The best part is...

What do you enjoy most about pharmacy technician work? What do you dislike the most? Is it challenging? Are there many opportunities to learn and advance?

What keeps you at your job?

What I enjoy most about pharmacy tech work is learning about meds and their uses and how they affect the body.But what I dislike most is the salary. Many states now require techs to be nationally certified and some states even require that you be registered as a pharmacy tech to work in that state. I live in S.A. Texas and the salary here is terrible. I believe that technicians' salaries need to be livable wages and should increase as the salary for pharmacists increase. It is us that do most of the work if not all of the work and for many of us it has become not just a job but a career. We have to have all these credentials and experience but our salaries are not reflective of that. Where would the pharmacists be if their technicians did not show up for work for a day. Many of them cannot perform the jobs that we do if they had to work alone and on top of that, many of them treat us as if we are so far below them because we did not attend pharmacy school. If you look at other professional careers where they have a technician or assistant, many times they are well compensated.

(Continued from above)These professionals include doctors,nurses, lawyers,radiologists,etc. I believe that the importance of pharmacy techs and their roles are disregarded when determining their salaries. And let's just face it; if you're not a good tech, the pharmacists don't want you. As far as opportunities to learn and advancement, you can always learn new things in whatever area you're involved, even if you have to do it on your own. For instance if you wanted to take home the package insert for every medication in the pharmacy. But the question lies in what good would it do to learn all these things and not be able to use it. There is not really much room for advancement unless you work as a tech trainer or supervisor

What keeps me at my job the most is the schedule. I've been in Texas for about a year and I work for a small retail chain. Living in MD, I've always worked hospital where you work weekends, holidays, nights, etc. So this is the first time that I've had a Mon-Fri/no holidays job but at the same time I'm looking for a hospital position because you learn more in hospitals, they pay more, and my expertise is actually in preparing IV's anyway.

You said about pharmacists:
"many of them treat us as if we are so far below them because we did not attend pharmacy school. If you look at other professional careers where they have a technician or assistant, many times they are well compensated"

Thats because you are so far below them. They have 6-7 years of really hard education. If you think it's so easy then try it for yourself :) No offense

I don't know about you, but I don't care how much education you have or if create a whole new educational system, respect is respect!! Maybe you like being treated like s@#t on your job especially when you know they really need you as a tech, but I don't. Bottom line, it's about RESPECT!! And besides, I am in pharmacy school and when I'm done, I won't forget what it was like to be a tech Mr. HarryNuts :)

Then you will be far above them. Very simple:)
Good luck in Pharmacy school

i hve been in the business for 10 years
waht i liked the most was learning new skills and i have a special knack for dealing with the public .

my problems have been management related but you get that in any job.

My dad is a pharmacist. He respects his tech's cuz he knows a good tech means a good day on the job. There are some Pharmacist who don't treat their tech's w/ respect. I am in pharmacy Tech school right now. It goes both ways too. My dad has had techs he would rather not work w/ cuz they don't respect him. They think they know more then he does. Trust me you have no idea what kind of schooling a Pharmacist does. My dad is almost 65. My dad just a few years ago got certified to give shots. I remember when he use to have to mix and make the medicines. So until you have walked a mile in their shoes don't judge them. Just some advice from the eyes of someone close to a pharmacist.

Obviously, you're missing the whole point!! It's not about judging anyone. The bottom line is respect is respect. You will see exactly what I'm talking about when you get out of your little pharm tech school. I've been a tech for almost 15 years; actually started as a tech in high school. In any profession, there are good people and bad people. How can you tell me that I have no idea what kind of schooling a pharmacist does?? I'm in pharmacy school and as for mixing medications, I've done that too. I've worked from retail to hospital to long term care, etc. If I worked for your dad and he respects me and appreciates me as his tech, then I would do the same for him as well. You'll see when you make it out of tech school. In fact, you'll have it even harder because you'll be brand new to the "game" and guess what, most Rph's don't like to work w/newbees!!

