Isn't there ANYONE who likes being a Pharmacy Technician?

To answer my own quesetion, I do.

I got into the field through Wal-Mart in November 2007. Guess what? I had NO EXPERIENCE. None. Nada. Zip. Zilch. They had a very difficult time filling the pharmacy technician position and blessedly, the Pharmacy Manager was willing to take a chance on me and have me trained. So, I winged it through "cold and flu" season and I admit, it wasn't easy. Customers are RUDE! Everything is your fault if the customers don't get their way. A couple of pharmacists had a "God Complex" about them to where you hated working with them. I knew that as long as I gritted my teeth and kept searching for a better PT position, that I would find it. I'm not a people person at all and there were nights when I came home in TEARS because retail pharmacy is that awful. You really need to develop thick skin when you work retail pharmacy.

I found a better position in May 2008 - at a pharmaceutical company that specializes with nursing home and rehabilitation centers. I LOVE IT. There are no customers, better pay, steady FULL-TIME hours, first shift, and I still learn new stuff every day. Best of all, THERE'S NO CUSTOMERS! I do NOT miss the rudeness and arrogance that comes with the general public every day.

I was just reading all the negativity on this forum and I was getting a bit bummed out about it, especially since I take pride in my position. I do like what I do and can't imagine doing anything else. I don't WANT to do anything else, because 95 percent of it has to deal with the public! No thanks!

Anyway, that's my story. If you've made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read it. :)

Honestly, I can say I don’t like being a pharmacy technician. I started out in the retail sector of pharmacy. This happened to be in a fast paced (high stress) CVS/Pharmacy in Boston, MA.

Well, it didn’t take long before I reached 500 hours tech training. I accomplished this within a very short amount of time within 6 months. After 6 months I aced an in house CVS/Pharmacy licensure test they give to in house pharmacy technicians in training.

Around the 7th -8th month I sat for the national pharmacy technician exam and passed it.
I wasn’t surprised I studied my arse off for 4 months. However, I am disappointed with my career choice and would not recommend it to others seeking employment in this field.

If I had to do it all over again pursuing the path of becoming a pharmacy technician is something I should have passed on. Anyone who is thinking about a career as a pharmacy technician might want think deeply and go visit a local pharmacy and talk with pharmacy staff observe what pharmacy technicians have to go through on a daily basis.

Take a look at the rude and arrogant customers, the hassles with the insurance companies, trying to interpret the many illegible prescriptions that physicians write. I don’t miss standing on my feet all day. I don’t miss how much energy was drained out of me at the end of the day.

This job is not easy and the pay doesn’t make up for the high stress which is damaging to your health in the long run. The Pharmacist has a master/slave mentality when it comes to interacting with the pharmacy technicians they work with. I don’t miss the retail sector at all and I really understand the frustration of working retail. So there you have it low pay, high stress, standing on your feet all day, dealing with the sick general public, drained of your energy at the end of the day. So was this career path worth it ??? Hell no !

Retail is a good way to learn people skills. I can be HELL if you work with a jerk pharmacist. Absolute chaos because the person makes it harder then it has to be.

I did retail part time for a long time. 10 or so years I did it for. One day I had enough. The car was payed off and credit cards down. I quit and now only have to work 2 back to back jobs! and have my weekends off!

How about that :-)

Nursing school for me.

The knowledge and people I have met (especially in the hospital) I wouldn't give up for the world.

I estimate I spent atleast 5 or my 10 years in retail dealing with BS I want my 5 years back! lol

Ari in Paris, Kentucky said: To answer my own quesetion, I do.

I got into the field through Wal-Mart in November 2007. Guess what? I had NO EXPERIENCE. None. Nada. Zip. Zilch. They had a very difficult time filling the pharmacy technician position and blessedly, the Pharmacy Manager was willing to take a chance on me and have me trained. So, I winged it through "cold and flu" season and I admit, it wasn't easy. Customers are RUDE! Everything is your fault if the customers don't get their way. A couple of pharmacists had a "God Complex" about them to where you hated working with them. I knew that as long as I gritted my teeth and kept searching for a better PT position, that I would find it. I'm not a people person at all and there were nights when I came home in TEARS because retail pharmacy is that awful. You really need to develop thick skin when you work retail pharmacy.

I found a better position in May 2008 - at a pharmaceutical company that specializes with nursing home and rehabilitation centers. I LOVE IT. There are no customers, better pay, steady FULL-TIME hours, first shift, and I still learn new stuff every day. Best of all, THERE'S NO CUSTOMERS! I do NOT miss the rudeness and arrogance that comes with the general public every day.

I was just reading all the negativity on this forum and I was getting a bit bummed out about it, especially since I take pride in my position. I do like what I do and can't imagine doing anything else. I don't WANT to do anything else, because 95 percent of it has to deal with the public! No thanks!

Anyway, that's my story. If you've made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read it. :)

I love it, also. I work as a Chemotherapy Tech in a children's hospital. I learn something new every day. It's an important job that makes a difference. I went to a hospital based 11-month course, got hired i month after graduation. At 50 years old. But they STILL hire off the street.

I work in a retail pharmacy part time. Although there are rude customers there also are very kind customers. I can't say i'm in love with my job because this is not what I want to do for the remainder of my life but I can't say that I hate it. I was able to get a job at the pharm. up the street from me with no experience and since then [2+yrs ago] I have had the opportunity to work in a number of different stores within the chain. I have gained people skills while dealing with unruley customers as well as working with so many different technicians and pharmacists. I have come into contact with the miserable pharmacists and I have also had the opportunity to work with some of the nicest pharmacists who i can say I adore very much. working in different settins has also been helpful in me learning all of the different drugs and way others pharmacies run.

After two + years working as only a part timer I was put in the position as working as a classroom trainer for my chains certification test which helped me to get a raise and make even better connections. People complain about no advancement in retail but if you work hard and make good connections whose to say where you are able to go? Most people who complain about that are willing to complain about their job rather then doing something to make it better.