Pharmacy assistant interview - any help appreciated!

[jb7445]

Hello,

I have an interview coming up for a pharmacy assistant role in the NHS. Would anyone who has interviewed for a similar role in the past, or who is currently in such a role, be willing to give me a bit of help?

I would really appreciate some pointers regarding the interview - I have already prepared all the obvious competency questions and why I want to work there etc, but any other advice regarding specific questions likely to be asked/format of the interview etc would be great. I will also apparently have to sit a short unseen test but have no idea whether this will be literacy, numeracy, psychometrics, situational judgment or something else! Any experiences? I have tried searching the forum but there doesn't seem to be much...

Also, I am trying to research current issues in the NHS and in pharmacy generally. I have read up on various legal issues (the Prestatyn case, the proposed decriminalisation of single dispensing errors etc) and am obviously aware of the funding issues facing the NHS generally. Could anyone suggest other issues or areas I should be looking into?

Many thanks!

[johnep]

Pharmacies are NOT part of the NHS. They are contractors who are paid by the NHS for dispensing.
You will only get the minimum wage.
You will not belong to Unison.
You will not be eligible for NHS terms and conditions or NHS pension.
Conditions vastly different for pharmacies in hospital. These are part of the NHS.
johnep

[jb7445]

Hi Johnep! Thanks for the reply. This role is definitely in the NHS - it's in a hospital and is band 2, so not (quite) minimum wage! Unless you were suggesting a 'current issue' i.e. differing rights for hospital & community pharmacy assistants....? Apologies for being dense!

[johnep]

OK. You will do well in a hospital. just wanted to make sure you were not wearing rose tinted specs regarding community pharmacy assistant. Questions will be somewhat similar to others referred to on forum. search on hospital interview.
johnep

[bobbin]

Hello,

I have an interview coming up for a pharmacy assistant role in the NHS. Would anyone who has interviewed for a similar role in the past, or who is currently in such a role, be willing to give me a bit of help?

I would really appreciate some pointers regarding the interview - I have already prepared all the obvious competency questions and why I want to work there etc, but any other advice regarding specific questions likely to be asked/format of the interview etc would be great. I will also apparently have to sit a short unseen test but have no idea whether this will be literacy, numeracy, psychometrics, situational judgment or something else! Any experiences? I have tried searching the forum but there doesn't seem to be much...

Also, I am trying to research current issues in the NHS and in pharmacy generally. I have read up on various legal issues (the Prestatyn case, the proposed decriminalisation of single dispensing errors etc) and am obviously aware of the funding issues facing the NHS generally. Could anyone suggest other issues or areas I should be looking into?

Many thanks!

From your post, you sound very well prepared already. Just make sure that you are able to answer any questions relating to things you have written on your application form. For example, if you said that you are particularly interested in a certain area of pharmacy, they might ask you about it.... so have something to say.

[jb7445]

Cheers Bobbin & Johnep, I just really need this job so want to be as prepared as possible! I have searched the forums already but haven't come up with much re interviews... Would appreciate any other comments/advice/experience!