I know respect is respect but not everyone is going to respect everyone. Any job you have. That is just life. I know once I get out of school and in the working world Pharmacist are not going to want to have me working w/ them cuz i am the new girl in the pharmacy. I get that. I hope you do good in your Pharmacy Shooling.

Angela

I completely agree with Staylor. And when the other posters said that they feel techs deserve more 'respect', I am thinking they are really referring to a higher salary. Techs are not getting paid what they deserve. As Staylor has said, a pharmacy would be nothing without the technicians. My friend works at a pool and does homework during her shift and makes 13/hr. I get 8.25/hr as a pharmacy slave. lol. This would be the last thing I'd want to do if I was not planning on getting into pharmacy school

Were in renton do u work? My dad is the releif pharmacist in the Fred Meyer pharmacy in renton. He actally goes all over King county. Where ever they need a pharmacist to fill in. But lately he has been there.

YOU ARE RIGHT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LOW SALARIES FOR TECHS. I AM BOTH STATE AND NATIONALLY CERTIFIED, BUT NOT COMPENSATED FOR MY TRAINING OR EFFORT EITHER. I REALLY THINK THE STATE BOARDS OF PHARMACY REALLY NEED TO TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT THE INDUSTRY AND MANDATE THAT TECHS NEED TO BE NATIONALLY CERTIFIED,CUZ THE "STATE" TEST I TOOK, A 5TH GRADER COULD PASS. WHY WOULD ANY PHARMACY PAY US WHAT WE ARE WORTH WHEN THEY CAN AND DO HIRE 16 YEAR OLDS WITH NO EXPERIENCE OR WORK ETHIC FOR MINIMUM WAGE??? DO YOU THINK THIS IS A SAFE PRACTICE SINCE WE ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLES LIVES? CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE AT THE BOARD OF PHARMACY LEVEL. ONCE CHANGES ARE MADE, SALARIES FOR QUALIFIED PEOPLE WILL GO UP....ITS ALL ABOUT SUPPLY AND DEMAND. WE NEED TO STOP "THE CHEAPER THE EMPLOYEE THE BETTER" PHILOSOPHY AMONG MANAGEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF PEOPLE AND LEAVE THAT PHILOSOPHY TO THE KIND OF JOBS THAT CARRY THE RISK OF KILLING SOMEBODY DUE TO A CARELESS MISTAKE OR LACK OF TRAINING.

YOU ARE RIGHT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LOW SALARIES FOR TECHS. I AM BOTH STATE AND NATIONALLY CERTIFIED, BUT NOT COMPENSATED FOR MY TRAINING OR EFFORT EITHER. I REALLY THINK THE STATE BOARDS OF PHARMACY REALLY NEED TO TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT THE INDUSTRY AND MANDATE THAT TECHS NEED TO BE NATIONALLY CERTIFIED,CUZ THE "STATE" TEST I TOOK, A 5TH GRADER COULD PASS. WHY WOULD ANY PHARMACY PAY US WHAT WE ARE WORTH WHEN THEY CAN AND DO HIRE 16 YEAR OLDS WITH NO EXPERIENCE OR WORK ETHIC FOR MINIMUM WAGE??? DO YOU THINK THIS IS A SAFE PRACTICE SINCE WE ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLES LIVES? CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE AT THE BOARD OF PHARMACY LEVEL. ONCE CHANGES ARE MADE, SALARIES FOR QUALIFIED PEOPLE WILL GO UP....ITS ALL ABOUT SUPPLY AND DEMAND. WE NEED TO STOP "THE CHEAPER THE EMPLOYEE THE BETTER" PHILOSOPHY AMONG MANAGEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF PEOPLE AND LEAVE THAT PHILOSOPHY TO THE KIND OF JOBS THAT DON'T CARRY THE RISK OF KILLING SOMEBODY DUE TO A CARELESS MISTAKE OR LACK OF TRAINING.

