How To Land Your Dream Job As Pharmacy Technician

You’ve always wanted to work as a pharmacy technician, but don’t know how to get started. You want to make sure you’re doing everything right and are ready for this new job. You must do your research before you start applying for jobs or going through training programs.

We’ll help you get started by walking through the steps we recommend taking to land your dream job as a pharmacy technician!

A day in the life of a pharmacy technician – YouTube

Takeaways
Research the requirements and certifications needed for pharmacy technician positions.
Gain hands-on experience through internships or externships in a pharmacy setting.
Develop strong communication and customer service skills to excel in interacting with patients and healthcare professionals.
Stay updated with industry trends and advancements in pharmacy technology.
Network with professionals in the pharmacy industry to expand your opportunities and knowledge.
Showcase your attention to detail and accuracy in handling medications and prescription orders.
Prepare for interviews by familiarizing yourself with common pharmacy technician interview questions.
Emphasize your commitment to patient safety and confidentiality in your job applications and interviews.
Consider continuing education and specialization options to advance your pharmacy technician career.
Maintain a professional and positive attitude throughout your job search and career journey.

Table of Contents

Develop Your Skills, Experience, And Knowledge

You can learn a lot about being a pharmacy technician through training and on-the-job training. You might also get some education through study courses or online courses that are relevant to the job.

Having experience in this field will help you understand all the aspects of it, including how customers feel when they come into pharmacies and what kinds of problems they encounter when trying to get medication from a pharmacist or pharmacy assistant (or both).

To begin developing these skills and gaining knowledge about them, you can take advantage of:

Training at colleges/universities/vocational schools that offer programs in pharmaceutical science;
Apprenticeship programs offered by some employers;
Community college certificate programs for pharmacy technicians;

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Build Your Resume By Emphasizing Relevant Skills

Show that you have the skills to do the job. You should be able to demonstrate that you have experience with customer service and working with people.

For example, if you know how to use a computer, for example, and can show that on your resume by listing your experience as An assistant in fast food restaurants or retail stores where computers were used frequently.

Show that you have the knowledge to do the job. This means showing that you know what is involved in this kind of work and can perform tasks related to it appropriately and efficiently, such as handling money accurately or preparing prescriptions correctly.

Show that you have the experience to do this kind of work. Listing previous jobs where similar activities were performed will help show potential employers that they’re hiring someone who knows what they’re doing!

Introduce Yourself To Pharmacists In Your Community

As you meet pharmacists, introduce yourself and ask if they have any openings. If they do, ask if you can shadow them for a day or two to learn more about the job and how it fits into the pharmacy’s workflow.

This will show your interest and get you on their radar if they don’t need someone right away.

If there aren’t any positions open at the moment, ask if they have recommendations for other pharmacies in your area.

You may find that some pharmacists are willing to help get your foot in the door at another pharmacy by making an introduction or giving out your name as a reference when it comes time for an interview.

Ask these pharmacists what advice they have for someone interested in this career path and what makes them successful. What are some important skills or qualities that make an employee stand out from others? What kind of work environment do most employers provide?

Network With Other Pharmacy Technicians

One of the most important things about networking is that you don’t have to be a member of a formal network to do it. You can network with anyone who has something to offer you especially if that person is a pharmacy technician.

If you’re looking for a job, talk to other technicians at every opportunity and ask them how they found their jobs.

Ask what their day-to-day duties are and if they feel like there’s room for growth in their current position or future ones. They might even know of open positions at nearby pharmacies!

Once you land your dream job as a pharmacy technician, keep up the good work by putting in extra effort on the days when things are slow or when no one else seems motivated enough.

For example: if an elderly customer comes in complaining about feeling dizzy after taking too many pills for his blood pressure problems (which he got from eating too much deep-fried chicken).

Do more than just give them some water from our shelf cooler and call someone else over to help;

Go ahead and take down all their medications so no one else accidentally mixes them again next week without knowing what could happen later on down the road due to drug interactions.”

