How I became a certified pharmacy technician without any prior experience?

I moved to the U.S. in 2013 after I got married. I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, so for me, it was a whole different world to adapt to. It took me some time to get used to everything, and now it’s been almost 7 years since I moved.

I had my baby girl in 2015 and started looking for jobs towards the end of 2016. I remember applying to the pharmacy through their website and then speaking to the manager. I remember him asking me, “do you have any retail experience?” I said, “no, I don’t. I actually moved to the U.S. three years ago.” To which he replied, “okay, no problem, I’ll call you back.” He never called back.

I continued applying, and I applied to a medical assistant position on Craigslist. I thought I would never get a reply back. One evening I got an email for the medical assistant position. I was so nervous but excited at the same time. I went for my interview and got the job. It was with an audiologist, and I wished that I could’ve stayed longer because I loved working with her. But she needed someone per diem, so my job came to an end three weeks later once the goals were met. 

I didn’t give up and decided to apply again at the pharmacy. My husband knew the pharmacy manager because he was a regular customer. He saw me trying so hard and applying continuously, so he spoke with the manager and asked him if he could give me an opportunity. He said he couldn’t guarantee anything but will definitely give me an interview and a few assessments to complete. I did great in all my assessments, and then I prepared really well for my interview. The manager liked the fact that I was so persistent, so he offered me the position.

And that’s how I got to be a pharmacy technician with no experience. In the job, I trained and learned so much. I was state registered through them, and they even offered to prepare me for the PTCB exam. I accepted and started attending the classes that were 5 sessions, once a week, for 5 hours. I ended up passing my exam on my first try, and I became a certified pharmacy technician.

I did not want to stop there, so I started preparing to become a senior technician. It took me about 5-6 months to complete my formal training to become a senior technician. That’s how my self-confidence was boosted, and every experience helped me grow. It paved the way for me to become better and more motivated.

Through this platform, I want to help those individuals who need a little boost or just some words of encouragement. Leave a comment and share any of your experiences!