I HAVE WORKED AS A PHARMACY TECH FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
I CAN RELATE TO ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS. I LIKE WORKING
IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS YOU
CAN LEARN COMPARE TO RETAIL PHARMACY. WHAT BOTHERS ME
IS WHEN A PHARMACIST DOES NOT LIKE A CERTAIN TECH THEN,
THEY MAKE IT MISERABLE FOR YOU TO WORK WITH THEM, THIS
ALSO APPLYS TO MANAGEMENT. SALARY WISE WHEN PHARMACIST
GET THERE SALARY EVALUATED, I FEEL THE TECHNICIANS SHOULD
ALSO BE EVALUATED. ALSO REMEMBER IT STARTS FROM THE
BOTTOM, WHEN TECHS DO GOOD WORK AND BEYOND IT MAKES THE
PHARMACIST LOOK GOOD. THEN THE MANAGER OR DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT LOOK EVEN MORE BETTER BECAUSE, THEY ARE
THE ONES WHO GETS THE PRAISE AND BONUSES, NOW THATS
MANAGEMENT FOR YOU.

I know. My rx manager gets a yearly bonus plus. We also have to put up with "slackers" since a body is better than no body. As far as tech appreciation goes, My yearly evaluation was good.....my reward $0.18, less than the cost of living increase. What an insult!

"slackers" tell me about them, the pharmacy i work for is part of a union so salary is based on the time you've been with the pharmacy and not on work performance. what kills me is that these "slackers" are making as much as i'am for just being there while i do my share of the work and theirs. they basically have no need or motivation to learn their job they'll still get a raise even if 3 years later they still cant figure out how to type a prescription just as long as they can hold up the customer til someone who can help them is available to help. i hate to say it but they need to learn they to do their job or be fired. I certainly think im worth more than what im being paid especially when someone whose been with the company for 8+ yrs knows less than me is making more than me. This has me considering working for a nonunion pharmacy possibly different chain. ok then im done venting, lol, but this has to be the one thing i hate about my job, other than that i do like it, i love being able to help the customer, i like knowing what im doing so i do take the time to learn more than i'm probably required to. Lately though it has gotten a bit boring, I miss the challenge, the learning experience i had my first year as a tech. As far opportunities to learn and advance there arent any at my workplace. CVS does offer training but useless for me i think, been a tech for 5 yrs and a lot of their training i've learn in the process. But completing training is mandatory with cvs. Clerks, Techs & Pharmacists have different amount of training requirements. So what keeps me at my job, the convenience, just a few blocks from home and the schedule. I dont think (at least i hope) that not all CVS pharmacies or other pharmacies have this same problem, i suppose you could find this issue anywhere not just at a pharmacy. But this has been my experience and the only pharmacy i've worked for.

What is the going pay for CVS in the LA area..CPhT 2 years on the job..Thanks

I also would like to know what the pay is in CVS pharmacy LA county.

I was license as a Pharmacy Tech and I have maintained it active. but it has been 7 years since I worked in a pharmacy. Prior to 7 years I worked a Savon pharmacy for 10 years.

NOw I need to come back and I can tell their are alot of new cerifications required but I not to clear on what they are.

What is CPhT ?
Do I have to go pharmacy tech school? Would they give me that ceritication while on the job?
I would like to work in a hospital because I hear the pay is better and I need odd schedule like 4 a.m. to 12 p.m. something like that. A schedule that wouldnt interupt my Parent life.
I have no experiance with IV or with mixing counpounds? What would be the quickest way to learn this?

CPhT is a Certified Pharmacy Tec... and it is something you have to earn... by taking a test. Most major Pharmacy chains pay for you test for the first time , if you do not pass then ithers test are at your cost appox 150.00 per test. and yes most hospitals require that you have it to work there

Wow I wanted to be a Pharmacy Tech doing some testing to get into training now. I'm not so sure now I live in N.Y. now but moving to Fl in March or April of 2008. I have some thinking to do.

