Night Elf Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 How does one become a pharmacy tech or a bank teller? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I know 2 young people who work as bank tellers. They both have BAs in business and they both knew somebody who already worked (high up) in the bank. Pharmacy techs are a dime a dozen. You pretty much get regular wage for a retail worker, but have to be certified in many states. You're better off getting certified in something like radiology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I know 2 young people who work as bank tellers. They both have BAs in business and they both knew somebody who already worked (high up) in the bank. Interesting. I wonder if things have changed. It's been awhile (15-ish years) but I had a friend who worked as a bank teller in her early 20's. She had no degree; just retail experience, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Call some banks and ask what they look for in new employees? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Interesting. I wonder if things have changed. It's been awhile (15-ish years) but I had a friend who worked as a bank teller in her early 20's. She had no degree; just retail experience, I think. Well, I think for them it is the first of many steps in a career versus just a job. One of them has already started their MBA and has a chance of advancement coming up soon. Part of the problem is bank consolidation. My MIL worked in a bank and her position was eliminated (she had enough years to retire) when the bank consolidated. Their local bank stopped processing certain paperwork, and it went to a central processor instead. Those types of actions are making bank jobs more scarce than they used to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsBasil Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 My first job after high school(no college) was at a bank as a teller. I had previous cash handling and customer experience from my high school job and I passed their tests. This was 2002-ish. When I worked there, the banks inside grocery stores and Wal-Mart were less desirable because of the longer hours. That may no longer be true due to the economy, but the turnover seems higher at the ones I use.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Well, I think for them it is the first of many steps in a career versus just a job. One of them has already started their MBA and has a chance of advancement coming up soon. Part of the problem is bank consolidation. My MIL worked in a bank and her position was eliminated (she had enough years to retire) when the bank consolidated. Their local bank stopped processing certain paperwork, and it went to a central processor instead. Those types of actions are making bank jobs more scarce than they used to be. That makes sense. I don't see a lot of tellers here, either. Our credit union has recently changed its buildings so you never see the teller--you complete transactions via a viewscreen and tube/drawer. Like you do at the drive-thru. But they also cut down service so one teller is actually handling two windows. At least be real and make everyone stand in one line for the one teller behind the wall. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I spent many years as a bank teller and a bank teller manager. I lvoed those jobs. I worked for two credit unions, and neither required a degree for a teller position. I know some banks do, though. The biggest things we looked for were competency with computers in general, a friendly, professional, and calm demeanor, and a decent math ability. We trained all of the money part, as well as the specific computer program skills. I still use one (it actually took over the other I worked at,) and they have a full teller staff still. That's just one of the reasons I recommend credit unions. I would assume a pharmacy tech would make more, though. Bank tellers are paid about the same as (union) grocery cashiers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I would assume a pharmacy tech would make more, though. Bank tellers are paid about the same as (union) grocery cashiers. http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Pharmacy_Technician/Hourly_Rate http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292052.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Pharmacy_Technician/Hourly_Rate http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292052.htm Yikes! Never mind, they make about the same. I make $12/hr or so ten years ago as a teller. I always think medical fields are going to pay more, but I guess not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 (edited) Teller- get hired. Some prefer people with AAs or BAs, others will hire you with just a high school diploma, some cash handling experience and a clean background check. Pharm Techs vary by state and level. Some go to school for 1-3 quarters and make $9/hr and do mainly cashiering at a retail drugstore. My husband (after collecting a BA an not using it) is a certified tech (3 quarters at the community college with 2 externships and a certifying exam) and works in a hospital pharmacy. He makes an average of just over $20 an hour with shift differentials (18.50ish without shift add ons- you get more late hours, more for shifts that you work that start less than 10 hours apart and more for weekends) and gets fully paid family health benefits for no employee contribution on a PT schedule plus a range of other great benefits. So more that an average retail worker and more than most techs. But not as much as techs with a lot more experience who work in some sort of lead role and/or teach at the tech programs. He is in school to do something else in healthcare but as many healthcare programs for nursing and PAs now require up to 4000 hours of allied