CVS Virtual Job Tryout (VJT) – Application Process, Assessment & How To Prepare?

If your ambition is to work for CVS, the US’ largest pharmacy chain, you can expect to encounter the CVS Virtual Job Tryout (VJT) as part of the recruitment process.

A VJT is designed to test the suitability of job applicants before they progress to the interview stage of recruitment. Using the tests to evaluate applicants, CVS or the Consumer Value Store, guarantees they recruit the best people for positions across their chain of pharmacies.

The exams can be challenging and overwhelming. But don’t worry. With the proper preparation, you can ace the VJT and land yourself the role.

Read on to discover how to prepare for the CVS VJT!

Take the CVS Job Practice Test to improve your score.

What is the CVS Virtual Job Tryout?

The CVS Virtual Job Tryout is a pre-employment test that assesses the suitability and skills of applicants for several different roles at CVS.

It uses a predictive modeling system to assess how well a candidate is likely to perform in the role. Some exercises simulate the kinds of things you will face in the role, allowing you to virtually experience the job.

Overall you can expect to be tested on the skills relevant to the particular position you have applied for as well as the assessment tracking information on your work history, jobs you have held and experience gained in the workplace.

How you relate to colleagues and customers also comes under scrutiny, as well as the factors that motivate you and your style and approach to work.

Can I prepare for the CVS Virtual Job Tryout Test?

Preparing for any job-related test is essential. The test is likely to be different from any you have encountered to date. More importantly, your future career prospects hinge on doing well in the test.

For job test preparation, we advise using the services of Job Test Prep, a leading provider of test preparation resources for job applicants.

Whichever role you are applying for, Job Test Prep has a specific prep pack for you. Equipped with a test prep pack, you will get accurate information about the tests as well as sample test papers modeled on the real tests.

Using the sample papers, your preparation is directly focused on the types of questions asked and you learn to answer them within the time allowed.

What does the test assess?

As the test is called a Virtual Job Tryout you can expect it to test if the applicants have the work skills and personality traits required to work in any position at CVS.

There is a separate VJT for each of the following positions (and luckily Job Test Prep has specific preparation materials for each one):

As each of those positions requires differing talents, the test for each individual position will look slightly different.

However, there are common areas that all applicants are tested on albeit with different questions.

CVS job applicants can expect to encounter the following:

1. Work with colleagues and customers.

This Situational Judgement Test (SJT) presents the applicant with a work-related scenario. Out of four statements on what you are likely to do in the situation, you are required to pick two. One has to be what you are most likely to do in the situation, and the other what you are least likely to do.

2. What drives you?

Here the employer wants to discover what your motivating factors in the workplace are and what your ideal workplace is. Working with two statements about work environments, you will be asked to pick the statement that best describes your ideal work situation.

3. Tell us your story.

In this section, the test is gathering information about your work experience and the skills you have gained from previous work experiences. This section also enables the employer to get your personality profile.

For example, if you have applied for a customer-facing role as a pharmacist or pharmacy cashier expect the test to focus on your people skills.

4. Describe your approach.

Expect to be presented with two different statements on how you would approach a situation at work. You pick the statement that best describes your approach. Once again you are giving the employer a picture of your likely workplace behavior.

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How do I pass the CVS Assessment Test

Before you check out the prep packs from Job Test Prep, it is a good idea to see some sample questions. This will help you become familiar with the types of questions you will find.

Sample Questions

To get a feeling for the jobs skills test, try this free sample question modeled on a test for a pharmacist. You will notice the test measures the applicant’s attention to detail and their ability to accurately dispense prescriptions.

Question: Determine if the patient’s prescription information matches the information on the bottle:

  • Last name:
    Haskinn
  • First name:
    Zachary
  • Address:
    1663 Green Acres Road
    Rocky Mount, NC 28704
  • Drug name:
    Nabumetone
  • Drug strength:
    500 mg
  • Dosage instructions:
    1 tablet a day
  • Quantity Prescribed:
    60
  • Refills Prescribed:
    2
  • Prescriber Name:
    Gilbert Johnson
  • RX #:
    7341287

If applying for a position as a pharmacy store manager, try the following question.

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Question: Rank the following situations in order of most to least impact on your store’s overall results.

(A) You overhear two associates have misunderstood the recent policy change that you are implementing in your department.

(B) Two of your associates notified you that they will be quitting their jobs in the next month, and you must find new people to replace them.

(C) Your overall sales from the last quarter are diminishing.

(D) When walking around the office, you notice that many associates are not concentrating on their work and seem unmotivated, regardless of the big sale coming up tomorrow.

The prospective pharmacy store manager can expect to see their managerial and people skills tested.

A pharmacy cashier will be tested on their ability to manage and control their inventory as well as their ability to deal with customers.

A typical inventory control test will see the applicant presented with six questions each with product information.

They will need to verify the product information through a comparison with a product verification table.

In a similar fashion, a pharmacy technician can expect to be tested on their ability to assist the pharmacist in their work, ensuring prescriptions are filled correctly and they have the ability to make calculations under pressure.

Try your skills at this pharmacy technician question.

Question: How many pills should you dispense for the patient?

Prescription Information:

  • Dosage instructions
    2 pill, 3X per day
  • Days’ Supply Needed
    27
  • Pills per bottle
    17

To see further questions of the type asked go to Job Test Prep.