I was wondering how much do state certified pharm. techs. make in hospitals in IL? I've been thinking about going into this profession for quite some time now. I interviewed someone I knew who has worked for the profession for over 17 years and enjoys what she does. I know pharm. techs. make less working in retail pharmacies. thanks.

So how much do CPhT get paid? Anyone know how much they get paid at CVS pharmacy or Walgreens, here in California? How much do they pay in hospitals?

Host said: What do you enjoy most about pharmacy technician work? What do you dislike the most? Is it challenging? Are there many opportunities to learn and advance?

What keeps you at your job?

IVE BEEN A TECH SINCE 1986 AND I LOVE MY JOB,WHEN I SIGNED IN THE SCHOOL FOR PHARM TECH AS CERTIFIED,THINGS HAPPEN DURING MY DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS..ALL I WANT TO PROCEED AS CERTIFIED UNTIL THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PHARMACY I EVEN WANT TO BECOME A PHARMACIST IF I CAN AFFFORD THE SCHOOL..BUT IM A SINGLE DAD.PHARM TECH IS FARE ENOUGH....THANKS..MR.G

I have to agree about the salary issue. It is not enough to live comfortably and I look up to the single parents who have to support their kids on a PT salary because it is not easy.

I agree with Angela, it doesn't matter where you work, there will always be people who think they know more than you, or will not respect you or talk to you in a condescending way- Pharmacist, PT or whatever else. I used to work for a Pharmacy Benefit Management company and many times our Clinical Pharmacists were talked down to by MD's.

I have read all the comments...but what does the job pay? I was going to reccommend it to a friend, but need to know this answer first! Are there any benefits? I am going to assume that one is work for CVS or Walgreen's.

What do you like best? Least?

Thanks a lot.

The pay can vary, every state is different. You can go to salary.com and check what the average pay for a PT is in your friend's area. I've been paid anywhere from (retail usually the lowest pay e.g. Rite Aid, CVS) $10 per hour to $17 per hour (hospital inpatient pharmacy). I worked for a Pharmacy Benefit Management company at $16.00/hr, but was not compensated hardly enough for all the stress and pressure I was under at that company.

I liked working in the Inpatient Pharmacy the best. That was because you didn't have to deal with customers. You mainly fill, deliver to the hospital floors, or do IV's all day. But if you are a more people person, then I'd suggest retail. Patients get pretty irate about their meds, esp when their insurance companies don't cover much. You take a lot of heat when you work in a retail pharmacy. And just from my experience with other PT's, retail was the least liked field in Pharmacy. But if you have the personality and can handle the stress of customers in your face all day, then I would suggest retail.

angela in Everett, Washington said: I know respect is respect but not everyone is going to respect everyone. Any job you have. That is just life. I know once I get out of school and in the working world Pharmacist are not going to want to have me working w/ them cuz i am the new girl in the pharmacy. I get that. I hope you do good in your Pharmacy Shooling.

Angela

Dear sweet angela I do not know the other tech's name but she is telling you the truth and no matter how much schooling someone has they should still treat people with respect. That includes speaking when they come in the morning, asking the tech instead of demanding because what everyone is failing to realize is that tech or pharmacists it does not matter we are still human. The pay is crap as well and sorry to say many people are not nice to new techs pharmacists or tech. I understand the harsh feeling of the older tech i have been a tech for ten years and at every job is the same problem pharmist treating the techs like they are nothing. Hopefully you will get a pharmacists as nice as your father and you will not have to have the treble experiences we have had. I am currently in Nursing school but I will never treat a nurses assistant as if they are trash because they are human to.

My fav. part.... helping people without having to actually touch them!

Not a people-person here... thats why i say away from retail!

