Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the world, with nearly $400 billion in worldwide sales each year and 1.4 million employees in the United States, according to the company. There are 4,000 Wal-Mart stores with pharmacies throughout the country, and not surprisingly, Wal-Mart is the number one retailer in pharmacy sales, according to Drugstore News. Given its huge presence, Wal-Mart is always hiring for new pharmacy staff and even recruits student interns. Their web-based application process is simple and it is easy to find and apply for new career opportunities.
Types of Pharmacy Careers
Wal-Mart is continually hiring to fill positions at its 4,000 pharmacy locations throughout the United States. The most common career opportunities with Wal-Mart pharmacies include staff pharmacists and pharmacy managers. Other pharmacy opportunities may be available, including careers in merchandising, recruiting and legal departments. Staff pharmacists at Wal-Mart are responsible for dispensing prescriptions, ensuring compliance with all laws and regulations and providing medication counseling to customers. Pharmacy managers at Wal-Mart perform these job functions in addition to managing and evaluating pharmacy staff.
Benefits
Wal-Mart offers a number of benefits to their employees, including health insurance. Eligible employees and their families can receive health insurance for as little as $5 to $8 per month, in addition to reduced costs on generic prescription drugs. Wal-Mart also offers profit sharing and 401k plans for pharmacy and regular employees. In 2008, Wal-Mart contributed $870 million to their employees' retirement plans. All employees, including those in the pharmacy, also receive a 10% discount at Wal-Mart stores.
Technology
Wal-Mart prides itself on its pharmacy technology, and they see it is a big draw for recruiting potential pharmacists. Wal-Mart uses a system in their pharmacies called Connexus that includes touch-screen technology, easy credit card processing and electronic imaging to help pharmacists perform their jobs faster and with less stress. Wal-Mart pharmacies take advantage of this technology to offer a paperless environment, which increases efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Pharmacy Students
Wal-Mart offers a number of scholarship and internship opportunities for students interested in pursuing a pharmacy career. Each year, hundreds of students are accepted into the pharmacy internship program, which offers a tiered responsibility system based on the student's education level. Eligible students must be enrolled at an accredited pharmacy school to apply for the internship program. Wal-Mart also offers scholarship opportunities at every accredited pharmacy school in the United States. Check with your school's financial aid office for more information about potential scholarships.
How to Apply
Wal-Mart uses an online job search and application process. To apply, visit their online career site and search for open positions based on location and job title. If you find a job that meets your qualifications, create a profile and submit your resume through the online process. For pharmacy manager and staff pharmacist positions, Wal-Mart requires potential employees to be licensed pharmacists with a B.S. degree in pharmacy studies. For more information about a pharmacy career, contact Wal-Mart at (800) 221-1655.
