Kroger Pharmacy Technician Job Description & Interview
Job Description and Duties
What Does a Walmart Greeter Do?
Unlike many other employees with Kroger, pharmacy technicians only operate in one section of the store. As the name implies, pharmacy techs assist pharmacists as well as customers. Kroger pharmacy technicians take prescriptions from customers, file prescriptions for pharmacists, and ring up purchases. In most cases, technicians do not directly put prescriptions together.
Working with Customers
To succeed as a pharmacy technician with Kroger, job seekers must prepare to face different types of customers. Some may receive some kind of medical assistance, such as Medicaid, so technicians should possess familiarity with medical assistance programs. Quite often, Kroger pharmacy techs provide in-store training to job candidates, going over certain routines throughout the pharmacy.
Salary and Compensation
How Much Do They Get Paid?
Kroger offers competitive hourly wages and yearly salary options to pharmacy employees. Pharmacy technicians may start out earning anywhere from $10.00 to $11.00 an hour. Wages depend greatly on employment status and the amount of experience within the industry. Part-time workers with Kroger usually make a little less than full-time pharmacy associates. Apart from base pay, Kroger also offers certain job benefits to qualified workers.
Additional Work Benefits
Parameters for qualification include employment status, job title, and amount of service with the company. Available work benefits with Kroger include paid vacation, flexible scheduling, health, vision, and dental coverage, and even a 401(k) retirement plan. Many Kroger locations also offer employee discounts on prescriptions and other grocery items.
Learn about becoming a pharmacy technician.
Next:
Review the Kroger Application page.
Kroger Pharmacy Tech Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Kroger Pharmacy Tech: I was a pharmacy technician for about two and a half years. Primarily, I worked behind the counter at the pharmacy. I either gave patients their medications, I typed in data for their prescriptions, I counted the pills, obviously, and I did a lot of stuff behind the counter, housekeeping duties, as well.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Kroger Pharmacy Tech: It was good. I felt like everybody was pretty professional, it was a nice place to work, customers for the most part were respectful, and we were respectful to the customers, as well. I felt like it was a great environment to work in.
Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?
Kroger Pharmacy Tech: I think it was nice because anyone that goes to a Kroger or any grocery store, they go there a lot, so you kind of get to know customers a little more, and you see them every week, especially in the pharmacy. So, it was nice to know the people you were working with and also know the people that you’re serving, so that was good.
Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Kroger Pharmacy Tech: We have different stations we work at, so they actually give you a little chart of your job duties for the day. You usually start the day typing up some prescriptions, or counting some prescriptions. We also had a drive-thru, where you had to operate the drive-thru. But, primarily, you just go where they need you, whether it’s at the drop off window, or the pickup window. So, you do whatever needs to be done at the time. At the end of the day, you do a lot of housekeeping duties, take out the trash, mop the floors, and do the different things like that.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Kroger Pharmacy Tech: For that job, I kind of just went through, try to see if they were hiring. They actually referred me to the Kroger I ended up working at, because I knew they needed someone there, because I guess they know where the open jobs are, and they can refer you to the Kroger branches, so they’re all connected, they know where the job openings are. So, I went to the Kroger I ended up working at, I called them, set up an interview with me, and asked why I want this job, what I’m interested in doing, and I just told them that I’m a pharmacy major, that’s what I’m going to school for, so it was kind of my interest. So they asked me a couple of questions, then after, they hired me.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Kroger Pharmacy Tech: For me, I know the interview process was pretty short – they just asked me some general questions, like what I’m currently doing. I told them I was a college student, they asked me about prior work experience I had. I worked a couple of different jobs during the summer and in high school. It was a while ago, but it was very short. They weren’t very picky, I think they just needed someone at the time.
Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
Kroger Pharmacy Tech: I think, for one, I was going to school to be a pharmacist, so I think they liked that I was very interested in the job. Having good prior work experience. I didn’t really have any times where I was fired from a job. I didn’t have any blemishes on my work record. They needed someone who was reliable and had good references.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Kroger Pharmacy Tech: I’d say they should probably understand what the job entails, what you’d actually be doing. Maybe understand kind of the responsibilities you have, because I think that’s a big thing. Working at a pharmacy, you have a lot of responsibilities involved, because you got a lot of patient’s prescriptions, and basically their lives are in your hands. I think it’s important to know your responsibilities. I feel id just be confident in your prior work experience. Show them that you’re a responsible person that they could really use.
Kroger Pharmacy Technician Interview Video 2
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Kroger Pharmacy Technician: So, I’m a pharmacy technician at Kroger Pharmacy. I dispense medication that comes our way. I also help customers at the front, like as a cashier, and ring them out. If any customers have any questions about where something is in the store or like – “What should I take for this symptom?” – I refer you either to the pharmacist or I try to help them out. I also try to maintain the stock of the pharmacy in like the shelves and just keeping the pharmacy running smoothly.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Kroger Pharmacy Technician: To be honest, it’s quite stressful. I work at a very busy pharmacy. We sell maybe 700 prescriptions a day, and it’s like a smaller space. The pharmacy is not that big, so people can be very demanding, and we have to run around and do our best. Sometimes, things just don’t happen on time, or a lot of things – we have to do a lot of things at one time. It’s just stressful like that, but it’s good. I work with good people, and it’s a flexible job, and people are great and helpful, so it doesn’t make it that bad.
Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?
Kroger Pharmacy Technician: I think meeting new people. I like meeting new people and remembering them, so when they come back in and they’re like, “Hi,” I’m like, “Oh, hi. I remember you. Let me help you out.” I think that’s cool that I’m establishing relationships like that because, ultimately, I do want to become a pharmacist. I want to work in the community, and I want to establish relationships with people and help them out. And I want them to remember me and trust me so that we can have this relationship.
Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Kroger Pharmacy Technician: I come in and I check in, and then I just get to work wherever they need me. If they need someone to dispense medicine, I’ll do that. If they need someone at the register, I’ll help with that, ring people out. If stocking needs to be maintained, if I have to do shelf maintenance, I’ll do that. Just whatever needs to be done, I just come in and do it until I have to go.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Kroger Pharmacy Technician: I applied online, and the hiring director at Kroger called me, asking me for an interview. Then, it was a one-on-one interview, and then she told me basically there like, “Okay, you got the job.” Then, we started the orientation process from there.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Kroger Pharmacy Technician: They were looking for people who would want to work a certain amount of hours, and mostly they were looking for people who were interested in learning about pharmacy and not trying to make money so much. They were really looking for a student who, or students who want to help themselves in their future endeavors more. I wanted to become a pharmacy technician because I want it to help me get into pharmacy school, and I want to have that experience under my belt. So, I think they were looking for someone who was more passionate in that sense rather than just looking at it as just a job. You know, someone who is interested in pharmacy and not just they want to work there.
Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
Kroger Pharmacy Technician: I think I must have just spoke well, composed. I have, you know… coming into college, I didn’t have that big of a resume. I just had one previous job before. So, I think them knowing that I was a hardworking student, I had a good GPA, I was punctual – I think it set them apart. Also, I was really interested in learning about pharmacy, and I wanted to be there. And I think that’s what they were looking for, so it must have just set me off for them.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Kroger Pharmacy Technician: That apply for this job if you really want to learn about pharmacy, especially if you’re a student, if you want to get that experience. I think you have to be passionate about what you do or somewhat interested, because the job can be very stressful, that you have to deal with demanding people who just don’t understand. And almost if you don’t want to be there, it’ll be pure torture for you. So, just keep a positive outlook for those people who do apply and get in. It’s a good job. You get a lot of benefits. You meet new people, and it’s a good job to have overall.
