Top 23 CVS Health Interview Questions to Know

If you’re looking to join the healthcare industry and have landed an interview with CVS Health, you might be wondering how to prepare. Practicing CVS Health interview questions is a great way to start.

This comprehensive guide will provide you with tips, common questions, and resources to make the most out of your interview experience.

What to Know About CVS Health

CVS Health is a leading health solutions company that includes CVS pharmacies. 

As a company, CVS has been around since the 1960s when it was better known as the Consumer Value Store. 

As the brand took off, it began acquiring other large companies, including: 

• MinuteClinic
• Caremark
• Coram
• Omnicare
• Navarro Discount Pharmacy
• All of Target’s clinics and pharmacies
• Aetna (which began as the largest healthcare merger in American history)

CVS also revolutionized its pharmacies in the 2010s by not only ridding its stores of all tobacco products, but also investing $50 million into its “Be the First” initiative. 

In more recent years, CVS pivoted to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and address local communities’ urgent healthcare needs. 

CVS Health positions

CVS Health employees around 300,000 people across many industries. You can apply for a position in any of these areas (and more!) depending on your experience and your career goals: 

• Retail store
• Aetna
• Analytics
• Beauty
• Brand innovation and design
• Corporate
• Customer Care
• Delivery driver
• Digital
• Distribution
• HealthHUB
• Information technology
• International 
• Military
• MinuteClinic
• Nursing
• Part-time
• Pharmacist
• Pharmacy tech
• Remote
• Students

Within these categories, people interested in apply at CVS Health can pursue through the currently open positions, including: 

• Operations supervisor
• Certified nurse aide
• Account manager
• Staff pharmacist
• Store associate
• Warehouse inventory control
• Retail store manager

The next step after selecting the right position for you? Getting your application in.

How to apply to CVS Health

Start by navigating to the CVS Health jobs page on the site. Browse the list of jobs until you find one or two that catch your attention. 

Once you find a role or two, you can select the “Apply Now” link. The link will guide you through the application with a series of prompts. If you don’t already have an account, you’ll need to create a new one. Here, you’ll be able to see any new updates regarding your application. If you have an existing account, you can just log into that one. You’ll know your application has been received by CVS Health because you’ll get an email confirmation. 

It’s as easy as that! However, if you do happen to have any technical trouble when you apply, ​​reach out to Kenexa Helpdesk. You can do this by emailing cvshealthsupport@infinite.com or calling 1-833-458-0870.

How to Practice CVS Health Interview Questions

One way to improve your interviewing skills is by using Yoodli. Yoodli is an AI-powered interview coach that helps you improve your interviewing skills in a judgment-free environment. 

This speech coach provides AI-powered feedback on your talking points, filler words, rambling, body language, and much more. 

You can practice actual CVS Health interview questions in a realistic virtual interview simulation with Yoodli. You can also personalize the interview experience by choosing a role, a company, and even the personality of the interviewer. For example, you can experiment with an interviewer who’s more serious or one who’s more friendly. This is part of what makes the experience so life-like.

You can learn more about Yoodli and how it can help during your CVS Health interview here:

In addition to using Yoodli, there are other ways you can prepare for your CVS Health interview:

1. Research the company.

Before your interview, research the company’s mission, values, and services. CVS Health is a leading healthcare company that offers a variety of services, including pharmacy, health clinics, and health insurance. Familiarizing yourself with the company’s offerings will show your interest in the company and demonstrate that you’re a proactive candidate.

2. Review the job description.

Review the job description and make sure you have a good understanding of the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Think about how your skills and experience match with the job requirements, and prepare examples of how you’ve demonstrated these skills in the past.

3. Prepare your responses to common questions.

Anticipate questions you might be asked during the interview and prepare your responses in advance. This will help you feel more confident and prepared during the interview. See the next section for a list of common CVS Health interview questions.

4. Dress for success.

First impressions matter, so make sure you dress appropriately for your CVS Health interview. The dress code will vary depending on the position you’re applying for, but generally, it’s better to err on the side of caution and dress more professionally than you think is necessary.

If you’re not sure what to wear, contact the recruiter or hiring manager and ask for guidance.

What to Expect from the CVS Health Interview Process

The CVS Health interview process is actually pretty straightforward and can be broken down into five main steps. In a nutshell, here’s what you can expect. 

1. Search and select the job you want to apply for. As mentioned above, searching is the first step in the CVS Health interview process. 

2. Apply for your ideal position. Browse for your dream job (or a few positions you’re interested in) and submit your application online. 

3. Wait while CVS Health reviews your application. A recruiter is usually responsible for reviewing your application. How quickly they review it depends on the number of applications they’re juggling. Once they do review it — as long as your application is still in the running — they’ll begin scheduling an interview. 

4. Schedule and complete your interview(s). Chances are, you’ll have an interview with both the recruiter and a team member with CVS Health, but it can depend on a few factors. We’ll explore more about interview rounds in later sections. 

5. If selected, you’ll receive a job offer. If you get a job offer, the recruiter will reach out and contact you. 

Is it easy to get hired at CVS Health?

