Hello folks! I was just wondering that can i start job shadowing right now at some optometrist's office or even work for them to get some experience? I am only a freshman in college, but I want to start early and wouldn't mind getting paid a little as well since i don't have any jobs right now. Where should I start applying for job shadowing and jobs? There are clinics in my area, but do I just call and ask them about it? Any help would be appreciated from the experienced people out there. thanks!
Applying for Job Shadowing/Job
- Thread starter Akki6
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I started working at a private practice my sophomore year. I found an ad looking for a tech in the newspaper classifieds. Check out online job classifieds for your area for optical, optician, ophthalmic, or optometric and see if there is somewhere to apply. I think they tend to have a high turn over rate and hire often.
Well I tried to search google and found many optometry offices numbers and stuff, but it doesn't say anything about jobs...Do I just call them to see if they job shadow?
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If you want to shadow, call one and ask.
If you want a job, try looking on sites like indeed.
If you want a job, try looking on sites like indeed.
Well I just actually called one and they said you can come fill out an application for shadowing/job so lets see what happens, hopefully will get it. Anyways, what is Optometric technician, is it any hard work?
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It depends on the office.
To give you an idea, I have sold glasses, fitted them to patients, ordered them, done insurance forms, cleaned and stocked the frames, learned about all the types of lenses, taught people to wear contacts, done pre-screening like patient history and concerns, pupils, color vision, stereopsis, pressures with a handheld tonometer, kerotometry, cover tests, autorefraction, refractions with a phoropter, put drops in, triage patients on the phone, help the doctor when removing a foreign body in someone's eye, schedule appointments, clean the office, also worked with a retinal specialist and set up injections, lasers, cryotherapy, etc. It is a lot of repetition. Take a patient and do the pre-screening then the next patient, then the next patient.
Is it hard work? Not like dairy farming. Do days get long? Yeah, especially when you yourself are having a bad day but you have to keep a smile on your face and be polite to every patient you talk to. Some patients are super nice while others just want to ruin your day. Overall, it is enjoyable. The doctors I have worked for have always want to teach me what is going on and more about diseases, etc.
I'd say you should get a job as a tech if possible. It'll really help you understand what happens in an eye care center, and it will expose you to some interesting things. Plus, it is usually higher than minimum wage.
Hope that helped.
To give you an idea, I have sold glasses, fitted them to patients, ordered them, done insurance forms, cleaned and stocked the frames, learned about all the types of lenses, taught people to wear contacts, done pre-screening like patient history and concerns, pupils, color vision, stereopsis, pressures with a handheld tonometer, kerotometry, cover tests, autorefraction, refractions with a phoropter, put drops in, triage patients on the phone, help the doctor when removing a foreign body in someone's eye, schedule appointments, clean the office, also worked with a retinal specialist and set up injections, lasers, cryotherapy, etc. It is a lot of repetition. Take a patient and do the pre-screening then the next patient, then the next patient.
Is it hard work? Not like dairy farming. Do days get long? Yeah, especially when you yourself are having a bad day but you have to keep a smile on your face and be polite to every patient you talk to. Some patients are super nice while others just want to ruin your day. Overall, it is enjoyable. The doctors I have worked for have always want to teach me what is going on and more about diseases, etc.
I'd say you should get a job as a tech if possible. It'll really help you understand what happens in an eye care center, and it will expose you to some interesting things. Plus, it is usually higher than minimum wage.
Hope that helped.
I started working as an Optometric Assistant the Summer before my Soph year of undergrad. I simply called a few offices and asked if they were hiring. I lead with the "employment" aspect to get hired. In the interview I mentioned that I was interested in the profession and would like to gain first-hand experience, etc. etc. We then discussed shadowing once I took the position.
I know that many offices are looking for technicians, and if they can get free labor out of a student wanting to get shadowing hours....they will. So definitely lead with the employment aspect.
I know that many offices are looking for technicians, and if they can get free labor out of a student wanting to get shadowing hours....they will. So definitely lead with the employment aspect.
Yes, I am definitely interested in Optometric technician job. I called few and they wrote my information for shadowing, but I am going there tomorrow to fill out an application so lets see. I don't have problem doing all that, but I would prefer working with doctor in his room when he sees patients. I want to know how to process works and this is the best way I can learn. Can you give me more tips on what should I do or how many people I should shadow in order to get in to optometry school? This is only my freshman year, btw! 🙂
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Try to shadow all different modes of practicing optometrists (private practice, commercial, low vision therapy, pediatrics, sports vision, ocular diseases. etc). It will give you a wide perspective on the field of optometry. If you can't shadow various modes, then it's okay, it would've just given you more of an edge on applications. I've only shadowed 3 optometrists in private practice and was accepted. Just know why you are interested in this field.
It's never too early to start shadowing/volunteering, I started when I was still in high school.
