by Ethan Paquet
Murphy Healthcare operates pharmacies, medical centres, and retirement living facilities across Atlantic Canada. The firm has been in business for 40 years and is nationally recognized for its health promotion, patient care, innovation, and charitable work.
The company owns and operates five Andrews Senior Care Homes on PEI, as well as Murphy’s Pharmacies, Atlantic Medical Centres, and other businesses.“One of our core values at Murphy Healthcare is our exceptional care always,” says Anne Doucette, Talent Recruiter.Murphy’s Pharmacies has 13 locations across PEI. “Our pharmacies are most commonly hiring Pharmacy Assistants, Pharmacy Technicians, Retail Cashiers, and Delivery Drivers.
“We offer formalized training for our Pharmacy Assistants, so you do not need to worry about having any formal training for that position. Customer service skills and good communication skills go a long way in these roles.” Pharmacy Technicians do require formal training.
“Atlantic Medical Centres located in Charlottetown, and Kinlock typically recruit for Medical Secretaries, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Data Entry Clerks. We do not provide training for these positions, as they do require certification.
“Murphy’s Community Centre is a not-for-profit facility that most frequently hires Attendants for the bowling alley and hires Dishwashers, Cooks, Bartenders, and Servers for the restaurant, The Alley.
“At Andrews Senior Care, we most commonly hire caregivers, housekeepers, cooks, dietary aids, and LPN supervisors. We use Workforce Now to post our open positions and you can apply from there. We also post our jobs on Indeed, WorkPEI, Facebook, LinkedIn, the Murphy’s Healthcare website, and the Andrews Senior Care website.”
Positions that do not need specific training
“Some people may be reluctant to apply for a Caregiver position because they do not have the required experience. Andrews Senior Care has a structured training program with excellent Team Leads who provide all the necessary skills needed in that role.”
“We do our own training for Caregivers and Pharmacy Assistants. Dietary Aides, Housekeepers, Bowling Attendants, and Servers don’t need specific education either.”
Benefits
“We offer pension plans and benefits such as group health plan, medical and dental, and employee discounts at the pharmacies.”
Anne’s job search tips
“When applying, personalize your application, research the company, and be familiar with the position you are applying for. Your resumé should include your skills, work experience, and education that pertains to the position you are applying for. Do not include marital status, religion, age, or picture. Keep it to one page if possible. Highlight your strengths and the experience that ties into the job you are applying for and be specific about your accomplishments.
“It is important to include your phone number on your resumé or application. During the screening process, we always do a phone interview before we go further so having the phone number on the resume would save time. Applicants could be missing out because there is a chance that my email reply could go to their junk mail.
“Employers look for people who are punctual and show initiative and an eagerness to learn. When coming for an interview, be just a little bit early. Look directly at the interviewer when you talk to them. Be attentive.”
Hiring process
“The first step after we read the resumé is a pre-screen: a short phone call to get an idea about your experience, interest in the position, availability, and how you would fit the position.
“Screening is all about having a quick conversation. My questions are very basic, just to make sure their experience is what we are looking for, and it gives the applicant an opportunity to add any relevant information they may have missed listing on their resumé.
“Asking about availability is also important to ensure that your availability matches the requirements of the position you are applying for. Sometimes when I screen someone for a caregiver position and the person says they do not have relevant experience, during the conversation we may find they have all kinds of customer service or other experience that can transfer into a new position that we can train them for.
“The resumé and notes from the pre-screen are forwarded to the Hiring Manager, who will reach out by phone or email to schedule an interview. Sometimes, emails go into junk mail, so be sure to check your junk mail daily to make sure you do not miss an invitation to an interview.
“During the interview, answer the questions honestly. Be ready to talk about a work conflict and emphasize how you resolved it. The interviewer is looking for your judgment, decision-making and teamwork skills. If you are asked to talk about yourself, keep it professional. If you are asked why you are interested in the position, the interviewer is trying to gauge your enthusiasm and how well you understand the job description. After the interview, follow up with a thank-you note.
“We follow up the interview with reference checks. Be ready with a few references from former supervisors. If you don’t have a lot of work experience, list a supervisor in a volunteer role or a teacher. Make sure your references are aware you are sharing their name, so they are prepared to speak about you when we call.”
Candidates may send their resumés to careers@murphyhealthcare.ca
Visit www.murphyhealthcare.ca