Is the CVS VJT difficult?

As the sample questions above illustrate, there is nothing exceptionally difficult about the problems posed. However, two factors make the tests difficult:”

  • Its apparent simplicity – People generally perform better on more difficult tests. An apparently easy test lulls applicants into a false sense of security and encourages them to answer willy-nilly.
  • The time factor – Questions have to be answered under strict time limits. Working against the clock leads to people rushing their work and making careless mistakes.

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How can I pass the CVS Virtual Job Tryout Assessment?

To overcome the above factors, ensure you get regular practice on sample test papers. This will:

  • Hone your skills in answering the questions asked
  • Train you to work within the time limitations of the test
  • Allow you to track your progress from test to test
  • Ensure there are no surprises waiting for you on the day of the VJT.

If you have applied for a job at CVS, you will find the resources you need to prepare for their pre-employment testing process here.

On the Day of the CVS VJT

Adequate preparation for the Virtual Job Tryout is crucial to enhance your chance of securing an interview at CVS!

The test serves as a selection tool for the top candidates and is the foundation for identifying and eventually hiring any roles within the pharmacy.

Familiarize yourself with the test structure

The VJT is split into several sections. Note that every VJT is different, depending on your chosen role. The actual exercises you come across within each section will vary.

These sections are further explained in this article, but here is a brief summary:

  1. Work with colleagues and customers (Situational Judgement Test / SJT)
  2. What drives you? (motivating factors)
  3. Tell us your story. (previous work experience)
  4. Describe your approach. (work style / predictive workplace behavior)

Practice and plan

Plan a specific date to take the test, and build up a routine of regular practice beforehand!  The more preparation you undertake, the more confident you will feel.

To maximize your level of preparation, practice with official sample questions. Test preparation packs are available on Job Test Prep, according to your chosen CVS role.

Become familiar with specific types of questions. It would be especially useful to dissect the specific characteristics of your role required and implied within the questions.

Aim to manage your time effectively across the different sections; don’t rush and sacrifice your accuracy, but try to complete it within a reasonable timeframe too.

During the test

Begin the test once you feel confident and calm. To avoid pre-test anxiety affecting your performance, build your confidence through adequate preparation.

Participate in mindfulness and deep breathing exercises to keep a clear head and stay focused throughout. Set yourself up in a quiet space with minimal distractions.

Be sure to read each exercise and scenario carefully. Always double-check your answers!

Consistency in your approach and answering style is crucial; some questions may be reworded in order to gauge the level of consistency across your answers.

Consider the potential impact of your answer. What hypothetical action does it imply? Choose responses that reflect your honest approach, while aligning with CVS’s professional and ethical standards.

The VJT is not timed, so you can complete it over multiple sittings. If you need to pause, your progress will be saved.

However, depending on the VJT, speed may actually affect your score – so try to complete it within a reasonable timeframe! It generally takes between 20-60 minutes.

After the CVS VJT: Understanding Your Results

Upon completing the Virtual Job Tryout, candidates cannot view their exact scores but generally need to have scored a 3/3 to gain consideration for an interview.

Your assessment will display as “pending” until the pharmacy has reviewed your application.

A passing VJT result indicates that you’ve demonstrated the attributes necessary for the role!

If you perform highly and are selected to move forward, you will receive a call to schedule an in-store interview.

Afterward, you will be subjected to a drug test. A reference and background check may be conducted too.  Depending on these, the hiring process may take 1-3 weeks.

In-store interviews allow the hiring team to delve deeper into your qualifications, experience, and abilities outside of virtual online assessment.

They will be assessing whether you are the right fit for the role as well as how you align with CVS’s culture and values.

Be sure to come fully prepared. Explore CVS Health as a company and its pharmacies, review past CVS interview questions and role-relevant interview questions, gain an in-depth understanding of the specific role that you’re applying for, and be aware of the behavioral and situational nature of the interviews.

If you do not pass the test: your online application will receive a “denied” status. If you fail or the role is filled, you will not be contacted by the pharmacy either.

Final Thoughts

The VJT is a pre-employment test designed to assess your suitability for a role at CVS.

Each VJT will vary in content (section format and questions) but mostly cover topics of situational judgment, motivational factors, work experience/qualifications, and personal approach style.

Be sure to schedule in sufficient preparation to maximize the chance of landing an interview for your desired position!

We encourage you to make use of resources like Job Test Prep, which offers tailored preparation packs for the different positions within CVS and includes extremely useful sample questions.

It’s important to recognize potential challenges, such as the misleading simplicity of some questions, as well as potential time constraints.

We advise candidates to balance accuracy and speed during the test, to keep answering and approach styles consistent, and to always double-check their answers before moving forward.

The more preparation you commit to, the more confident you are likely to feel during the tryout. Whatever your desired role at CVS: good luck, future pharmacists!

FAQ’s

Is it possible to retake the CVS VJT if needed?

Yes, you can retake the test, but you are required to wait 6 months before a reattempt is made available. If you were unsuccessful, you can use this period to improve your experience, abilities, and preparation for the test and the role.

How do I know if I passed the VJT?

Your VJT assessment will display as “pending”. You will receive a call if you have passed and are selected to move forward with an interview. If you do not pass the VJT, your application will receive a “denied” status and you won’t be contacted.

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