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Get A Certificate Of Completion Or Degree In Pharmacy Technology

If you’re interested in becoming a pharmacy technician, but lack the necessary education or experience, it may be possible for you to get a certificate of completion or degree in pharmacy technology.

As of 2018, there are over two dozen accredited programs throughout the United States that can help prepare individuals for careers as pharmacy technicians. These programs typically involve anywhere between 900 and 1,500 hours of classroom instruction and hands-on training.

Certificates can be earned within six months while associate degrees typically take about two years to complete if students can finish their program on time without taking any breaks from school.

Consider An Externship Program To Get Hands-On Training And Experience

One of the best ways to prepare for a career in pharmacy is through an externship. Externships are short-term, paid positions that allow you to gain hands-on experience in a specific area or with a specific company.

They provide an opportunity for you to get your feet wet in the field and build up your resume as well as your contacts within the industry.

When applying for an externship, focus on finding one that meets two criteria: it will give you experience working with patients (such as assisting pharmacists), and it will also allow you to interact with other pharmacy professionals and learn from them (like shadowing other technicians).

Also, look into whether there are any opportunities for further training or certification on top of what’s offered during your placement at the pharmacy.

Make Connections With Employers Who Hire Pharmacy Technicians

You can make connections with employers who hire pharmacy technicians in a few ways. First, you can ask your school’s career services department for help finding local jobs.

They may also have a list of local businesses that they could refer you to or connect you with someone who works at one of those companies and can give you some advice.

Second, if there aren’t any employers hiring near you right now, look online at job boards like Indeed and Glassdoor to find out which companies are seeking employees in the field where they live.

You might be able to apply even before they post their job openings publicly on sites like these because many companies have internal processes for recruiting new talent before posting externally (and often publically) on these sites!

This gives them time to vet applicants without having them go through an entire application process just for the interview stage which saves everyone a lot of time!

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Keep Up To Date About Local, State, And Federal Laws For Certification Or Licensing Requirements For Pharmacy Technicians In Your Region

It’s important to know the laws of your state and federal laws. You also need to know what the laws are where you will be working.

For instance, if you’re a pharmacy technician who works in a hospital pharmacy, then there are more stringent requirements than if you work in a retail store.

A good place to start is by contacting your state board of pharmacy or other state agency that regulates pharmacies and pharmacists; they should have information about any certification or licensing requirements related to your region.

If possible, try finding out what the laws are at the pharmacy where you want to work as well (i.e., whether there are any specific certifications required for technicians). Some employers may even allow it so that employees can get certified before starting their job with them!

Understand The Basics Of Compounding Different Medications And Being Able To Use The Tools Needed For It, Such As Mortar And Pestle Or Automatic Compounding Devices

There are two categories of compounding. The first is to prepare or take medication or a dosage form that can be applied directly to the patient, such as ointments, suspensions, and suppositories.

The second category involves preparing medications that need to be administered by another person like an intravenous drip, injection, or infusion pump.

For example, you might be asked to mix up an antibiotic solution for IV use in the hospital on an infusion pump with specific amounts of each drug based on the patient’s weight and condition.

The pharmacy technician must understand how to use a mortar and pestle (moistened with water) for crushing tablets into fine powder; hand-held automatic compounding devices such as those used for crushing tablets into fine powder;

Mortar and pestle (moistened with water) for crushing tablets into fine powder; hand-held automatic compounding devices such as those used for dispensing liquids or powders from bulk containers directly into another container;

Manual or automated scales are used to measure out ingredients based on weight measurements instead of volume measurements;

Weighing equipment is used in weighing out ingredients based on volume measurements instead of weight measurements; liquid dispensers with built-in scales are used primarily when adding liquids.

Maintain A Clean Work Area Especially When Working With Sterile Products, Such As Iv Fluids For Chemotherapy Or Pain Medication

It is important to maintain a clean work area, especially when working with sterile products, such as IV fluids for chemotherapy or pain medication. These medications are highly regulated by the FDA and must be handled with care.

