Congratulations on landing an interview for a pharmacist role at Walgreens! As one of the largest pharmacy chains in the US, Walgreens offers incredible opportunities for growth and career development. However, the interview process can be daunting. You’ll need to demonstrate in-depth pharmaceutical knowledge, exceptional communication skills, unwavering ethics, and alignment with Walgreens’ patient-focused values
This comprehensive guide covers the top pharmacist interview questions asked at Walgreens. I’ll provide sample responses to help you craft winning answers that highlight your qualifications. Let’s ace this interview!
Demonstrating Pharmaceutical Expertise
Pharmaceutical knowledge is vital for any pharmacist role. Be ready to answer:
Help me understand how to fill a prescription from beginning to end.
Highlight your proficiency in accurately interpreting prescriptions preparing medications conducting final checks, counseling patients, and documenting the fill. Convey your meticulous attention to detail to ensure safety.
Q: How do you stay updated on new medications, medical guidelines, and pharmacy best practices?
Discuss reading professional journals taking continuing education courses and attending conferences or seminars. Underscore your commitment to continuously enhancing your knowledge.
What do you think are the most important traits for a pharmacist to have in order to do their job well?
Emphasize traits like meticulousness, integrity, effective communication skills, critical thinking, and passion for patient care. Link these back to delivering Walgreens’ patient-centric mission.
Q: How would you handle a situation where a prescription contains an unclear or inappropriate dose?
Highlight your responsibility to avoid harm by clarifying any ambiguities with the prescribing physician before filling. Convey your diligence and patient safety focus.
Q: If a patient has concerns about possible medication side effects, how would you address this?
Share your approach of listening attentively, validating concerns, providing clear explanations of potential risks, and advising them to consult their physician if needed. Your counseling skills are key.
Demonstrating Patient-Centric Values
Walgreens prioritizes patient-focused care. Expect interview questions like:
Q: How would you respond if a patient expressed distrust or dissatisfaction with their medication?
Highlight empathy, active listening to understand concerns, and providing alternative solutions like contacting their physician to explore other options. Patient advocacy is critical.
Q: Share about a time you went above and beyond to help a patient in need.
Choose an example that conveys your patient commitment like prioritizing urgent prescription fills or assisting uninsured patients with resources. Walgreens wants compassionate pharmacists.
Q: A patient is having difficulty affording a prescribed medication. What steps would you take to help resolve this issue?
Discuss exploring Walgreens prescription savings programs, generic alternatives, and manufacturer discounts. Position yourself as a pharmacist who helps patients access needed medications.
Q: How do you typically establish rapport with new patients?
Share your approach of introducing yourself warmly, asking open-ended questions about health concerns, and explaining your role in their care. Rapport is key for patient trust.
Addressing Ethical Dilemmas
As a pharmacist, you may encounter ethical issues. Be ready to demonstrate integrity:
Q: If you suspected a fellow pharmacist of unethical actions like prescription fraud, how would you respond?
Convey following proper channels like discreetly reporting concerns to your pharmacy manager versus confronting the individual directly. Upholding ethics is key.
Q: Share about a time you had to make an ethical decision in a high-pressure situation.
Choose an example like refusing to fill a suspicious prescription even when busy. Discuss prioritizing ethics over efficiency or revenue, highlighting your moral compass.
Q: How would you handle a situation where a patient becomes verbally abusive towards pharmacy staff?
Highlight de-escalation skills by remaining calm, listening empathetically, but firmly stating abusive behavior will not be tolerated. Convey calmness under pressure.
Q: A close friend or family member requests you fill a prescription off the books. What would you do?
Underscore that you would be unable to provide medications outside proper channels for legal and ethical reasons. Integrity is non-negotiable.
Discussing Operational Experience
Managing pharmacy operations is a key responsibility. Expect questions like:
Q: This pharmacy sees high prescription volumes. How would you prioritize filling prescriptions efficiently while maintaining accuracy?
Share strategies like delegating tasks to technicians, verifying prescriptions during waited times, and avoiding distractions. Highlight balancing efficiency with meticulousness.
Q: How would you ensure pharmacy staff are complying with protocols and quality standards?
Discuss leading by example, monitoring performance metrics, providing constructive feedback when issues arise, and retraining on protocols. Convey your leadership abilities.
Q: Imagine you’re managing inventory for this pharmacy. How would you approach keeping stock levels optimal?
Highlight frequently reviewing usage reports, tracking upcoming medication expirations, and ordering judiciously to avoid shortages or wastage. Emphasize data-driven decision making.
Q: This pharmacy struggles with high technician turnover. What retention strategies would you propose?
