How To Get Hired With 17+ CVS Interview Questions & Answers
If you just landed an interview at CVS and are seeking some guidance during the interview, you’re in the right place!
In this guide, I have researched some of the most common CVS interview questions that will help you be prepared and confident.
While there are some tips here for pharmacists, this guide is primarily for those applying for a cashier or customer service position in the company. Let’s begin!
17+ CVS Interview Questions & Answers 2024
1. Tell me about yourself.
The question is meant to find out more about what kind of worker you could be for CVS. Your employment history is already in front of them on your application, but you can fill in some details concerning exactly what you did in your previous jobs, especially where it involves going above and beyond regular work chores.
You can talk about your hobbies or interests, but the interviewer is most concerned with you as a worker. Consider it as a sort of self-promotion, as if you were making a sales presentation about yourself.
Recommended Course: Do Things, Tell People: The Power Of Personal Branding (Skillshare)
2. What do you know about CVS?
Interviewers want to see how interested you are in working for CVS specifically, what about the company stands out to you.
Some basic facts can be found on the CVS website and you can tell them things you know about them from dealing with them locally. Here are some facts about CVS:
- Founded in 1963 in Massachusetts as Consumer Value Store
- 7th largest US company in the Fortune 500
- In addition to a prescription pharmacy, CVS sells general merchandise
- Cosmetics and personal health products are a large part of CVS
- Almost 10,000 locations nationwide
- Introduced Minute Clinic health care in some stores.
- CVS Pharmacy is the pharmacy in Target stores.
3. Why do you want to work at CVS?
Another part of the process to see if you are really interested in CVS or are merely seeking any job that’s open, this question can be answered in a way that shows your awareness of the CVS mission statement. Their mission statement is:
- “Above all else … our mission is to improve the lives of those we serve by making innovative and high-quality health and pharmacy services safe, affordable, and easy to access.”
Talk about how your core values of honesty and integrity align with what you know about CVS and that you are aware of the good reputation CVS has in the healthcare industry.
You could also mention that you enjoy shopping there yourself and love the store and that the workers are always friendly.
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
If you are in school now and hoping to earn a degree, tell them that you hope to be a degreed professional and would be open to positions at CVS that require a degree.
Or, you could tell them that you would like to move up in the organization someday and ask what internal training there might be available.
Being a top-level Fortune 500 company, CVS has lots of opportunities for careers in the various aspects of their organization. They are also partnered with Aetna, Caremark, Silverscript, and Omnicare, so that opens up even more opportunities.
Perhaps you are a recent retiree and only want part-time work, let them know that you would enjoy continuing with CVS as long as they have your position open.
Recommended Course: Goal Setting Success: A Complete Blueprint for Life Planning (Udemy)
5. What does excellent customer service mean to you?
A cashier or other employee on the sales floor is constantly interacting with the public in their job responsibilities. CVS has made a commitment to excellent customer service, as evidenced by their mission statement, they desire employees who will live up to that standard.
Let them know what customer service means to you as a customer if this is going to be your first retail job, perhaps also relating any type of work or school experience that is similar to providing customer service.
Recount your experience in the retail field that you may have, highlighting something specific that you have done that shows how much you value the customer.
Remember to always keep experiences focused on the positive. Interviewers know some customers may actually be difficult, but your attitude towards customer service is what’s being tested here.
Recommended Course: Build Your Skills In Customer Service (LinkedIn Learning)
6. Do you like being around people?
Whether in the pharmacy, on the sales floor, or as a cashier, working at CVS will involve a lot of contact with the public. People who excel at these types of jobs really do like people in general and enjoy helping them.
7. Tell me about a time you gave excellent customer service.
Be specific. Describe the situation as accurately as possible with relevant details included. Explain what action you took and why that was a benefit to the customer. Emphasize the positive outcome and how it also benefited the company in the long run.
If you have yet to experience working in the retail workforce, talk about other times you exceeded expectations for something, perhaps in a school assignment or some form of community involvement.
Show that you understand what customer service is and why CVS values that from their employees.
8. How would you handle an upset customer?
CVS is aware that not every customer interaction goes off without a hitch, sometimes things happen that upset people to a greater or lesser extent.
How you approach the situation will show whether you have customer skills or the right attitude to learn customer service skills. Some sample answers:
- I would first find out why the customer is upset.
- I would determine if it something I have the capacity to handle or if I need to involve store management.
- I would remain calm and speak in a friendly tone.
Recommended Course: Customer Service: Problem Solving and Troubleshooting (LinkedIn Learning)
9. If you were the only cashier on duty, and the store got extremely busy, how would you handle it?
The tendency is to talk about how capable you are, but the reality is that sometimes you may need help. This is both a form of customer service and good teamwork.
Until help comes, though, emphasize that efficiency and friendliness will go a long way towards easing customer frustration with long lines at checkout.
Free Course: A Mini Course on Time Management (Udemy)
10. Do you prefer working alone or in a group?
Now we come to the questions about teamwork. Independence in a retail job is a desirable trait, to a point.
A person working in CVS will be a part of a team, some larger some smaller, being able to handle a job on your own is a valuable trait, but teamwork and being able to work well with others is important.
Recommended Course: Emotional Intelligence At Work (FutureLearn)
11. How would your former boss and co-workers describe you?
Remember, the hiring manager is likely to call your current or former employer to find out other things about you, so it’s important to be honest. Try to highlight things such as being cooperative, willing to help out in other areas, and having a good work ethic.
Recommended Course: Modern Leadership: Give & Get Honest Feedback at Work (Skillshare)
12. What did you like least about your last job?
This is not the time to vent about problems you had, as this could be seen as problematic. Instead, mention any real issues in a positive and open way. After all, they know you want to leave your current job if you’re applying to CVS.
13. How do you handle work pressure?
Give a real-life work example if you can, and mention how you maintain your job focus while managing extra stress. If you have a certain technique you learned in the workplace, mention that, too.
Recommended Course: Performing Under Pressure (LinkedIn Learning)
14. What do you do when conflict happens with fellow workers or managers?
CVS has seen many ways to deal with workplace disagreements, some good answers for you to give are:
- I talk with the other person calmly.
- I deal with the problem or action, not personality traits.
- I listen to other’s points of view.
- I find things to agree on.
- I make a plan or follow the plan I’m asked to.
Some conflicts may be unavoidable, but they don’t have to continue unaddressed.
Recommended Course: Improving Your Conflict Competence (LinkedIn Learning)
15. Tell me about your pharmacy experience.
Being a pharmacist is a very demanding profession, CVS wants to only have the best working in their stores. Therefore, the competition is really good, you want to make yourself stand out.
If you don’t have pharmacy experience yet as a new graduate, highlight any excellence you showed during your schooling.
16. Are you licensed to work as a pharmacist?
CVS only hires pharmacists that are legally able to work, if you haven’t completed your requirements yet, let them know what your plan is.
17. Are you planning to continue your studies?
Of course, you are! CVS has internal programs and also supports any of the continuing education goals you have. Again, CVS only wants the best pharmacists. Talk about your goals and how you plan or hope to fulfill them.
The Job Search Process Beyond CVS Interview Questions
Hopefully, these CVS interview questions have helped! If I have missed any, please let me know below!
For more information to help you navigate the job search process, check out my guide on retail interviews tips. Or consider improving your skills and credentials with a free certificate course.
And if CVS doesn’t work out, there are other retail service roles you might consider at Kroger, Starbucks, or Costco.
Happy hunting!
