A career as a pharmacy technician makes sense for anyone looking for a job in a growing sector of the health industry. Before committing to any job though, you should make sure that it’s something that truly suits you. Pharmacy technicians need certain characteristics if they want to be content and perform well at their jobs. Here are the five main qualities you will need if you want to be a successful pharmacy technician.
- Have a Good Memory
While you can look up information on a computer, you will also want to be able to remember things like patient names and the many types of drugs you will be prescribing. A good memory is an asset at a job that deals with technical information.
- Be Organized
Pharmacy technicians are responsible for a variety of tasks, such as entering patient order information into computer systems, preparing prescriptions and processing insurance claims. You may also be required to multitask on a busy day. To do these things, you will need to be efficient and well organized.
- Good Communication Skills
A pharmacy technician doesn’t only deal with drugs and forms, he or she must also be able to communicate effectively. You will have to talk and exchange information with patients, pharmacists, doctors, and insurance companies. This is a job that requires you to be both a good listener and a good communicator. You will need to be able to talk to people on the phone, in person, and online.
- Compassionate Personality
Ill individuals at pharmacies, hospitals, and other medical settings have serious concerns about dosages and side effects. They may be apprehensive about taking certain drugs. Many of the customers you might interact with will be ill, elderly, or concerned about an ill loved one. As a pharmacy technician, you should have sympathetic tendencies.
- Tech Savvy
Today’s pharmacies process heavy amounts of information and use sophisticated databases. To perform this job effectively, you should be comfortable working with computers and dealing with data. You will be required to type information into databases and navigate various types of software. You should be knowledgeable about computers and have efficient keyboarding skills.
Being a pharmacy technician can be a challenging profession. You need a good mixture of technical skills and the ability to communicate with people. However, it’s also a job in which you can gain satisfaction from knowing you’re helping people.
