Top 20 CVS Interview Questions (With Sample Answers)

By Mike Simpson

With over 300,000 employees, CVS is a giant in the pharmacy space. Plus, CVS has more than 9,900 retail locations, making it easy for many to pursue job opportunities with the company. But with that level of accessibility comes competition, which is why you need to make sure you can shine when answering CVS interview questions.

Luckily, you can stand out from the crowd with a bit of preparation and a great interview strategy. Are you ready to see what it takes? Great! Let’s dig in.

How to Answer CVS Interview Questions

Okay, you’re here for the CVS interview questions, and those are coming. But before you dive into them, it’s critical to learn how to answer CVS interview questions in the first place.

Why? Because even if you know what questions are going to come up, you’ll need more information to create stellar answers. In the end, around 32 million Americans work in the retail industry. That’s a ton of potential competition. Luckily, some tried-and-true strategies can work wonders, making it easier to stand out.

So, what techniques do you need to use? Well, first, you want to get comfortable with research. In the end, information is the key to a successful job interview, so you want to gobble up as much as possible.

Usually, your best place to begin is the job description. That lets you learn about the must-have skills, experience, and traits CVS wants to find in a candidate.

Along with reading any required capabilities lists, look at the rest of the job description for more clues. For example, the job description can tell you a lot about the company’s culture, too. Phrases like “team-oriented” and “customer service-driven” let you know about some of the traits the hiring manager needs to find, so make a note of anything you find of that nature.

Next, it’s time for some digging. Head to the CVS website to review the company’s mission and values. You can also peruse the company’s social media profiles for insights into the company culture.

If you want a little more information, head to websites where employees can review employers. You’ll get first-hand accounts of what it is like to work for CVS, giving you ideas of the type of environment it is and what it takes to thrive.

Now that you have your information gathered, it’s time to learn about how to use it. Generally, your approach will depend on the kinds of CVS interview questions you encounter.

First, you have traditional interview questions. These are straightforward questions that ask you if you have certain skills or experience. Answering them is simple. If you have the capability, let the hiring manager know. Then, go the extra mile and give an example of when you’ve used it.

If you don’t have a particular skill, don’t panic. Instead, admit you don’t have experience in that arena, but highlight your willingness to learn. You can also mention similar skills that will help you get up to speed quickly. For example, if you don’t have cash handling experience, but you excelled in math at school, you can mention your math skills.

Second, you have behavioral interview questions. These are a bit trickier, as you’ll need to discuss examples from your past that outline your experience. If you want to stand out here, use a combination of the STAR Method and the Tailoring Method. If you do, you’ll have a thorough, compelling answer that speaks to the hiring manager’s needs, and that’s a win.

Finally, there are situational interview questions. Like behavioral questions, these need examples. However, you’re discussing hypotheticals instead, so you don’t need an example from your past. Still, you want to use the STAR Method strategy mixed with the Tailoring Method, ensuring your answer is well-structured and relevant.

Beyond that, let your personality shine. CVS is a customer service-oriented company, so show that you’re an effective communicator with a positive mentality. That makes you look like a stronger candidate, too.

Top 3 CVS Interview Questions

CVS is a massive company, and it employs people in a wide range of niches. From cashiers to pharmacists and from tech pros to HR professionals, CVS hires people in a wide range of careers.

However, the majority of the jobs are in the customer service space. Since that’s the case, we’re going to focus on questions in that niche. Just keep in mind that you may encounter something different if you’re applying to other roles, ensuring you’re ready for the right questions.

Now, without further ado, here’s a look at our top three CVS interview questions and answers.

1. What does “excellent customer service” mean to you?

In the end, CVS is all about excellent customer service. With this question, the hiring manager wants to know what you think it takes to offer that level of experience to customers.

For an incredibly strong answer, try to mention some of CVS’s core values. That helps you look like the strongest possible match, and it can be the difference between securing an offer and missing out on the job.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“To me, excellent customer service begins with empathy. If you don’t understand what the customer really needs, what they’re actually asking, or why they’re frustrated, you can’t do what is needed to resolve the issue. With empathy, you can see things from their perspective, and that can make all of the difference.

Additionally, I feel excellent customer service requires going above and beyond while maintaining a positive attitude. That lets you serve people’s needs in a way that exceeds expectations, all while ensuring the conversation is pleasant and professional at all times.”