health experience with your application, working as a Pharm tech has been good for him. He has tech friends who are headed to pharmD school and that was his plan but he is not interested in being a pharmacist anymore. The hospital hires mainly students from the public community college with the externship hours and not from the private as advertised on TV which frequently cost more but have less externship hours and lower admit requirements. The requirements and pay opportunities do vary by state. Edited February 29, 2012 by kijipt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted February 29, 2012 Author Share Posted February 29, 2012 I'm asking about these two jobs because my son is a sophmore in high school and we're beginning to talk about what he might like to do as a career. He really doesn't like the idea of college, but he's interested in a few programs at the local technical school. It's all confusing though. From some people, I hear that programs at technical schools are seen as very low rate and will not help a person get a job. Some people say that getting a certificate/diploma/degree from a technical school trumps someone with no education. Then I'm trying to decide what type of program is best. For example, the technical school near us has both a Banking and Financing diploma (4 semesters) and degree (5 semesters). I can't tell the difference between the two. The information online doesn't go into detail. We're just wondering if a program like that will help ds get a job in a bank, or if he's just as likely to get a job if he applies right out of high school. The diploma is $6,000 and the degree is $7,515, so I want to know that the cost is worth it. His tastes may change over the next couple of years, but we're looking at the programs that do offer some level of interest for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellers Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 My oldest, DD21, is a bank teller. She is one semester away from having an AA. She had to pass a background check to get the job. She's been working at CVS about four years, working in photo and pharmacy. The pharmacy wanted her to become a pharmacy tech, and that was her backup plan if she didn't get the job at the bank. She also works for a high end catering company on weekends, doing weddings and winery events. I think the bank liked the fact that she had cashiering and customer service experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I'm asking about these two jobs because my son is a sophmore in high school and we're beginning to talk about what he might like to do as a career. He really doesn't like the idea of college, but he's interested in a few programs at the local technical school. It's all confusing though. From some people, I hear that programs at technical schools are seen as very low rate and will not help a person get a job. Some people say that getting a certificate/diploma/degree from a technical school trumps someone with no education. Then I'm trying to decide what type of program is best. For example, the technical school near us has both a Banking and Financing diploma (4 semesters) and degree (5 semesters). I can't tell the difference between the two. The information online doesn't go into detail. We're just wondering if a program like that will help ds get a job in a bank, or if he's just as likely to get a job if he applies right out of high school. The diploma is $6,000 and the degree is $7,515, so I want to know that the cost is worth it. His tastes may change over the next couple of years, but we're looking at the programs that do offer some level of interest for him. A lot of it probably depends on the supply and demand in your area. I would try to chat with a career counselor at the school and see what placements recent grads have received. For the time and money of that degree, I would think you could get something technical that would pay a lot more. But like you said, it will help if it is in his interest area. I was promoted up into lending services without a related degree, but I did have some college under my belt. So even if he can get hired without it, the degree might help him get to the next level. A loan officer job can pay pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 I'm asking about these two jobs because my son is a sophmore in high school and we're beginning to talk about what he might like to do as a career. He really doesn't like the idea of college, but he's interested in a few programs at the local technical school. It's all confusing though. From some people, I hear that programs at technical schools are seen as very low rate and will not help a person get a job. Some people say that getting a certificate/diploma/degree from a technical school trumps someone with no education. Then I'm trying to decide what type of program is best. For example, the technical school near us has both a Banking and Financing diploma (4 semesters) and degree (5 semesters). I can't tell the difference between the two. The information online doesn't go into detail. We're just wondering if a program like that will help ds get a job in a bank, or if he's just as likely to get a job if he applies right out of high school. The diploma is $6,000 and the degree is $7,515, so I want to know that the cost is worth it. His tastes may change over the next couple of years, but we're looking at the programs that do offer some level of interest for him. I think it depends on your area. The reverse of what Mrs. Mungo said is true in my area. Perhaps your son should meet with a guidance counselor at the school for more information about the two different banking programs? What about sonography or radiology instead of pharmacy tech? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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