Here are a few of the qualities theywould find intheir ideal candidate.
“Showing up to work on time!” said Dr. Linda Nguyen. “It’s embarrassing to mention, but nowadays that seems like a really hard characteristic to come by.”
According to Indeed, to showcase professionalism in any job, but as the coronavirus pandemic creates a huge technology shift to accommodate coupled with the surge of pharmacy foot traffic that occurred the pandemic’s onset, there is no shortage of work to do once a pharmacy technician clocks in. Pharmacists need to know that they can depend on their technicians to show up on time and do what needs to be done.
For Dr. Linda, a reliable pharmacy technician is also one who takes initiative. “I think a lot of times,” she states, “people come and they are just here for a paycheck.”
Pharmaceutical work is not for the employee who wants to do the bare minimum. For a successful career path, a pharmacy technician must devote time and resources to career training and earning their certification and should be prepared to achieve their team’s goals in a timely manner every time they clock in.
When it comes to pharmaceutical methodology, the time for learning doesn’t end when you become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. The bottom line, Dr. Johnny Nguyen says, is that “they need to beteachable—able to learn, open tonew ideasԻnew methods.”
“We want someone who wants to work hard and wants to learn more so they can excel onto the next step.” – Dr. Linda Nguyen, DFW Wellness Pharmacy
healthy sense of curiositycan create a wider variety of career opportunities for a pharmacy technician who is just starting out.
For instance, investing in morespecialized training, such asSterile Compounding and Aseptic Techniques, creates chances not only to be employed by non-compounding or non-sterile compounding pharmacies, but also by rarer, more specializedsterile compounding pharmaciesin the area.
“ […] if someone was to get specialized training,” Dr. Johnny remarks, “I’m pretty sure that there’s an area in the city where they would be able to find employment.”
“We look for […]efficiencyand thespeedat which they work,” Dr. Johnny Nguyen says.In a pharmacy setting, efficiencyis made up ofgood habitsdeveloped over time, such as
At peak times, a pharmacist can easily get in over their head ensuring that every order gets filled. They rely on pharmacy technicians tokeep an eyeon their surroundings,evaluatethe needs of the team, andeasily switch tasksto pitch in when necessary.
When it comes to compounding medications,a pharmacy technician who thinks they haveall the answers is not the kind of person they are looking for.
“There are associateswhothink ‘I got it,’ and then they don’t,which is kind of scary,” says Dr. Linda. “[…]I think you really need somebody whohasgood character, istrustworthy, and knows toask questions if they aren’t sure how something is done.”
In compounding, whether sterile or non-sterile, the decisions made by a pharmacy or lab technician have a direct impact on the outcome of a patient. Mistakes can happen anywhere, even a pharmacy, but there is no room for errors that go unaddressed by a technician that can’t admit that there is a problem.
“[…]if they feel like there may be a mistake,[a good pharmacy technician]know[s]how tospeak up,” she went on. “That is pretty critical in compounding.”
Drs. Johnny and Linda Nguyen emphasize that right now,pharmacies in Dallas-Fort Worth need pharmacy technicians. Period.
Dr. Linda says, “What we are hurting for is just hard-working technicians or trainees, the ones that are in the heavy day-to-day workflow.”
According to, the North Texas region is experiencing thehighest rate of annual growthfor pharmacy technicians in the entire state atan increase of 2.98 percent,with Tarrant and Dallas counties close behind.
If this list makes you think you’re the kind ofemployeethese pharmacists are looking for,the Dallas-Fort Worth areaiscurrentlythebest place in the statefor opportunities tobecome apharmacy technician.
This article is written by
Share this article
This article is written by
Share this article






Ƶ Proudly Completes
41 Years in Career Training Services