Searching For Pharmacy Technician Jobs: A 7 Step Guide
(1) Number of Pharmacy Technician Jobs are on the rise
While it’s only an estimate, government statistics indicate that the number of pharmacy technician jobs will rise over 30% over the next 8 to 10 years. That’s above average – even for the growing medical sector.
So, when doing any sort of job search keep this fact in mind and don’t think that you have to settle for the first job that comes along. As I’ve mentioned before, if you are – or commit yourself to being – a great pharmacy technician the best jobs will likely find you. But, if you are starting out the surge in pharmacy technician demand should come as a welcome sign.
(2) What will your job description be?
I mention this only because I see too many pharmacy technicians who are a bit disappointed when they finally get into their job and discover they aren’t doing 100% of the things they thought they would be when they took the position.
With any job, you want to be very clear about your employers goals and objectives before you ever sign on the dotted line.
Generally, technicians roles and responsibilities will be pretty cut and dry. But other times you may catch yourself in a job where you are a ‘go-fer’ for the pharmacist or other employees.
While this may be acceptable when you are just starting out this is not the kind of job that you want to be tied to long term.
(3) Ask around about your future employer
Remember, pharmacy is generally a tight-knit community even in the largest cities.
Often times, if you just ask you can get all kinds of feedback on your future employer or even the pharmacist(s) you will be working under.
I will warn you to take what you hear with a grain of salt. Some technicians will find it impossible to be completely objective and will give you a tainted opinion. So try to talk to more than one technician before you become interested in any pharmacy technician job.
What questions should you ask? Simple ones like:
“You use to work for X company (or pharmacist); would you ever take another pharmacy technician job with them again?”
This way you set the question up as a yes/no. The technician can simply answer with out implicating themselves or their former employer and nothing bad is said. If you know the person fairly well it may be OK to ask them to elaborate on their answer. This is where you’ll have to use your best professional judgment.
(4) What kind of salary will you be making?
The salary that your employer is offering can be both a good and bad sign – and not in the way most pharmacy technicians think. Here’s what I mean.
Say the average for a starting pharmacy technician job in your area is $12.00 an hour. Now, you get a call or see an ad in the local paper for a pharmacy technician opening that starts at $13.50 an hour and they will train the pharmacy technician if they don’t have their certification.
Most pharmacy technicians I know would be very quick to jump on a job like this. But before you do it’s important you ask yourself why they are willing to pay over 10% more than their nearest competitor for someone with no experience?
They may pay their technicians more because they like to retain their pharmacy technicians and limit turnover. It also may be because the employer, and the job, is a virtual pit and they have come to realize they have to offer more because of it. It may be because they are desperate for a pharmacy technician and you’ll be flying solo with no backup help or vacation relief. It could be because they don’t offer benefits and make up for it by offering a pharmacy technician job that pays more up front.
That’s where it pays to do your research on any pharmacy technician job you come across.
(5) Speaking of pharmacy technician job benefits…
Do you get any sort of health insurance? How about coverage for you family? How much vacation time are you allotted? Will you really get it? Do you accrue sick time? Is there a flex plan of any type? What is the dress code?
These are just for starters.
Don’t put your blinders on when it comes to a salary for any job. Look at the overall package.
A pharmacy technician we hired had to take a pay cut in her hourly rate to come on board with us. But, after looking at every aspect of the job and the benefits it was clear that she was probably breaking even or coming out a little ahead by moving on. Plus, she was completely burned out on her old employer: a huge, retail job that was a prescription mill.
She figured that what she would save on her health insurance payments at her old job every month would more than make up for the cut in pay. Plus, she was ready for the move.
(6) What will your schedule be?
This, in my opinion, tends to be one of the the most abused areas when it comes to pharmacy. Both pharmacists and technicians are routinely ‘required’ to work longer hours than what they signed up for without any sort of compensation.
I’m a stickler on this issue. If you want me to work over – fine. But you’ll either compensate me in time or money. You should have the same policy. And if you don’t because your scared you could lose your job your employer or supervisor is going to know that and probably take advantage of you.
No, I can’t guarantee that will happen but I’ve worked in enough different environments and for enough different companies to know what will likely happen. Don’t be someone who your employer thinks they can push around on this issue.
(7) Where are you looking?
If you’re looking for a job chances are you’ve got on some kind of job board. Maybe you got on Google and searched.
Can I make a suggestion?
Try going a different route. Most of the best jobs are never advertised.
Not that my techs have the best job in the world but they do stay with us for a long time. As near as I can tell from unofficial estimates, it’s longer than the average in our area. Did we advertise our last technician opening? Nope.
One of our techs new of a person who was fed up with her old job. Had tons of experience. Got along well with coworkers and customers. Was a hard worker and, overall, was a good person to have on our team.
She picked the persons brain a little bit and found out that the technician was looking for a move. A couple of months later we had the papers signed and a new, experienced, hard working technician without having to weed through a bunch of unqualified or psychotic candidates.
I’ve done it the other way before too. Hiring someone that nobody in the pharmacy really knows and it’s always a crap shoot. I don’t like crap shoots when it comes to time and money.
My suggestion: build a network of technicians and pharmacists. When you are looking for a move let it me subtly known that you are just looking. Even better, get the reputation of being a great technician and likely your network will come to you asking you to move – just like we did.
It’s sort of like being a free agent in sports. If you are good, you’ll always find a market for your services.
The last word on pharmacy technician jobs?
Nope. But it should give you a good start and serve as a helpful guide when looking for your next job (or your first one).