Pharmacy technicians are extremely valuable and those that perfom well should be compensated monetarily much more than they are!!! However all the tests like the certifications are a joke. A highschool graduate who is good at math could pass those tests. Talking about respect though - I have worked with a number of technicans who have been in the business for many years and think they know everything. They will run and dispense medications and counsel patients when I am stuck on the phone dealing with an insurance company. It is unreal what some technicains will do. I thought the main role of a technician was to assist the pharmacist - not pretend to be the pharmacist while refusing to do medial tasks. There wouldn't be pharmacy tech jobs without pharmacists. If the tech can't assist as they are needed by the pharmacist then they need to go to pharmacy school if they want to be a pharmacist and perform those job functions. The best techs I have worked with went through tech training school - I would recommend that to anyone interested in getting into the profession. Just remember when getting going into that line of work that you are going to be an assistant - just as a nurse is to a doctor. You are not there to diagnose but to help. If you are not willing to be an assistant then that is not the line of work for you to get into. I think that sometimes technicians cross the line and pharmacists get mad and that is why there is the whole thing about pharmacists treating techs like crap. I don't think pharmacists are treating techs like crap - they are just keeping them in line and protecting their licences. I don't know - I have had some great techs that should have been payed a heck of a lot more for all they do for the customers, the business and as my assistant but I have also worked with those who try to play pharmacist and that is where the trouble lies. We need good technicians out there but they just need to know their role. Any comments?

?

If a PT is well experianced, and they can answer questions, and save the pharmacist time, they probably will, are they supposed too? no, This is clearly for their protection, and the customers protection. I would never want to role play pharmacist, this is what he went to school for, he can answer the important questions. I heard that an employee violdated hippa policy by sending out the customers info without concent... INSTANT TERMINATION, no questions...If you screw up, your gone, let the pharmacist do his own job, and PT do what they were hired to do.

I truly agree with you; techs are there to assist the pharmacists and definitely should not be counceiling. In terms of dispensing medications, I guess that varies from state to state or from pharmacist to pharmacist. I work with a lazy pharmacist and he does very little counceling and I don't dare try to do it for him. But there are times when he just talks to us any kind of way and it's not appreciated. If we're getting chewed out by a customer he avoids the confrontation at all costs. He's definitely not a people person. He wants to do very little and he we get swamped, he just sits on the internet and does nothing to help us out. When I get out of school, I never want to be that way if I have good technicians. If I am doing my job to it's fullest potential, then I want to be respected not just as a tech but as a person. I don't try to portray as though I know it all or anything. I just want to do my work and go home but have a little fun in between.

Pros: I'm able to work in an enviroment where I am able to get a "head start" on learning things I intend to go to school for. It's also very beneficial to work as a tech while doing pre pharmacy; most pharmascists are always willing to give me advice about college, planning, et cetera. I disagree that all pharmacists are condescending and rude; I've encountered only a few like that. The rest are very friendly and treat techs just as they treat pharmascists. For me, the pay is decent and the hours are good. I am newly certfied and make 10.25/hour.
Cons: No formal breaks, we eat standing up. Retail pharmacy deals with insurance, which is the biggest pain in the world. many patients are either in pain or addicted to some sort of medication, thus making them angry and cantankerous. Oftentimes patients become verbally abusive and downright rude because their prescription is too early to fill/their insurance has expired/they waited in drive threw too long. It get's old dealing with rude people, and since I work in a store that deals with a lot of drug addicts, I get that a lot. additionally, I've met MANY pharmacists who have grown very bitter throughout their job. They are nice to staff, but very, very rude to patients. They have been yelled at and treated poorly so often that they don't really care to be friendly with any patient who comes in.
The repitition of the job can get pretty unsettaling. Counting pills,checking inventory, deleting prescriptions and putting them back in stock..it's not exactly thrilling.

Sometimes I think the cons outway the pros. Then I remember that pharmascists start out making 6 figures and I stop complaining.
Hope this helps.

