Top 5 Pharmacy Technician Interview Questions

Pharmacy technicians play an important role in ensuring pharmacy operations run smoothly. Some duties performed by pharmacy technicians are taking prescriptions, mixing, counting, and measuring medications, making labels and taking payments. When it comes to hiring for these positions, asking the right interview questions is a way to ensure that you’re choosing the best candidate for the job.

Similarly, if you recently graduated or are an experienced pharmacy technician looking into new employment opportunities, know what kinds of questions you might be asked during an interview can give you an advantage. Being aware of what potential employers are looking for and sounding sure of your fit makes it more likely that you will get hired in the workplace of your choosing.

Some of the top pharmacy technicians interview questions you might be asked are:

When an interviewer asks why you want to work in the place or industry that you’re applying to, they want to gauge your commitment and interest. Working in a pharmacy is not the same as working at a restaurant or in retail and involves a unique set of skills and characteristics, although you deal with the public in all these workplaces.

A good answer to this question would display your passion for the health and pharmaceutical industry and a desire to help people. Candidates should recognize that this position isn’t for everyone and show that they have the knowledge and experience it takes to be a pharmacy technician, or a strong aptitude for the work and a willingness to learn on-the-job.

A potential employer may ask you where you see yourself in five or ten years to get to know a little more about you and your “bigger picture” goals. Hiring new employees is an investment. Your new boss is going to invest a good amount of time and money training you for the job, and in return they’re usually wondering how long you plan to stick around.

This question also touches on whether you’re serious about working in the pharmaceutical industry. Is this just a job you’ve applied for on a whim or do you want to continue your education and maybe become a pharmacist one day? Chances are the person who wants to continue to work in the field and has plans to grow with the company is going to get hired over someone applying arbitrarily.

Pharmacy technicians work closely with medication and a certain level of professionalism, knowledge of medical and pharmaceutical terms, and attention to detail is required to do the job effectively. Even though pharmacists are required to closely supervise pharmacy technicians and do a final check of all medications, pharmacies want to hire employees who are reliable and won’t make a lot of mistakes.

Patient safety is on the line if things start to go wrong in a pharmacy, so it’s important that pharmacy technicians take their job seriously and work accurately. Pharmacy technicians need to have good communication, data entry, and reporting skills when it comes to working alongside pharmacists, health care professionals, and the public.

Pharmacy technicians deal with the public daily when taking prescriptions, answering questions, entering medical histories, and assisting with things like insurance and payments. Finding candidates that are good at dealing with the public is a big part of hiring top-notch pharmacy technicians. It’s important to hire staff that make customers feel like their health and safety are always a priority.

Asking a potential pharmacy technician how they would handle a difficult customer, or how they have in the past, gives employers an idea of the person’s interpersonal skills. If you give an example of how you were respectful and patient when an angry customer complained about a mistake with their medication at your previous workplace, it shows that you can be professional and empathetic in difficult situations.

If, on the other hand, you tell a story about an annoying customer or situation where you deflected blame for a mistake on someone else instead of solving the problem, it won’t look as good. Remember that the story you choose to tell will tell potential employers a lot about your personality. Not having a story to tell could be just as bad and signal a lack of experience.

This question and others like it help employers judge a person’s honesty and personality. You can tell a lot about a person by what they think their strengths and weaknesses are. When it comes to pharmacy technicians, this is a candidate’s chance to point out how their strengths make them perfect for the job. Make sure you choose strengths that are relevant to the work that you do as a pharmacy tech.

Potential candidates should come up with a weakness they think they need to work on or an area where they are trying to improve. If you have worked at a pharmacy previously or had a placement in one, try to remember any feedback you received or how you were able to turn a weakness into a strength.

If you’re interested in a career in the pharmaceutical industry, becoming a pharmacy technician is a good place to start. This career is expecting above average growth in the next few years, ensuring plenty of opportunities for work in a variety of workplace settings. If you’re in charge of hiring pharmacy technicians, asking the right questions is key in making sure you’re hiring the right people for the job.