Ace Your Walgreens Pharmacist Interview: The Top 25 Questions You Need to Prepare For

Landing an interview with Walgreens as a pharmacist is a major achievement. As one of the largest pharmacy chains in the US, competition for roles is fierce. Now you need to make sure your interview performance seals the deal.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the top 25 most common Walgreens pharmacist interview questions. Understanding what you’ll be asked and crafting strong responses can help you walk in feeling confident and ready to impress your future employer.

Why Interview Prep Matters for Walgreens

With over 9000 pharmacy locations nationwide, Walgreens hires hundreds of pharmacists every year. You can bet their recruiters are experts at assessing candidates.

Thorough preparation is key to standing out. Besides testing your clinical knowledge, Walgreens pharmacist interviews evaluate soft skills like:

• Communication abilities
• Customer orientation
• Multitasking under pressure
• Leadership qualities
• Ethics and integrity

Making a great first impression also heavily influences hiring decisions. You want the interviewers envisioning you as part of the Walgreens team.

Let’s now dive into the kinds of pharmacist interview questions you’re likely to encounter and how to ace them.

Walgreens Pharmacist Interview Questions and Answers

1. Why do you want to work as a pharmacist at Walgreens?

This is often the very first question. It assesses your motivations and shows whether you’ve researched the company.

Frame your response around how your goals and values align with Walgreens. For example:

“I’m excited to join Walgreens because I admire your emphasis on customer care and community health improvement. As a pharmacist passionate about providing personalized guidance, I feel I’d thrive in this environment and contribute to upholding your high standards for pharmacy services.”

Discuss how you find the role itself meaningful by touching on your passion for patient education, adherence counseling, collaborating with doctors, etc. This tells the interviewers why you’re a great fit who’ll stay engaged in the work.

2. What do you know about our company culture and values?

Walgreens looks for pharmacists who’ll mesh well with their organizational culture. Demonstrate you’ve done your homework by highlighting values like:

• Trustworthiness
• Community focus
• Inclusiveness
• Drive for innovation

For example:

“I’m impressed by Walgreens’ commitment to diversity, integrity, and community well-being. Things like your programs to improve accessibility for disabled customers and promote inclusion align closely with my own principles. I hope to uphold these values through my patient care.”

Familiarity with their community outreach initiatives is also impressive.

3. How do you stay updated on developments in pharmacy practice?

Healthcare is an ever-evolving field. Walgreens needs pharmacists who proactively keep their knowledge current.

In your answer, mention habits like:

• Reading journals like Pharmacy Times
• Taking continuing education courses
• Attending conferences and seminars
• Participating in online forums or groups

Highlight how you apply what you learn to improve your work. This demonstrates lifelong learning abilities crucial for the role.

4. How would you handle an upset customer complaining about their prescription?

Patients can sometimes get angry if there are issues like long wait times, insurance claim problems, or medication side effects. Walgreens wants to see you can defuse tensions while remaining calm and constructive.

Highlight emotional intelligence and customer service skills in your response. For instance:

“I would listen carefully without getting defensive. After letting them vent, I’d apologize for their troubles and see how I can resolve the issue. If I couldn’t fix things directly, I’d get the store manager involved so we can find a solution and turn their experience around.”

Providing tactful, patient-focused care is vital for Walgreens’ reputation.

5. How do you ensure accuracy when filling high volumes of prescriptions?

Pharmacists juggle prescription volumes upwards of hundreds per day at busy Walgreens locations. Detail proven methods you use to avoid errors, like:

• Double-checking all medications
• Using barcode scanning technology
• Following careful labeling procedures
• Having assistants verify your work
• Asking clarifying questions when instructions are unclear

Position accuracy as a top priority you never compromise on.

6. Tell us about a time you had to delicately raise an issue with a doctor regarding a prescription. How did you handle discussing this sensitively?

