About Dis-Chem Pharmacies
Dis-Chem is a market leading corporate pharmacy group with operations in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. The Group was co-founded by Ivan and Lynette Saltzman in 1978 when they opened their first retail pharmacy store in Mondeor, south of Johannesburg. It has been South Africa’s first choice in pharmacies since its establishment, with its linked dispensaries, family clinics, wound-care clinics and comprehensive self-medication centers. As a leading specialist in beauty, healthy food, sport supplements, health and well-being, Dis-Chem offers the widest ranges in these categories and expert advice.
Dis-Chem Group operates through two divisions: Retail and Wholesale. In retail, the Group’s “Pharmacy First” approach guarantees that its customers can always depend on there being a pharmacist to assist with their pharmaceutical needs whenever they enter a Dis-Chem store.
In addition to the Group’s pharmaceutical products and services offering i.e. its Dispensary category, its retail front shop has Personal Care and Beauty, Healthcare and Nutrition, Baby Care and other offerings, including confectionary, household goods and ancillary services such as clinics, and hair and beauty salons.
As on June 3, 2017, the Group traded from 115 stores, including three in Namibia, and more than 200 clinics. It has a wide range and assortment of front shop products with over 60,000 SKUs creating a competitive advantage for the Group.
Dis-Chem entered the wholesale market in 2013 when it acquired a controlling stake in CJ Distribution to service its own stores as well as third parties. The Wholesale division operates a fine picking wholesale business and has three contributors to turnover: Dis-Chem stores, independent pharmacies, and TLC franchises.
The Group has four fully operational distribution centers located in Midrand (Gauteng), Delmas (Mpumalanga), Kwazulu-Nala, and Cape Town. Over time, Dis-Chem intends to expand its wholesale business into the distribution business whereby it would service both the wholesale and retailers.
The Group employs more than 13,500 full-time and part-time employees in November 2016, the Group listed 27.5% of its issued share capital on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). This was the second largest initial public offering (IPO) on the exchange.
Dis-Chem Learnerships for School Leavers
Dis-Chem offers school leavers programs in three different fields that are relevant to the Group’s operations. These programs include Retail Learnership, Pharmacy Learnership, and Support Learnership.
- Retail Learnership
The Retail Learnership at Dis-Chem consists of both theoretical and practical hands-on training in the following fields: Merchandiser, Cashier, Sales Consultant (Health and Cosmetics), Head of Department, Receiving Manager, Admin Manager, and Assistant Manager.
Retail Learnerships at Dis-Chem are available for the following qualifications: General Retail NQF Level 2, General Retail NQF Level 3, and Generic Management NQF Level 4
- Pharmacy Learnership
This learnership program consists of both theoretical and hands-on training for those wishing to pursue a Pharmacist Assistant career path. Available qualifications in the Pharmacy Learnership program are as follows: Basic Pharmacist Assistant NQF Level 3 and Post Basic Pharmacist Assistant NQF Level 4
- Support Learnership
The Support Learnership program at Dis-Chem is offered to those who strive in the Administrative or Support career path. This learnership program is available in Business Administration NQF Level 2.
Dis-Chem Internships for Graduates
Besides learnership programs, Dis-Chem also offers graduate programs in the form of internships. These internships are targeted at graduate students who wish to gain hands-on experience in a relevant work field, and be exposed to the world of work.
Internships in Dis-Chem are available in four different areas relevant to the Group’s operations. These areas of internships include Pharmacy, Health, Retail, and Support.
- Pharmacy
The Pharmacy Internship program is available only to students with a B.Pharm degree. The internship is held for the duration of 12 months, and students will be placed as Pharmacists throughout the duration of the internship.
- Health
The Health Internship program is available to students with one of the following degrees of study: BSC in Biomedicine and Biotechnology, and BC in Science and Food Technology. The Health Internship will take up to 12 months to complete, and students will be placed as one of the following positions, depending on which one the students apply and are eligible for: Health-Consultant, Quality Assurance, and Store Health Manager.
- Retail
The Retail Internship program is available only to students who major in Business Management. The internship is held for period of 12 months. Interns of this program will be placed as one of the following specialists, depending on which position they apply and are eligible for: Merchandiser, Cashier, Sales Consultant (Health and Cosmetics), Head of Department, Receiving Manager, Admin Manager, and Assistant Manager.
- Support
The Support Internship program is available to students who major in Accounting, Human Resource (HR), Logistics, and Information and Technology (IT). Support Internships are offered to those who strive in the following career paths: Human Resource (HR), Accounting, IT, Logistics, Office Admin, Call Center Management, Administration and Marketing. Students who apply for the Support Internship program at Dis-Chem are free to choose from the following available positions as long as they meet all the eligible requirements: HR, Bookkeeper, Accountant, Logistics, Warehouse Manager, and IT Support.
Eligibility, Requirements, and How to Apply
The eligibility requirements for each Dis-Chem program and each of its positions vary. You can check out these requirements when a learnership or internship opportunity is being advertised. Advertisements of these programs can be seen at https://dischem.pnet.co.za/# under the ‘Latest Vacancies’ section.
Dispensary vacancies will also be notified on that same page. However, before applying for a vacancy, you will be required to register an account. In the case of searching for dispensary vacancies, you must register an account before you can see the available vacancies.
You may directly login to your account if you already have one.
Although the eligibility criteria varies for each and every different position, there is a list of essential minimum requirements that you can look out for. These general essential requirements include:
- Have completed Grade 12 / Matric. For internships, applicants must also hold a degree in the field of study that is related to the position they are applying for.
- Have experience in the field related to the learnership / internship position you are applying for
- Registered with the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC)
- Possess strong communication skills, be a computer literate, and/or possess a strong command of the English language
To learn more about Dis-Chem, visit https://dischemgroup.com or https://www.dischem.co.za.
See the details of Dis-Chem Learnership and Internship programs at https://dischemgroup.com/careers/.