Chemist Assistant Interview Questions & Answers

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This demonstrates that the candidate has read relevant papers to pharmacy and has made some efforts to understand the wider healthcare environment

Some customers are on major medications that they must take daily. If these individuals run out, they will need their drug refills that day.

Discuss past experiences where you have had deadlines. Was there more than one at the same time? If so, how did you prioritize your time? Think about how you would make sure the customers who were most in need would benefit, while not compromising others you are serving.

Employers want committed employees. It takes time and money to hire and train the right person, and most companies don’t want to hire employees who only plan to stick around for one or two years. You could say, “I plan to work in this field for many years to come and hopefully advance within the company. I can stay for as long as I’m able to continue to grow in my field.”

I am a member of the American Association of Pharmacists and participate regularly in several workshops and trainings held by them. I also study a range of research journals which record new pharmaceutical studies and their efficacy.

Depending on the assignment, you may have to work with others. Therefore, the interviewer may inquire about any experience working with a group. As a team player, you must be able to listen, follow directions, and sometimes compromise. Being a team player is a plus, but you should also highlight the ability to work independently when necessary. Give examples of situations when you had to collaborate with a team, and when you had to shine as an individual.

This is a very important question, and your interviewer will definitely want to know how you tackle a stressful situation. One who has direct contact with customers represents the company, hence you need to emphasize that you will be able to deal with a difficult patient.
I usually stay calm and polite, even in a tough situation; I am composed and unruffled while solving a problem.

Although you want to sell yourself during an interview, you also need to be honest. In all likelihood, the interviewer will contact your references. And if you describe yourself as an amazing worker, but your references say otherwise, the interviewer might question your honesty. Mention positive qualities that accurately describe you; and if you had problems with a previous employer, give the interviewer a heads up. You don’t have to provide the nitty-gritty details or bash a former employer, but let him know you didn’t leave your last job on the best terms.

It is always helpful to bring up past examples. Think about times in previous jobs (or your personnel life) when you had to do a number of things within a certain time frame. How did you make it work?

Prioritizing tasks is a good first step, but you need to provide more detail in order to really sell your ability in an interview. If you have not done this sort of work before, consider times when you have dealt with pharmacy assistants. Think about their duties and the things that can happen during a workday. What would you do in order to provide the necessary service to clients in a reasonable time frame?

A Pharmacy technician needs to be an expert at what he’s doing, given that, there is absolutely no room for mistakes when preparing medicines according to doctor’s orders. Duties comprise of: filling prescriptions, making medications as per the pharmacist’s orders, maintaining records of each prescription given out, collecting payment, assessing the insurance status before each prescription is handed out and maintaining sanitized and hygienic storage conditions.

I enjoy my job enormously since I have always wanted to be a part of the healthcare industry and have been interested in the wonders these medicines can do. My favourite part is interacting with the clients, preparing the medications for them and describing to them how to take the medicines

There is no such thing as a perfect chemist. Even the best in the field can improve in certain areas. This question is designed to help the interviewer assess your weaknesses and your strengths. As already stated, a good chemist must possess several traits, such as good analytical skills, good math skills and you must pay attention to details. It’s okay to acknowledge areas that you’re improving on, but don’t admit shortcomings that could cost you the job. For example, if there are new developments or software programs you’re unfamiliar with, don’t mention these. Other candidates are likely familiar with these areas, which can give them the upper hand.

This hypothetical question allows the candidate to explain how they would react in a situation where they don't know the answer. This question is important as it checks a candidates problem-solving skills. What to look for in an answer:

☛ Ability to interact with patients
☛ Research ability
☛ Customer service

I would explain to the patient that it was a drug I'd never heard of and I'd check to see if we carried it in the store. If we didn't, I would then let them know I'd do some research on the drug and would call them to let them know what I found out and answer any questions they may have.

I effectively deal with workplace stress by being very methodical and organized; I always ensure that there is proper communication regarding the prescriptions. Certain duties such as inventory maintenance, accurate labelling and arrangement of drugs are very important to avoiding stress and ensuring that the pharmacy operates smoothly throughout the day. I take short breaks now and then to revive myself and have always had a track record of preparing the precise composition based upon the given prescription

Another common question and one that can potentially trip you up. Do not mention something that will automatically lose you the job (e.g. “I’m always looking at Facebook during business hours”). Similarly, avoid something that does not really apply, such as “I drink too much coffee.”

