5 Popular Pharmacy Technician Interview Questions

When interviewing for a pharmacy technician position, you want to do everything you can to show the interviewer your knowledge of common prescription medicine and customer service. While you should always be prepared for common job interview questions, there are technician-specific questions that you’ll want to make sure you have practiced before hand.

Why did you choose pharmacy technician as a career?

The interviewer is curious about your motivation for becoming a pharmacy technician. Explain your reasoning for entering the field. Focus on the profession, not the "perks".

"When I was in high school, my grandmother became extremely ill. Through her healing process, I saw the power of medicine. I started looking into how to become a pharmacy technician. It sparked a passion in me to pursue a career in healthcare in order to help my community. Also, I love how the field is constantly growing and evolving."

What is your greatest weakness?

This question can blindside you if you aren't prepared. You can mention a weak point that you have been working to improve. Or another option is spinning a negative into a positive.

"I can be a little obsessive about triple checking everything. However, my reason for doing so is because I know there is no room for mistakes as a pharmacy technician. I prefer to be that way so that I am reassured my work contains no errors."

What are the most important qualities for a pharmacy technician?

You should think about the skills needed to be a successful pharmacy technician that you also possess.

"I think the most important necessity is to be detail-oriented. It's crucial to be attentive when handling prescription medicine because the smallest oversight could be fatal. Maintaining a certain level of professionalism is key as well because we represent the company and the customer should feel comfortable trusting us with their medication."

How do you respond to deadlines?

The interviewer wants to determine that you will be able to complete assignments in a timely manner without cutting corners that could affect the customer.

"I actually work best under deadlines because my work style revolves around them. Deadlines assist with the prioritization of tasks because I can categorize them based on order of importance and end date. I think they can be beneficial and allow me to remain organized."

How would you handle a difficult customer?

With this question, the interviewer is getting a sense of your communication skills and how you handle conflict.

"Customer service is an integral part of being a pharmacy technician. I wouldn't take anything they say personally and do my best to resolve the situation. I would listen to their complaints, apologize, and try my hardest to satisfy the customer. My goal is for them to leave happy and continue doing business with us."