Hello,

I'm currently training to become a PT. So far, I have taken a lot of technical information away from my class, but I really would like to talk with someone who has had true experience in this field. I know the techs at my local chain are already bogged down with the rush of patients, so 'm sure I couldn't get any one of them out behind the pharmacy for a chat. I was wondering if I can get some general information for anyone of you, just so I know exactly what I'm getting into before I go apply for a job in the near future. I'm looking to join a retail chain, like Walgreens, so I'd definatly like to hear from you if you've been working retail for a while. I'd like to know what the daily routine is like? What are you expected to do at work? How do you feel you impact the pharmacy you work at, as well as the patients health? Do you feel you are a vital part of the pharmacy you work at, and why? My teacher makes you seem like the backbone of the pharmacy industy! I've read the previous posts, so I kind of know what the pros and cons are, but if there was something you could change about the practice of the pharmacy you work at, what would it be? How does your job make you feel (ther than exasuted:) )?Is there a pride in the work you do? Is it very stressful? What area of pharmacy would you like more knowledge in? If you could, would you change the pharmacy site you work at? A hospital setting seems to be the place to work, at least, that's what I got from the forum. Are there a lot of ethical decision you have to make, personally? If you could, can you give me an example of a situation where you saw a problem and the way you delt with it? I need to know how to handle these patients. You guys make it seem like they are out for blood! What about patent confidentiality? What do you personally have to say about that? How do you interact with patients in the retail business?

Hi Jerry!

I've been a PT for 4 months. What I am expected at work is to accept prescriptions, input them, fill, run the register, help stock, help with inventory, among other things. I do feel like I'm an important part of the pharmacy. In our pharmacy, only the pharmacists are allowed to compound and I would LOVE to learn that.
It is a stressful job, especially dealing with cranky patients. Not all of the customers are bad, but there are some out there that just flat out do not care - they want their meds and they want them NOW, regardless. I love most of my coworkers. There's one pharmacist that talks to you like you're an idiot, but you eventually learn to ignore it. I love my boss, he's awesome! I'm not a big people person, but I tolerate it because I really do enjoy my job as a PT. Plus, we have a first shift pharmacy clerk work the register so we don't have to run the register as often.
I eventually would like to move up to a hospital, maybe in the next two years. I do plan on becoming certified in the fall and I'm studying for that now.

Hi, I'm going to be a PT in New York. What is the hr wage for a PT in Brooklyn, NY. It would be for a national chain. Thanks

Ari in Lexington, Kentucky said: Hi Jerry!

I've been a PT for 4 months. What I am expected at work is to accept prescriptions, input them, fill, run the register, help stock, help with inventory, among other things. I do feel like I'm an important part of the pharmacy. In our pharmacy, only the pharmacists are allowed to compound and I would LOVE to learn that.
It is a stressful job, especially dealing with cranky patients. Not all of the customers are bad, but there are some out there that just flat out do not care - they want their meds and they want them NOW, regardless. I love most of my coworkers. There's one pharmacist that talks to you like you're an idiot, but you eventually learn to ignore it. I love my boss, he's awesome! I'm not a big people person, but I tolerate it because I really do enjoy my job as a PT. Plus, we have a first shift pharmacy clerk work the register so we don't have to run the register as often.
I eventually would like to move up to a hospital, maybe in the next two years. I do plan on becoming certified in the fall and I'm studying for that now.

Hey Ari, Which pharmacy do you work at? Lucy

Hi Lucy,

I work for Wal-Mart pharmacy in a little town just outside of Lexington.

I would think twice about working at CVS, unless it's a stepping stone to something better....

Cyndi DuPont in somewhere, Ohio said: I would think twice about working at CVS, unless it's a stepping stone to something better....

I would think most drug chains should be a stepping stone to something better. If you took out chain store factor, the chances of getting a job drops big time, I would think the chain stores are the biggest pharmacy tech employers...other then chain stores, there is not really to many other places to be a pharmacy tech...home infusion, hospitals, and thats about it...

Perhaps some of the other chain store pharmacies may treat you better?