2. If a customer was upset, how would you handle it?

In the world of retail, upset customers are going to happen from time to time. Since that’s the case, the hiring manager wants to know that you’re equipped to handle that challenge professionally.

With this answer, you have two options. First, if you have experience dealing with upset customers, you can discuss that. Second, if you don’t have experience, you can outline techniques you would use to handle the situation. Either option works, so choose the path that aligns with your experience level.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“In my last retail role, I developed a process that I found was effective at handling upset customers. First, I work to get to the core of the issue. I use active listening skills as a starting point. After hearing their concern, I paraphrase to ensure I understand and ask probing questions if needed to get to the root.

Next, I talk with them about possible solutions. Precisely what that entails depends on the nature of the issue, but the goal is always to find an approach that will resolve their concern as seamlessly as possible.

If it’s within my capability to offer the solution, then I’ll move forward once we’re in agreement. If it’s outside of my abilities, I’ll engage with a manager regarding next steps until we get to a viable answer. That way, the customer is ultimately taken care of, ensuring their final impression is positive.”

3. What attracted you to a role in retail?

Retail can be a challenging industry, so hiring managers want to know what motivated you to explore this option for your career. While you may be tempted to talk about job availability or schedule flexibility, it’s better to focus on why you think you’re a match for this type of role. That way, you can highlight various skills and traits that showcase you as an exceptional candidate.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“The main reason I was attracted to a retail position is it allows me to help people during their daily lives. It’s an opportunity for me to brighten people’s day in an unexpected way, ensuring errands and similar tasks they’re handling are as pleasant as possible.

Couple that with my strength in math, which lets me perform cash handling duties quickly, and I don’t get bogged down even if the store gets busy. Plus, my high degree of patience lets me handle challenging customers with ease, which I feel serves me well in retail roles.”

17 More CVS Interview Questions

Here are 17 more CVS interview questions that the hiring manager might ask:

1. 1. Why do you want to work for CVS?
   2. How does CVS stand out from its competitors?
   3. Do you consider yourself a people person?
   4. How would you describe your teamwork skills?
   5. Imagine you’re the only cashier on a register, and it gets busy suddenly. How would you handle it?
   6. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with a coworker. How did you work through it?
   7. How would you describe your cash handling skills?
   8. Are you comfortable being on your feet for the majority of your shift?
   9. If you needed to bring a large box of product to the floor to restock an area, could you do so with or without reasonable accommodations?
   10. What’s your availability?
   11. If your shift was coming to an end, but your relief was running late, would you be comfortable staying on the clock longer?
   12. If a coworker called out sick and your manager called asking for you to replace them last-minute, how would you respond?
   13. Describe your ideal manager.
   14. Which of your traits makes you a great candidate for a customer service position?
   15. Describe your past experience with CVS as a customer. Is there anything about those interactions that you appreciated? Is there something you wish had gone differently?
   16. How do you manage stress on the job?
   17. If an outgoing manager asked you to handle a high-priority task and the incoming manager asked you to shift gears and tackle something else, what would you do?

5 Good Questions to Ask at the End of a CVS Interview

As your interview gets close to ending, the hiring manager will usually ask if you have any questions for them. Don’t let this moment pass you by! Asking questions lets you get more information about the job and culture. Plus, it makes you seem enthusiastic and engaged.

If you think of a question as the interview progresses, you can, by all means, ask it when the opportunity arises. However, it’s typically a great idea to have some backup questions available. That way, when you get a chance to flip the script, you’ll have something ready to go.

If you aren’t sure what you should bring up, here are five good questions to ask at the end of a CVS interview:

1. 1. Are employee schedules consistent, or do the days and hours fluctuate from week to week?
   2. How would you describe the current team dynamic?
   3. What’s one trait that you feel is essential for anyone in this role?
   4. Why did you choose to work for CVS?
   5. What growth and development opportunities are available to employees?

Putting It All Together

Ultimately, landing a job interview at CVS is a big deal, and you should be proud of that achievement. Just make sure you use all of the tips above and review the CVS interview questions before your meeting with the hiring manager. That way, you can show what an amazing candidate you are, increasing the odds that you’ll score an offer.

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Mike Simpson( Co-Founder and CEO )

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan, Penn State, Northeastern and others.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page.