The Top CVS Health Interview Questions You Need to Know

Interviewing for a job at CVS Health? As one of the largest pharmacy retailers and healthcare companies in the United States, landing a job at CVS is a great opportunity. However, competition is stiff and CVS’s interview process can be tough. This article will walk you through some of the most common CVS interview questions along with tips on how to ace your interview.

Overview of CVS Health

Let’s start with some background on CVS. Founded in 1963 as Consumer Value Stores, CVS Health has grown into a Fortune 5 company with over 9,900 retail locations and 1,100 walk-in clinics across the country. Beyond retail pharmacies, CVS also provides prescription management services as one of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit managers.

Some key facts about CVS Health

-Stopped selling tobacco products in 2014 to promote health and wellness
-Fills over 1 billion prescriptions annually in their pharmacies
-Acquired health insurance giant Aetna in 2018
-Employs over 300,000 people nationwide
-Ranked #4 on Fortune 500 in 2022

With its vast reach and influence in healthcare, CVS Health is an employer of choice for many job seekers. Thorough preparation is key to stand out in their competitive hiring process

Overview of CVS Interview Process

The CVS interview process typically consists of:

-Initial phone screen with HR
-One or more in-person/video interviews
-For some roles, a virtual job tryout including assessments

Interviews are behavioral-based with questions about your skills and experience. For customer-facing roles like pharmacy techs and retail associates, expect questions about dealing with customers. Corporate positions feature more questions testing strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Overall, CVS interviews aim to gauge skills, fit with the role and company culture, and your motivation for working there. Proper preparation based on this insight will help you succeed.

Top CVS Interview Questions and Answers

Here are some of the most common CVS interview questions along with tips on how to craft strong responses:

1. Why do you want to work for CVS Health?

As a key reason for your interest, mention CVS’s mission to help people on their path to better health. Highlight how you align with their core values like caring, accountability and innovation. Share why their work culture and growth opportunities appeal to you.

Example: I’m excited to work for CVS because providing accessible, affordable healthcare aligns with my personal values. CVS’s innovative services like MinuteClinic make healthcare easy to access at convenient locations. I’m also drawn to the company culture which balances excellence and integrity with caring for employees and customers alike. This role appeals specifically because it allows me to use my skills in a key area that enables CVS to deliver quality healthcare services at scale.

2. How would you handle an upset customer?

Emphasize listening calmly without getting defensive. Validate their feelings and determine the root of their issue. Share how you would solve the problem, involve a supervisor if needed, and follow up to ensure satisfaction. Stay positive and explain how you turn complaints into opportunities to improve customer service.

Example: I would first listen carefully to understand why they are upset. I would apologize for their experience and assure them I will do my best to resolve the issue. If I am unable to appease them, I would get my manager involved while remaining calm and polite throughout. I would follow up after the interaction to get feedback on how I could have better handled the situation. Even difficult customers present opportunities to improve our customer service standards.

3. Tell me about a time you had to balance competing priorities with tight deadlines. How did you handle it?

Share a specific example that highlights your time management, prioritization and organizational skills. Explain your approach like making task lists, tackling the toughest items first, checking in frequently, asking for help when needed, and not compromising on quality despite the pressure. Conclude with the positive outcome achieved.

Example: As a pharmacy technician, we were short-staffed one weekend when flu season hit its peak. The store was busier than normal. On top of filling prescriptions, I also had to handle drive-through customers and vaccine appointments. To stay on top of everything, I made a priority task list starting with critical prescriptions and customer needs. For efficiency, I delegated drop-off tasks to the pharmacy cashier. Although it was stressful, I stayed calm, focused and communicated frequently with my co-workers. Together we successfully met our deadlines and received positive feedback from customers that day.

4. How do you stay motivated when work gets stressful or repetitive?

Show you are self-driven by sharing personal motivation strategies. Give examples like focusing on positive outcomes for customers, taking short breaks to recharge, reminding yourself of goals, visualizing success, and tracking accomplishments. Emphasize passion for the role and eagerness to grow professionally.

Example: I stay motivated by keeping the big picture in mind. When work gets stressful handling multiple prescriptions, I remind myself that accuracy is critical for patients’ health. By double-checking my work, I ensure we avoid potentially dangerous medication errors. I also find inspiration in positive customer interactions and feedback from pharmacists on my progress mastering new medication management systems. My desire to continuously improve and advance within CVS keeps me engaged on repetitive tasks.

5. How do you keep organized while multitasking in a fast-paced environment?

Describe proven methods for efficiently tracking multiple tasks and priorities. Share examples like creating daily to-do lists, utilizing notes or reminders apps, designating specific places for items, checking off completed tasks, filing systematically, asking clarifying questions, and requesting help when feeling overwhelmed. Emphasize remaining focused, attentive to detail, and calm under pressure.

Example: Organization is crucial when juggling multiple priorities at once. To stay organized, I start my day by creating a task list and noting the top 3 priorities to tackle first. I utilize tools like sticky notes and alarms on my phone to remind myself of urgent to-dos. When I finish a task, I immediately check it off to maintain a sense of progress. If I ever feel overwhelmed or missing details, I ask my co-workers or manager for support. By maintaining my organization system each day, I can work efficiently and minimize mistakes.

Tips for Acing the Interview

Beyond preparing strong answers for likely questions, here are some tips for impressing your interviewers at CVS:

• Research the company, brand, culture, values, mission, and specific role thoroughly. This shows commitment.

• Practice and refine your interview answers until they sound natural.

• Bring copies of your resume, work samples, certifications, letters of recommendation, etc.

• Dress professionally in clean, pressed business attire.

• Arrive 10-15 minutes early to get settled and show punctuality.

• Maintain polite, confident body language. Smile, make eye contact, and shake hands firmly.

• Ask smart questions that show interest in the company and role.

• Follow up promptly with any requested items and thank you notes.

By mastering the likely CVS interview questions and following these tips, you can have a winning interview and get hired for an exciting career at CVS Health. Do your homework and believe in yourself, and you will be well on your path to success.