is a very nice incentive.

I have a question--what does CVS stand for?

CVS stands for "Consumer Value Store." That was the first thing I learned during training!!! I've been working at CVS for three months. I work at the #1 CVS in our district and its tough to keep up with pace and learn the whole process at the same time, but the work environment is great. I work with true professionals that enjoy their jobs. What's great about CVS is you only have to work 30 hours to be considered full time (where benefits start). Benefits include $1000 towards school as a full time employee, full health/dental benefits, training to become cert. pharm tech and they pay for the exam. Pay is minimal (starting $8.25 as a support staff, then $8.95 as a tech) but every year you get an automatic %5 raise. They do offer a discount on stock (I can't remember how much, but I want to say 15%). For me, I had no choice because the closest Walgreens is an hour away. Good luck choosing!

 

[optimistic828]

Sorry to derail the thread somewhat but did you apply online or in store at Savon? I've been trying to get a job at Walgreens/CVS as a Pharm tech but no luck so far. I found out there's a few sav on drugs in my area and tried to apply online but it keeps giving me a "ACCESS FORBIDDEN" message. Just wanted to know how they do it before I spend gas driving over to the one I want to apply to.

After applying online at both CVS, Walgreens, AND Riteaid, I started visiting the ones I was really eager to work at and they mostly kept on saying that there were no positions available but if something opens up, they have ny name number and app so they will contact me. I needed the job asap and didn't want to wait a couple months so I started calling other pharmacies; Kroger, Kmart, Sav-on. I would just ask if they were hiring pharmtechs and found a winner at a close by Sav-On! They just asked me right then and there on the phone if I had any experience (which I do) then asked me to come into the store to fill out and application. It was just a 2 sided form that I turned in and then scheduled my first interview for the next day. I got the job right away and love it! The only thing that is kind of eh is that they have you work up front as a cashier until they feel comfortable that you know how to work their register and treat their customers well. According to them that could be about a month but I told them upfront that I have a lot of retail experience and am great with customer service and a fast learner so I hope to be able to be back in the pharmacy within 2 weeks so they appreciated the ambitiousness.

Basically, give them a call first and if they sound like a match, then its worth the drive over.

 

[DedicationNSU11]

Applying online is not the best way to apply at CVS. Online apps go to district. The in store apps print in the pharmacy you applied. Much better chance of getting hired.

How do you know this? My sister who is a manager at a CVS told me that it's the exact same thing (online and in-store both go into her computer). Also, when I completed my online app. the first thing it asked was which CVS I was interested in, and I chose the one I wanted....

 

[JoJo1972]

I say this because at my store they did not recieve my app when I applied online. I went to check on it and they told me to do it again in the store. I also know the lead tech would also tell others to apply in the store and not online. In our store the applications would print out on our Fax machine.

 

[lalaliving]

LOL truly hilarious. I wish that was the case for the CVS I worked at for 12 months. My pay was HORRIBLE - slightly more than minimum wage and I was busting my butt while the other techs goofed around. After I got tech certified, they refused to give me a raise because I had not been there a full year. I'm with a better pharmacy now and though our script count is only 15-100 depending on the day, I am getting paid A LOT better and it's fun going into work and actually being able to socialize with the patients and peruse the sale racks :-D Yes those 15 script days can sound quite boring, but it's all about what you do with your time. There is always something to do in a pharmacy.

Can I asked you where are you currently working at? Are you still with CVS?

Thanks!

 

[bluesky711]

With CVS, you don't even need a license.
Walgreens in my area only hire PharmD students.

 

[misterlao]

I used to work for CVS for about two years, I am now at Costco. The difference is night and day. CVS is horrible in about every aspect, pay, treatment of employees, and pharmacy system, avoid them if you can.