If prepared in a contaminated room, they could potentially cause infection or even death to a patient that would have otherwise been cured.

To protect yourself, make sure your work area is free of clutter before beginning any task at hand. Make sure no loose papers are laying around that may fall into containers or onto equipment you are using; this can cause contamination as well!

Also remember: clean up after yourself – it’s not only polite but will help keep your workplace sanitary which will benefit everyone involved.

For those who want to learn more about how exactly these medications are supposed to be stored within our facilities (hint: there’s more than one way), refer back to our previous blog post on PPE requirements for pharmacy technicians it’ll give some insight into what makes them so important!

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Know The Policies And Procedures Of The Location You Are Working At, Including Where Medications Are Kept, How To Order Them, And How Long They Can Sit On The Shelf Before They Need To Be Discarded

Learn how to check inventory levels regularly. This includes knowing what an expired medication looks like so that you can safely dispose of them when needed.

Learn about safety measures in place at your pharmacy job, as well as any special certifications required for working with certain medications or other hazards like needles or sharp instruments.

Learn How To Read Drug Test Results So You Can Ensure That Any Prescriptions A Doctor Sends Out Are Safe For The Patient

While it’s unlikely that you’ll be responsible for interpreting drug test results, it is still a good idea to learn how to read them. As a pharmacy technician, you can help ensure that prescriptions sent out by your doctor are safe for the patient and benefit them in the best way possible.

The first step is understanding what each urine or blood test result means:

Negative: The sample was clean of any drugs
Positive: The sample contained at least some of the drug being tested for, but not enough to be considered clinically significant (usually less than 100 nanograms per milliliter)
Below Limit: No specimen collected; the insufficient time between collection and analysis; excessive dilution with water;

The specimen contains no uric acid or creatinine (a sign that someone tried to fake a positive result). This means there was no actual substance present in their body when they took the test!

Getting Into Your Dream Job Isn’t Easy But It’s Possible!

You’ve done your research, you’ve made a plan of attack, and now you’re ready to rock the interview process. But before you can land your dream job as a pharmacy technician, there are just a few more things that need to happen:

You need to know what kind of shift work will best fit your schedule so that you can have enough time with your family and friends without compromising their needs as well.

You need to be willing to relocate if necessary (especially if it’s an opportunity for advancement).

You need to know what salary range would be fair for the type of position in which you’re applying so that no one loses interest during negotiations because both parties want something different out of this arrangement.

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Conclusion

We’re sure you’ve got some great ideas for landing your dream job as a pharmacy technician.

So, get out there and start putting them into practice! Remember that it takes time to build up the skills, experience, and knowledge you need for this career.

In the meantime, don’t forget about networking with other pharmacy technicians who can provide support when you need it. Good luck!

FAQs

How can I become a pharmacy technician?

To become a pharmacy technician, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. Some states may require additional certification or licensure. It’s also beneficial to complete a pharmacy technician training program to gain relevant knowledge and skills.

What are the duties of a pharmacy technician?

Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in dispensing medications, managing inventory, processing prescriptions, and providing customer service. They may also perform administrative tasks, such as maintaining patient records and handling insurance claims.

How much does a pharmacy technician earn?

The salary of a pharmacy technician can vary depending on factors such as location, experience, and work setting. On average, pharmacy technicians earn a median annual wage of around $35,250 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Are there opportunities for advancement in the pharmacy technician career?

Yes, there are opportunities for advancement in the pharmacy technician career. With experience and further education, pharmacy technicians can pursue roles such as pharmacy supervisor, pharmacy manager, or specialize in areas like compounding or oncology.

What skills are important for a successful pharmacy technician?

Effective communication, attention to detail, organizational skills, and a strong knowledge of pharmaceuticals and medical terminology are crucial for a successful pharmacy technician. Customer service skills and the ability to work well in a team are also valuable in this role.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.