Depending on what your dream position is, it can be relatively easy to score a job with CVS Health. Here’s why.

CVS Health is such a massive company that it has thousands of open positions waiting to be filled across its nearly 10,000 stores. That being said, these positions also vary in seniority and experience, not to mention industry, which equates to a healthy variety of opportunities for job searchers. 

What percentage of CVS Health applicants get interviews?

The percentage of CVS Health applicants who get interviews is not publicly available. However, like any competitive job, there will likely be many qualified candidates applying for the position you’re interested in.

To increase your chances of getting an interview, make sure your resume and cover letter are tailored to the specific job and emphasize the skills and experiences that are most relevant.

How hard is the CVS Health interview?

The interview process at CVS Health can vary depending on the role you’re applying for. However, the general consensus is that the interview process can be challenging for some positions. According to Glassdoor, the interview difficulty for CVS Health is rated as “average.”

It’s important to note that CVS Health prides itself on its diverse and inclusive culture. The company values its employees and strives to create a positive and respectful workplace environment. During the interview process, you should expect questions that aim to assess your fit with the company culture, as well as your skills and experience.

How long is the CVS Health hiring process?

Unfortunately, getting hired at CVS Health isn’t necessarily a quick process. Most people say they were hired after a few weeks (or sometimes, over a month). Like many other aspects of the CVS Health interview process, this can depend on factors like the role you’re going for. 

How many interview rounds at CVS Health?

The number of interview rounds you’ll face while interviewing with CVS Health can vary position to position. But generally, you’ll have at least two rounds of interviews. 

There might be an initial phone screening with a recruiter to start. But the first “true” interview will likely be with a hiring manager. They’ll ask questions — such as behavioral questions — to gauge who you are as a person and as an employee.

The next interview is usually with a panel of a few team members. CVS Health employees have reported two main scenarios: 

• A 1-hour, panel interview with a few people or
• A few one-on-one interviews that last 30 minutes each

Does CVS Health drug test?

Yes, CVS Health does drug test. 

CVS has an extremely strict drug policy, as it requires employees to not only complete a pre-employment drug test, but to also complete drug tests any time they receive a promotion. The drug test — typically a urine test — is usually conducted by a third-party lab.

Everyone in the pharmacy must consent to a pre-employment drug screening before being hired. That being said, not all positions are in the pharmacy and not all CVS locations drug test every employee. But generally, a pre-employment drug test is standard at CVS Health. 

What are the perks of being a CVS Health employee?

Like most all workplaces, CVS Health offers its employees benefits and perks based on their position type. 

For example, if you score a job working more than 30 hours a week at CVS Health, your benefits package could include: 

• Medical and prescription plans
• CVS Pharmacy prescription discounts
• Free preventative care
• Yearly CVS Health contributions in plans that are HSA-eligible 
• Dental and vision plans
• Supplemental health plans (like critical illness, accident, etc.)
• Paid time off
• Tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• A 401(k) savings plan (after a year of working at least a thousand hours) 

For those working less than 30 hours (but at least 12 hours), employees can earn cash benefits for prescriptions and doctors’ visits through a fixed indemnity plan. 

Most Common CVS Health Questions

When interviewing with this company, you could face a world of various questions from the interviewers. But oftentimes, these questions are similar no matter what position you’re applying for.

Here are the most common CVS Health interview questions you might be asked:

• Why do you want to work for CVS Health?
• What interests you about this position?
• Can you tell me about a time when you had to handle a difficult customer or situation?
• How do you handle stress or a high-pressure environment?
• Say you have a problem with a coworker. How do you handle conflicts within the team?
• Give me an example of a time you had to face an angry or upset customer. How did you handle the situation?
• How would you define “excellent customer service”?
• What experience do you have working in a team environment?
• Can you give an example of a time when you had to solve a problem creatively?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What experience do you have working in a fast-paced environment?
• What are your long-term career goals, and how does this position fit into them?
• How do you stay up to date with industry changes and trends?

More specific CVS Health interview questions for

Pharmacy technicians are essential for this brand. Here are a few more specific CVS Health interview questions to prepare for:

• Tell me a little bit about your experience with using computer systems like Rx30 or other pharmacy dispensing software.
• Let’s say there’s a customer whose insurance information is invalid or incorrect. How would you handle this?
• What do you know about CVS’s pharmacy technician certification program?
• Tell me about a time when you had to handle with an error or discrepancy in medication orders. What did you do and what was the outcome?
• In what ways do you stay up-to-date on new drugs and regulations?
• Explain how you calculate medication dosages.
• Describe what types of equipment or software you’ve used during your experience in a pharmacy setting.
• Tell me what you know about our commitment to quality care and patient safety here at CVS.
• What do you know about the CVS ExtraCare program? How will you contribute to it?
• When working with the health information of patients, how do you maintain privacy and confidentiality?

Preparing thoughtful, concise answers to these questions using the STAR method can make a significant difference in your interview performance.

The Bottom Line

Preparing for a CVS Health interview can be challenging, but with practice and preparation, you can increase your chances of success. Remember to research the company, prepare your responses, and practice your interviewing skills using tools like Yoodli. Good luck with your interview!