Pharmacy Technician Interview Questions

To start your career as a pharmacy technician, you must go through the job application process. It will require you to pass a comprehensive resume, and more importantly, to make a lasting impression on your employers or hiring managers during the job interview.

Your resume does play an important role when it comes to getting hired, especially if you have stated there that you have earned a pharmacy technician associate degree, and have passed the PTCE exam. Most employers often have a preference for those who have obtained a pharmacy tech certification. Those will give you an edge, but the deciding factor is the job interview.

🤔 What sort of questions would be asked in a pharmacy technician job interview?

Most job interviews ask different types of questions. There are role-specific questions, operational and situational questions, and behavioral questions, among others. To help you prepare, you can consider some of these often-asked questions for your mock interview:

💊 Why did you choose to become a pharmacy technician?

This pharmacy technician interview question will determine why you chose to be in this particular career out of all the other careers in the healthcare industry. You need to be honest and state the reasons why you picked the profession. You also need to phrase your answer in such a way that the interviewer will completely understand your passion for working in this field.

⚕️ Why do you want this position?

You need to answer this interview question thoroughly and carefully. You are trying to appeal to your interviewer, but it shouldn’t be too overdone. You need to be sincere. Aside from that, you also need to show that you know the pharmacy technician’s role. You should be able to state the skills required for the position, and why you are the right one for the job.

🗣️ How would you be able to handle a difficult customer?

This is one of the most asked questions since as a pharmacy technician, one of the duties you’ll have to do is customer service. You need to be able to deal with customers that may be too hard to entertain. You need to show that you have the interpersonal and communication skills for the job. So, when answering this question, it is always best to state a situation and how you handled it. You need to show that you are capable of managing such circumstances.

👩‍⚕️ What do others say about you as a co-worker?

If you already have experience in the industry even as an intern, you should know the positive feedback that your co-workers have of you. You shouldn’t brag too much when answering this question. Answer what you know are your good points when it comes to working in a team, and what your co-workers have also told you. You need to show that you know how to work with different kinds of people. Most employers value professionalism when it comes to working.

👨‍⚕️ What are some important qualifications of a pharmacy technician?

You must know the characteristics of your profession. You should state those that you know are necessary in order to be successful in your career. Here are some possible pharmacy technician qualifications you can state:

  • You must be organized and keen on the details.
  • You must be responsible and a team player.
  • You must have excellent communication skills when it comes to handling customer service. 
  • You must be able to manage and record data information accurately and quickly for your patients. 
  • You must know how to handle dispensing and preparing medications under the supervision of a pharmacist.

🙋 Pharmacy Technician Questions

How can we make a career in pharmacy?

There are a lot of careers you can choose from in pharmacy. Two of the most notable professions in this field are pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The latter can prepare and dispense with the supervision of the former. As pharmacy technicians, you can also have careers in retail or hospital pharmacies.

Is studying pharmacy today a good career option?

Yes, it is. Statistics show that the demand for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians alike will continue to rise through the years. The healthcare industry will always be a valuable part of society. That’s why, if you do choose to start your career in this profession, it will certainly be beneficial to you.

What can you learn from working in a pharmacy?

There are many skills you can acquire by working in a pharmacy, be it in retail or a hospital. You’ll hone your interpersonal skills because you’ll communicate with various people. You’ll also learn to be more computer or technology literate because one of the jobs of pharmacy technicians, for example, is to collect and manage data information. 

What are the job positions in a supermarket?   

There are many job positions available, from cashiers, managers to supervisors. You can even work as a pharmacy technician in their retail pharmacies. The latest median salary for pharmacy technicians is $32,700 annually. So, it can be an advantageous job for you.

What is the purpose of Pharmacy Technician Certification Board?

It can maintain transparency because PTCB is the only nonprofit pharmacy credentialing body in the United States. PTCB set out to improve drug safety by certifying technicians who are capable of assisting pharmacists and patient care teams in a variety of settings.

Are pharmacy technician careers good?

Yes. A career as a pharmacy technician is also a steady one, with plenty of job prospects and rising demand. The job future for pharmacy technicians is bright, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with an above-average growth rate.

What is a hospital pharmacy technician?

Prescriptions are filled by a hospital pharmacy technician for patients who have been admitted to the hospital. Preparing prescriptions, storing supplies, and gathering patient information are all common responsibilities. For patients, they may also make complex drugs, IV fluids, and other mixes.

How long are pharmacy tech programs?

Depending on the academic program you choose, being a pharmacy technician might take up to two years. In fact, most pharmacy certification programs take less than a year to complete.