Doctors are human too, and sometimes make mistakes on prescriptions. This question evaluates your poise, communication skills, and ethics in navigating sensitive situations with other healthcare providers.

Use the STAR method to demonstrate a time you successfully identified and resolved a prescription error by partnering respectfully with the doctor. For example:

“When a pediatric patient was prescribed a far higher dose of medication than appropriate for their age, I immediately contacted the doctor to review it, framing it as wanting to ‘double-check’ the dosage. I then suggested a safer alternative given the patient’s age. By being diplomatic yet firm, we not only avoided an overdose but strengthened our working relationship through that difficult discussion.”

Keeping the focus on patient wellbeing is key.

7. A patient insists on a prescription you don’t feel is clinically indicated. What would you do?

Sometimes patients demand unnecessary or inappropriate medications like opioids or antibiotics. This tests your ethics, critical thinking, and ability to educate patients while maintaining professional boundaries.

In your answer, explain your responsibility to only fill prescriptions that are clinically warranted and in the patient’s best interest. Outline how you’d have a frank yet compassionate discussion exploring their concerns, provide appropriate alternatives if possible, but uphold your professional judgement if not medically indicated.

Position yourself as a patient advocate who helps them make informed choices, not just a pill dispenser.

8. How do you stay motivated on days when you feel overwhelmed or stressed?

Pharmacy work comes with heavy demands that can lead to burnout. Walgreens wants to know you have self-care skills and healthy coping methods to tap into, like:

• Taking short breaks to recharge
• Having supportive co-workers you can vent to
• Leaving work at work instead of ruminating after hours
• Getting enough sleep, diet and exercise
• Practicing mindfulness or meditation

Convey that you know how to manage stress in a sustainable, professional way.

9. Tell us about a time you had to juggle multiple urgent prescriptions at once. How did you prioritize?

Multitasking is a pharmacy must-have skill. This question tests how you rank priorities and handle pressure without sacrificing quality or safety. Structure your STAR response around an example like:

“When 3 acute prescriptions came in at once during a busy shift, I quickly reviewed each for clinical urgency and potential drug interactions. I could tell the heart medication was most time-sensitive, so I fast-tracked filling it while having my assistant start on the antibiotic. Within 20 minutes, all 3 were accurately dispensed, preventing any dangerous delays.”

Highlight calm efficiency and good judgment under fire.

10. How would you establish rapport and earn the trust of patients at our pharmacy?

Bedside manner is just as important as clinical know-how. Share methods you’d use to build warm, caring pharmacist-patient relationships, such as:

• Making eye contact and using open body language
• Asking questions about their medication history and concerns
• Truly listening without impatience or interrupting
• Following up to see if their treatment is working
• Protecting privacy and confidentiality at all times

Convey your passion for providing personalized care and guidance.

11. A patient asks for advice on over-the-counter medication. How would you counsel them appropriately?

OTC consultation is a hallmark of pharmacy services. This tests your ability to educate patients clearly on proper medication selection and use without overstepping legal bounds.

In your answer, discuss asking probing questions to understand their symptoms and needs, then explaining their options in easy-to-understand language. Note you’d refer them to see a doctor if their condition seems serious or unsuitable for self-treatment.

Position your role as an expert guide focused on their health and safety.

12. If hired, how would you positively impact our pharmacy’s operations?

Now is your chance to highlight your strongest skills and contributions. Share specific ideas like:

• Applying Six Sigma methods to improve workflow efficiency
• Utilizing software to make the prescription process smoother
• Implementing better inventory tracking systems
• Leading community health workshops that raise store revenue
• Boosting medication adherence rates through patient counseling

Back up claims with quantifiable examples from past roles. Prove you’re a pharmacist who enhances operations and the bottom line.

13. How do you stay informed on new drugs hitting the market?

Familiarity with new pharmaceuticals allows you to safely dispense cutting-edge treatments. Demonstrate you’re plugged into the latest developments by discussing:

• Reading