applying for job in OD office

[courtneyv2002]

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I'm applying for the position of receptionist at my local OD's office. It's a private practice with two drs. I wanted to see if anyone had any advice for me before my interview.

I have a year of expereince working part-time at the career center on campus as a student worker (basically a receptionist for incoming employers/students). I will also have my B.S. in Bio Sci August. So I feel that I am qualified.

This is my plan B. I am currently on two waitlists for opt. school, but I am applying for this position because I think it will definatly give me a leg up on my application next year. **Should I emphasis this point? The fact that I am on a waitlist? Should I emphasis that I will be (hopefully) leaving in one year?

 

[rpames]

I actually would not take a job as a receptionist if I were trying to strengthen my application to OD school. Answering the phone won't give you any "valuable" experience. If the job were as an optician or tech, I would jump at it. I may consider receptionist if I were guaranteed the opportunity to work with patients in the exam room, but if they were just looking for someone to answer the phone and register patients, I would stay clear.

Just b/c you would be working with an OD does not mean you will be a stronger candidate. If your GPA is what put you on the wait-list, then take some classes. If it is the OAT, study and take it again. If your numbers are good, but you just don't have exposure to the profession, then I guess I would take the job. Just make sure you will be able to observe the OD in the exam room on interesting cases.

 

[courtneyv2002]

I actually would not take a job as a receptionist if I were trying to strengthen my application to OD school. Answering the phone won't give you any "valuable" experience. If the job were as an optician or tech, I would jump at it. I may consider receptionist if I were guaranteed the opportunity to work with patients in the exam room, but if they were just looking for someone to answer the phone and register patients, I would stay clear.

Just b/c you would be working with an OD does not mean you will be a stronger candidate. If your GPA is what put you on the wait-list, then take some classes. If it is the OAT, study and take it again. If your numbers are good, but you just don't have exposure to the profession, then I guess I would take the job. Just make sure you will be able to observe the OD in the exam room on interesting cases.

Hey, thanks- I hadn't really thought about it like that. I guess I was just excited I would be in the office. I shadowed these doctors some last summer so I know they would try hard to let me get a good bit of exposure. I should hear from them this week so I will see what they say about some exam-room time before I make my decision.
-thanks again!

 

[prettygreeneyes]

Hey, thanks- I hadn't really thought about it like that. I guess I was just excited I would be in the office. I shadowed these doctors some last summer so I know they would try hard to let me get a good bit of exposure. I should hear from them this week so I will see what they say about some exam-room time before I make my decision.
-thanks again!

I, myself, have a slightly different opinion than rpames. I'm off the belief that any experience in an optometry office is beneficial. The receptionist position can be what you make of it. Yes, you'll answer phones and check in patients. In the office I worked in, that was an important position to be in. You would be sort of the "gatekeeper" of the practice. You would get used to each of the differnt forms that the doctor uses as well as the practice management software. The receptionist also handled checking patients out ie. money and some billing. Plus, any exposure you can get to the business side of optometry will be invaluable. You'll become more familiar with optometric terms. This position may also be a stepping stone into a tech or optician job. Show your passion and committment to this job and you may be able to move up.

I recall in your original post, you mentioned you are on waitlists. So, there is a chance that you will be attending optometry school this fall, meaning if you got the job you would have to leave it. How you handle that is up to you and what you want to carry in your conscience. If in fact you get the job and then find out in early August that you got in somewhere, all that training and effort they put into you will be wasted, from their standpoint.

Please take this post as my opinion only. rpames is actually in optometry school... and I won't start until August. Just thought I'd share my two cents...

Good luck!

 

[rpames]

Prettygreeneyes makes some good points. Exposure to the business side of optometry will not hurt you at all. I worked in the field for 7 years before I went to OD school, and I am always amazed at the clueless nature of the other students. By knowing how an office works will put you at great advantage once you get out, but I still am not sure how/if it will strengthen your application.

I'll email one of the faculty at my school and findout if it will help. I'll let you know what I find out.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

I, myself, have a slightly different opinion than rpames. I'm off the belief that any experience in an optometry office is beneficial. The receptionist position can be what you make of it. Yes, you'll answer phones and check in patients. In the office I worked in, that was an important position to be in. You would be sort of the "gatekeeper" of the practice. You would get used to each of the differnt forms that the doctor uses as well as the practice management software. The receptionist also handled checking patients out ie. money and some billing. Plus, any exposure you can get to the business side of optometry will be invaluable. You'll become more familiar with optometric terms. This position may also be a stepping stone into a tech or optician job. Show your passion and committment to this job and you may be able to move up.

I recall in your original post, you mentioned you are on waitlists. So, there is a chance that you will be attending optometry school this fall, meaning if you got the job you would have to leave it. How you handle that is up to you and what you want to carry in your conscience. If in fact you get the job and then find out in early August that you got in somewhere, all that training and effort they put into you will be wasted, from their standpoint.

Please take this post as my opinion only. rpames is actually in optometry school... and I won't start until August. Just thought I'd share my two cents...

Good luck!

I agree with this. I worked as insurance and billing at an OD office so when I got to med school, I was miles ahead of my classmates in insurance and office management. Go for it, and best of luck.

 

[courtneyv2002]

Thanks for all of your input. Opinions are exactly what I was looking for! I don't plan on accepting a position without explaining my waitlist status to my employers. I think that these ladies would more than understand my position and I surely understand theirs should they choose to hire someone else. I'll keep ya'll updated!

 

[rpames]

This is the email I got back from my "source" at ICO:

"It depends on why she was wait listed. But either way, tell her to contact the schools now for counseling (they all should do it and if not, she needs to send
her application to better schools) and find out what was up and then as
you said, fill in what was missing. Make sure she hears it from the
schools, not what she thinks is the problem - there is sometimes a
mismatch.
But, if she needs work (don't we all need money), then answering phones
at on OD's office is a better fit, because sometimes you get lucky and
get to do other things and there are always opportunities for
conversations, etc."


I hope that helps you.

 

[cpw]

I agree with this. I worked as insurance and billing at an OD office so when I got to med school, I was miles ahead of my classmates in insurance and office management. Go for it, and best of luck.

ditto. As a receptionist at an OD office for a year I did WAY more than answer the phones. I learned billing and coding, made appointments, pre-tested, and eventually learned some opticianry from the opticians every chance I got. The ODs were thrilled they had a receptionist who really cared about the office/patients/their life.

I'd say "go for it!!" on the receptionist job. If it's a good office and the docs know you're applying to OD school they should do everything they can to make it a good learning experience for you. If they don't... find a different office. 😉

Good luck !!

 

[Idok]

any time you can spendin an OD"s office will help...I dont care if youre just cleaning toilets....

just being in the environment you will pick up on stuff.........but, your time at work is only what you make of it...


I worked as a tech for like all thru and the year prior to op school.....the experience is/was INVALUBLE

 

[courtneyv2002]

Thanks for all of your insight. I found out they hired another person but are keeping my resume should things not work out with her. On to plan C...I think that's the one I'm on now. 🙄