If you want to become a pharmacy technician but don’t have any experience, you may have trouble deciding what you should put on your resume.
While experience is great, you can still craft a good entry-level pharmacy technician resume without work experience.
You might include things like education, soft skills, special awards, or customer service experience on your resume. Good grades, leadership positions, and participation in extracurricular activities or athletics can also show off some of your skills to a potential employer.
This guide goes over what you should highlight on your entry-level pharmacy technician resume and gives two templates you can use to create one.
What to Highlight on Your Entry-Level Pharmacy Technician Resume if You Don’t Have Experience
Your resume is the first thing a potential interviewer will see when deciding whether or not to hire you for a position. Because of this, it is essential to highlight your skills and mention any relevant experience you have.
With a little creativity and extra work, even people with no working history can put together a professional resume that shows what a great asset they could be for the team, helping them become pharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy Technician Certifications
One of the best things you can add to your resume when applying for a pharmacy technician job is a pharmacy technician certification.
The PTCB’s CPhT certification is the most widely accepted, and some states even require pharmacy technicians to have it.
If you haven’t earned a certification yet, you may want to consider our Online Pharmacy Technician Program here at Stepful. It only takes 4 months to complete, costs $1,999, includes an in-person externship, and comes with job placement support.
There are several different types of pharmacy technician certifications you can earn, including many specialties, such as:
- Certified Pharmacy Technician
- Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician
- Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician
- Medication History Certificate
- Technician Product Verification Certificate
- Hazardous Drug Management Certificate
- Billing and Reimbursement Certificate
- Controlled Substances Diversion Prevention Certificate
- Immunization Administration Certificate
- Point of Care Testing Certificate
- Medication Therapy Management Certificate
- Regulatory Compliance Certificate
- Supply Chain and Inventory Management Certificate
- Nonsterile Compounding Certificate
Other Healthcare Certifications
Pharmacy technician certifications are not the only types of certifications that can help you advance your career or get a job as a pharmacy technician.
Any type of training or education that deals with customer service, insurance, or healthcare can help boost your resume and land a job.
Other relevant healthcare certifications include:
- Basic Life Support/CPR Certification
- Certified Professional Biller
- Phlebotomy Certification
- Medical Assistant Certification
- Medical Administrative Assistant Certification
- Electronic Health Records Specialist Certification
Other Healthcare Experience
While pharmacy technicians primarily deal with medications and customer service, many different healthcare jobs can give you a great experience on your way to becoming a pharmacy technician.
Any entry-level healthcare job is great for practicing customer service, learning medical terminology, and improving your infection control techniques.
Healthcare experience does not have to be paid in order to be put on a resume. If you have acted as a caregiver for a family member or friend, managed medications for a medically complex child, or volunteered in any kind of healthcare setting, add those experiences to your resume and be prepared to talk about them in an interview.
>> Read More: Sample Pharmacy Technician Interview Questions & Answers
Other Customer Service Experience
Many pharmacy technician jobs require great customer service skills. Pharmacy technicians spend a lot of time answering phone calls, dealing with billing and payments, and helping customers figure out their prescription medications.
If you have any experience working a cash register, answering phones, or working face-to-face with customers, you will have an advantage over other job applicants.
Externship Experience
Gaining experience through a pharmacy technician externship is a great way to learn and is an excellent addition to any aspiring pharmacy technician's resume. Externships allow future pharmacy technicians to get hands-on training under the guidance of an experienced pharmacy technician and pharmacist.
If you are planning to get your pharmacy technician certification, look for a program that includes an externship opportunity.
Some online programs, like Stepful’s Pharmacy Technician Program, include an in-person externship after completing the classroom part of the program. Externships not only look good on a resume, they help you feel more confident after you start your new job.
Education
Most employers expect job candidates to include information about their education on their resume. As you build your resume, make sure to include the high school you attended with a graduation date or the date you earned a GED, as well as any college courses you have completed.
If you took any advanced placement courses or healthcare-specific classes such as medical terminology or anatomy and physiology, you should add those to your resume as well. Including your grades is not necessary, but can be helpful if you had excellent grades or made the honor roll.