Pick something that qualifies as a weakness, but is also an area where you have been improving. For example, you can mention that you sometimes spend too much time pouring over the fine details of a task. However, with experience, you are now able to do this with the same amount of detail, but also an appropriate degree of time management.

Display your enthusiasm for the job by assuring the interviewer you have researched the organization and the role. What did you find in your research that made you excited to work for Gordons Chemists?

Don’t say you became a chemist because it’s a lucrative field. Interviewers also use this question to determine your level of excitement. If there’s only one position and many qualified applicants, interviewers want to select someone who brings a lot to the table — knowledge, experience, a willingness to learn, and genuine excitement for the field. A good answer might include, “Since I was young I had an interest in learning more about properties and various forms of matter, and understanding how these undergo change.”

While pharmacy is about helping patients, it's still a business. This question gives the candidate an opportunity to explain more broadly how they think about the business of pharmacy. What to look for:

☛ Understanding pharmacists' other responsibilities
☛ See if applicants are a good fit for your pharmacy
☛ Can they bring value to the business

Providing great patient care is probably the best thing you can do for the business side of pharmacy. Patients who feel they receive great care and have a pharmacist who is knowledgeable and cares about them individually will continue to frequent that pharmacy.

Pharmacists are often in a management role and need to be able to supervise their technicians. A good pharmacist will be able to manage their employees and any conflicts that arise. What to look for:

☛ Management ability
☛ Interpersonal Skills
☛ Conflict resolution

I would schedule a time to speak with both technicians before the pharmacy opened. I would have each of them explain their grievances to the other and then work towards a solution. I would let them know their behavior was unacceptable and in the future, if they had a problem with a co-worker, to bring it to me so we could work it out. I'd also tell them any further public disruptions could potentially lead to disciplinary action.

As a retail employee, you will come across customers who want to argue with store policy. Assure the interviewer that you can handle a situation like this with poise while keeping the customer happy, and keeping the needs of the company in mind as well.

The interviewer is trying to assess whether your skills and knowledge are current with new developments in the field. Chemistry is a science, and with any science, new approaches are often introduced to achieve a specific goal. To remain up to date in your field, you might take continuing education courses, such as classes in computer science or information technology, or you might take refresher courses in math to ensure you’re able to solve complex mathematical equations with ease.

Pharmacists have to deal with all types of people. This question will let you know if they are capable of handling the different personalities they will encounter on the job. What to look for:

☛ Applicants ability to interact with difficult patients
☛ Ability to diffuse potentially volatile situations
☛ Problem solving

Instead of waiting for the patient to come into the pharmacy, I would call them and let them know their medication is out of stock, we are ordering some more immediately and that I was sorry for any inconvenience this would bring. The goal with the phone call is to get ahead of the situation and prevent an in-store confrontation.

Pharmacy is a job that requires a lot of responsibility, so pharmacists should truly enjoy what they do. This question asked applicants what they did and didn't like about their studies to see if they enjoyed the overall experience of studying pharmacy. What to look for:

☛ Self-awareness
☛ Commitment to the pharmacy profession
☛ Communication skills

I enjoyed the APPE we had to complete. The chance to work in a real job, with supervision, reinforced my belief that this is the career for me. It was excellent preparation for the job and probably the best time I had in school. As far as weaknesses go, Calculus is the one class that caused me the most trouble. I had to study extremely hard to pass my exams, but I did, and while I didn't enjoy it, the sense of accomplishment I felt when I passed made it all worth it.

Loss prevention initiatives are incredibly important in the retail sector. Discuss with the interviewer how you would handle a situation surrounding employee theft.

Be sure to avoid sounding self-righteous in your answer. Be diplomatic and refer to company protocol in these situations.

Most retail positions require a wide range of hours that may include evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and split shifts. Assure the interviewer that you can commit to a wide range of hours. If there is anything in your schedule that may hinder your availability, be sure to address this.

Your answer to this question helps us to understand your attitude to work and to pharmacy. I suggest you to speak about practical subjects. Emphasize that you enjoyed your practice, and that the experience has helped you to confirm your career choice.

On the other hand, each of us struggled with a subject or two. Be honest, tell us that you struggled, but ensure the interviewers that you did your very best to eventually pass the exams, becasue you understood the importance of each single subject at pharmacy school.