CVS does NOT

I live by Grants Pass Or. I moved from Ca. I am older, I just got certified, I have been anyway from pharmacy since 2006, I have been searching very hard to find a job here. I have had lots of interviews, no one wants an older person not sure why. and mostly worked in the prisons, I can not seem to get a retail job, because I do not have much experience with insurance, even though I can do everything else very well, Most people do not wnat to train you and just over look you, I only worked for a retail setting for three months and during that time I only worked the front counter with insurance for about 35 days or so. And the pay is not that great for all the things we have to do. anyone haveing positive results in OR let me know thanks

Rite aide pays you min. wage!!!!

Valorie in Eugene, Oregon said: I live by Grants Pass Or. I moved from Ca. I am older, I just got certified, I have been anyway from pharmacy since 2006, I have been searching very hard to find a job here. I have had lots of interviews, no one wants an older person not sure why. and mostly worked in the prisons, I can not seem to get a retail job, because I do not have much experience with insurance, even though I can do everything else very well, Most people do not wnat to train you and just over look you, I only worked for a retail setting for three months and during that time I only worked the front counter with insurance for about 35 days or so. And the pay is not that great for all the things we have to do. anyone haveing positive results in OR let me know thanks

I sent out 10 mailings (resume) to some retail stores, within a week, I was hired, and I do not have any exp at all...so far, I am working the register and filling scripts. If you run across a store that is hurting for pharmacy techs, they will hire you, and when i was at my interview, they did not ask me if i could do insurance or anything, they were more concerned about if i had ever worked the register or how i got along with people in general...I even have a hospital interview on monday, and they know I do not have any experiance...so I do not think they are not hiring you for the reasons you think, if they are in need, they will hire and train.

vanessa in Tampa, Florida said: Rite aide pays you min. wage!!!!

Try Walgreens. I just got hired for 10.25 (with Certification) no experience.

Thanks I will try them

rite aid not only pays very liitle, they also only give a 2% annual raise.....well below the increase in cost of living. However in most cases, they will train you if you are new in the field or have little experience, they you can move on

Rite Aid will not train you. I was supposed to complete computer based training nobody told me. The district manager wanted to write me up. The pharmacy manager said if I completed three lessons that day he would not write me up. When I was trying to complete he had me switch screens on the computer between CBT and the pharmacy software. He said it was stupid that I did not have to listen to the lessons that to switch screens every now and then to move the training along. You have a 90 day probation period. For the first two months I did nothing but register and stock. One day I walk in and the first thing he said he needed to see improvement with the computer or he wouldn't keep me. The technicans or him did not let me touch the computer. I did not have a log in or was even given a name badge. I went to other Rite Aid's as a cashier. The pharmacy manager laughed when he said I am going to send her out and she doesn't even know that much. He thought it was funny. I worked hard while I was there. I worked 13 hours at one store and 9 at another. I was working hard and trying. I was starting to really learn the drugs and where they were. 11 days before my probation period I received a call from the technican saying that they did not have hours for me because of company cutbacks and he was feeling bad. They would both be a reference for me. The pharmacy manager will not return my phone calls I have tried to call him twice. I worked hard, worked my schedule, and was never late. I was pulling meds for a tech that did not know his brand and generics so he could type. He is still working there when he does not know his brand and generics. Explain this one to me and would use them as a reference.

Anonymous in Bakersfield, California said: Rite Aid will not train you. I was supposed to complete computer based training nobody told me. The district manager wanted to write me up. The pharmacy manager said if I completed three lessons that day he would not write me up. When I was trying to complete he had me switch screens on the computer between CBT and the pharmacy.

You should chalk that store up, and start finding another pharmacy
to work in...its obvious he is an ass or has some issue with you.
I just started in retail the other day, and I was told not to worry
about the computer, they want to take me one step at a time, so right now I am on the register, and counting pills, putting up meds, etc...
I do feel bad about not knowing the computer, I have people that come up to the register with their new scripts, or look ups, and i have to find another tech to do it...I wish I just knew everything, but the pharmacist told me to take it step by step...and maybe its not you at all, maybe the store has to do a cut back, and he needs someone to blame or take the fall in order to cut back on pharmacy techs, who really knows...personally, I would just wish him the best, and find another rite aid or pharmacy to work in...