Related Skills
If you do not have any certifications or externship experience, there are still many skills you can add to your resume. If you are interviewed, be prepared to explain how you learned your skills and provide examples of ways you have used your soft skills throughout your life.
Skills you may consider listing include:
- Organization
- Reliability
- Team player
- Attention to detail
- Customer service
- Problem-solving
- Good attitude
- Hard-working
Other Experience
Work and school are not the only valuable experiences you can include on a resume. Many extracurricular activities and athletic endeavors can make your resume stand out. If you participated in a team sport, held a leadership position in a club, participated in any kind of volunteer work, or organized any type of event, include it on your resume.
Consider a Cover Letter
While many potential employers do not require a cover letter, adding a cover letter to your job application can be a good way to showcase how motivated and determined you are to succeed as a pharmacy technician.
Your cover letter can include information such as why you’d like to work as a pharmacy technician, the qualities you have that will make you an excellent employee, plans for your future as a pharmacy technician, and things you look forward to if you are selected as an employee of the organization.
Sample Entry-Level Pharmacy Technician Resumes
Here are a few sample entry-level pharmacy technician resumes:
Entry-Level Pharmacy Technician Resume With No Experience or Certifications
JOHN DOE
123 Your Street
Your City, ST 12345
(123) 456-7890
Jane_Doe@example.com
EXPERIENCE
Primary Caregiver, Family Member
MONTH 20XX - PRESENT
Managed medications, insurance, and basic care for a chronically ill family member for two years. Organized medications, worked with the insurance company and Medicare, kept track of medication doses, and managed appointments.
Secretary, Parent Teacher Association
MONTH 20XX - MONTH 20XX
Organized school events including fundraisers, holiday parties, and assemblies. Improved communication between teachers, students, and parents by creating a newsletter each month.
Volunteer, Local Hospital
MONTH 20XX - MONTH 20XX
Completed 20 volunteer hours at a local hospital helping visitors find their family members, offering comfort to those in need, and assisting with the employee kitchens.
EDUCATION
South East High School, Diploma
MONTH 20XX - MONTH 20XX
Maintained a 3.9 GPA throughout all high school courses. Completed medical terminology course.
CERTIFICATIONS
Basic Life Support and CPR — American Heart Association
Completed CPR certification course.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Created a pamphlet for family members in the hospital that included information they needed to feel safe and comfortable during their stay.
REFERENCES
Teacher: (333) 333-3333
Coach: (222) 222-2222
Employer: (111) 111-1111
Entry-Level Pharmacy Technician Resume With Certification but No Experience
JANE DOE
123 Your Street
Your City, ST 12345
(123) 456-7890
Jane_Doe@example.com
EXPERIENCE
Externship, Private Pharmacy
MONTH 20XX - PRESENT
Spent 100 hours shadowing a pharmacy technician. Learned about different medications, how to keep the pharmacy well organized, and how to handle different customer questions and concerns.
Teach Captain, High School Baseball
MONTH 20XX - MONTH 20XX
Used my leadership skills to bring the team together. Helped less experienced players get more comfortable on the field. Helped the coach keep attendance records and uniforms organized.
Volunteer, Animal Shelter
MONTH 20XX - MONTH 20XX
Completed 20 volunteer hours at a local animal shelter. Cleaned cages, took animals on walks, and helped customers complete paperwork for adoption.
EDUCATION
North West High School, Diploma
MONTH 20XX - MONTH 20XX
Remained on the honor roll during the entire senior year of high school. Completed advanced courses in human anatomy and physiology.
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Pharmacy Technician — PTCB
Completed an accredited training course and passed the PTCB pharmacy technician Certification Exam.
SKILLS
- Excellent Organization
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Attention to Detail
- Hard Working
AWARDS
- Presidential Scholarly Award
- Team Captain of the Year
REFERENCES
Teacher: (333) 333-3333
Coach: (222) 222-2222
Employer: (111) 111-1111
