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Pharmacy Tech - Casual Variable shifts

Northwestern Medicine · McHenry, IL · Part time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 18, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

This is casual with variable shifts. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: Honest fit with hours that are neither fixed nor guaranteed.

The posting says minimal supervision in a stressful environment. Tell me about working that way.

What they are checking: The posting is unusually direct about this, and it is worth testing.

Tell me about an error you made or nearly made.

What they are checking: Whether they will speak honestly about a near miss, which is what makes a pharmacy safe.

What would you do

You notice a discrepancy between the label and the profile. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they stop, which is the only safe answer.

A nurse is pressing you to hurry a preparation. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether pressure changes their technique, which it should not.

About the work

What sterile compounding have you done, and under what conditions?

What they are checking: The posting names IV admixtures, and aseptic technique is not something to learn by guessing.

What experience do you have preparing hazardous medications or chemotherapy?

What they are checking: The posting names both, and the handling requirements are different and serious.

Walk me through filling a medication against a computer-generated profile.

What they are checking: The core task, and whether they check rather than pick.

How do you stock and rotate an automated dispensing cabinet?

What they are checking: The posting names cabinets and outdated medications, which is where expired drugs reach patients.

How do you handle a crash cart restock?

What they are checking: A named duty where a missing item matters more than anywhere else.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The Pharmacy Tech reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. Responsibilities: • Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, and ability to work with minimal supervision. Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action. • Identifies and fills medications, surgical kits, medication carts, emergency crash carts, requisitions, and specialty items. • Prepares Sterile compounds and IV admixtures for injection and infusion including hazardous medications, chemotherapy, and biologics • Fills and labels individual patient medications according to a computer-generated medication profile. • Packages medications into a unit-of-use form, labeling all medications and supplies with the required information; maintains a log of each preparation. • Delivers medications to nursing units to automated dispensing cabinets and retrieves discontinued medications • Maintains appropriate inventory of automated dispensing cabinets; rotates all floor stock and inventory to reduce outdated medications. • Assists in ordering, receiving, unpacking, and storing pharmaceuticals and supplies in appropriate locations. • Replaces returned medications to appropriate locations, rotating the inventory and checking for expired medications. • Controls and checks medications outside of the department by performing unit inspections and emergency cart checks. • Appropriately handles controlled substances, including maintaining security, reconciling controlled substance dispenses and accounting for transactions of expired, waste and return. • Enter patient charges and credit information into the computer. • Maintains logs, records, and other required documentation. Minimum Requirements: Education: • High School Diploma or equivalent Licensure: • Pharmacy Technician License (IDFPR) Certification: • Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification through PTCB or NHA required for all licensed after 2008 (within 6 months of hire or sooner if required by IL pharmacy practice act) Preferred: • One year or less of related work experience, demonstrating familiarity with routines and procedures customary to the position. Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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