Suggest tactics like creating a positive work culture through recognition, advancement opportunities, and enhanced training programs. Underscore boosting retention through engagement.
Communicating Collaboratively
Pharmacists interact closely with providers and patients. Communication skills are vital:
Q: How would you communicate concerns about a prescribed medication to a physician in a professional manner?
Emphasize respectfully sharing your concerns while recognizing physicians’ authority over prescribing decisions. Tactful, constructive communication is key.
Q: Imagine you started working with a physician with a notoriously abrasive style. How would you establish a positive rapport?
Discuss remaining professional at all times, finding common ground, and focusing on shared goals like patient care. Convey diplomacy and willingness to collaborate.
Q: This pharmacy has low patient medication adherence. What initiatives would you propose to improve this?
Suggest expanded counseling, follow-ups about concerns, adherence reminders, and educational initiatives. Position yourself as a collaborator driving better health outcomes.
Achieving Career Growth
Walgreens values motivated team members. Be ready to share your development goals:
Q: What interests you in this pharmacist role at Walgreens versus other healthcare settings?
Share your passion for Walgreens’ community-focused care model, broad patient populations, and advancement opportunities. Convey enthusiasm for the role.
Q: Where do you see your pharmacy career in 5 years?
Discuss goals like pursuing management opportunities, specialty certifications like immunization training, or roles expanding pharmacy services like medication therapy management.
Q: What is most rewarding to you as a pharmacist?
Share examples that convey patient-impact like providing critical counseling or access to unaffordable medications. Position your “why” around making a difference for patients.
By preparing responses highlighting your pharmaceutical expertise, ethics, communication abilities, and passion for patient care, you will undoubtedly impress your Walgreens interviewers. You’ve got this!
Follow Koretta’s top five tips for interview success
She has placed over a thousand candidates, from entry-level workers to directors, in tech, healthcare, business, and retail, among other fields.
Interview Tip #1: Be diligent. Use the company’s website to research the mission and goals, recent press releases and social media. Check out the interviewer’s LinkedIn profile or what Koretta said about learning important facts about the company will help your chances and boost your confidence. Most importantly, look for companies that align with your values, interests, and passions.
Interview Tip #2: Use the STAR method. Koretta said that Walgreens uses behavioral-based interview questions, and that most candidates can do well if they prepare well ahead of time. Behavioral interviews are those asking questions to understand how you’ve handled a certain situation in the past. The STAR (situation, task, action, result) method can help you answer behavioral interview questions in a storytelling format. Koretta advises to carefully read the job description and tailor your answers appropriately. She also says to make a list of all your accomplishments and be ready to talk about how you got them. Be detailed and authentic to provide your interviewers with a deeper understanding of your skillsets.
Interview Tip #3: Do mock interviews. You can prepare for an interview by practicing your answers out loud, which you can do by yourself or with a friend. Koretta suggested that you keep getting better by getting feedback, recording yourself, or writing down your answers. Don’t forget to also prepare your interview space in an area that is clean and quiet. Also, before your interview, you should make sure that all of your audio, video, and internet connections are working.
Interview Tip #4: Make a great first impression. Be yourself. Being genuine during interviews can help you feel confident and professional. Koretta says to dress for the culture of the company during the job interview. For example, a start-up tech company might require a rock band t-shirt under a blazer, while a traditional tech company might require a collared shirt and tie. If you want to know more about what the company recommends, you can look up the dress code online or ask your recruiter. Remember to smile and relax. The company has a strong interest in learning more about you and your qualifications. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note to everyone you talked to at the company to show that you’re still interested and appreciate their time. You can show how valuable you are to the company by making your follow-up message more personal by including details from your conversation with the interviewer. This last opportunity for a good impression can give you a strong chance of moving forward.
Interview Tip #5: Ask questions! Interviewing is a two-way conversation. This is your opportunity to see if this company is the right fit for you. Koretta recommends identifying a few questions you want to ask the interviewer ahead of your interview. Asking questions shows you’re invested, and you’ve been paying attention. Some questions to ask would be on professional development, culture, and team structure. Lastly, it’s okay to show your enthusiasm and ask about the next interview steps.
If you want to do well in your interview, follow these tips. All jobs at Walgreens are based on the idea of helping others. From our store aisles and warehouses to our headquarters and technology hub, we’re hiring. Everywhere you look, you can feel the excitement and drive to come up with new ideas.
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Five Interview tips from a Walgreens recruiter
Koretta Fitzgerald, senior early talent recruiter, has been in the recruiting industry for over six years. If you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Koretta, you’ll notice her energy right away. She uses her huge smile and determination to help people find their next job, and she was kind enough to give us her best interview tips.
Walgreens Interview Questions with Answer Examples
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