New OD grads?

[thisguy88]

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Hey guys,

I have been hearing a lot of negativity towards the optometry profession as of late. I was just wondering if there are any NEW graduates (maybe the past 5-6 years or so) that have been somewhat successful (as in found a full time job or established a private practice that have been doing well, etc.) out of their program?

I would just like to hear any positive stories (if any) before I truly commit to this profession.

Thanks.

 

[DrVinzKlortho]

What's your definition of success? Is it making a massive amount of money while working minimally? Is it being fulfilled mentally at work with minimal headaches? Is it owning your own practice?

I can say, for me, that I have had no problems finding work and I live in a highly saturated metro area--I graduated in 2011. However full-time work in a private practice is becoming harder and harder to come by. I've worked in private practice, OMD offices, retail/corporate, laser centers, hospital settings and there are definitely pros and cons to all modalities. For example let's say you make $180k while working at a Wally 4 days a week--is that success? Or making $100k at an OMD office seeing 30+ pts a day doing a lot of medical--is that success? Both of these scenarios are extremely plausible.

 

[310]

This is a tangent, but I fail to understand the widespread notion that working at a private practice is inherently better than working in a different modality. The differences between private practices are enormous, so it's dependent on the practice/owner and not the mode. If you have a deep rooted desire to schmooze with patients during 40+ minute exams, then you'll probably need to go to a PP. Personally, I don't care much for that (I do work PP, but not that kind).

 

[thisguy88]

@DrVinzKlortho I don't really know what I'm looking for as "successful" exactly. I guess actually finding work is successful in itself. Thanks for your reply.

 

[blazenmadison]

What's your definition of success? Is it making a massive amount of money while working minimally? Is it being fulfilled mentally at work with minimal headaches? Is it owning your own practice?

I can say, for me, that I have had no problems finding work and I live in a highly saturated metro area--I graduated in 2011. However full-time work in a private practice is becoming harder and harder to come by. I've worked in private practice, OMD offices, retail/corporate, laser centers, hospital settings and there are definitely pros and cons to all modalities. For example let's say you make $180k while working at a Wally 4 days a week--is that success? Or making $100k at an OMD office seeing 30+ pts a day doing a lot of medical--is that success? Both of these scenarios are extremely plausible.

It's more like 110-120k at WalMart SIX days per week- The more you work the more pay.
No benefits, no vacation if you're leasing the store.

 

[blazenmadison]

Hey guys,

I have been hearing a lot of negativity towards the optometry profession as of late. I was just wondering if there are any NEW graduates (maybe the past 5-6 years or so) that have been somewhat successful (as in found a full time job or established a private practice that have been doing well, etc.) out of their program?

I would just like to hear any positive stories (if any) before I truly commit to this profession.

Thanks.

I consider myself a recent graduate within 5 years. It is difficult to find a desirable job in a desirable location. Metros are saturated with corporate ODs and private OD jobs are very hard to come by. Starting a practice is very difficult because of my student loans. Also private opticals have a hard time competing with WalMart/Costco and now online opticals. The field is tough. You're not going to graduate and be handed a 100k job, you need to work towards achieving it.

 

[Jason K]

For example let's say you make $180k while working at a Wally 4 days a week--is that success?

Sorry, dude - this is not plausible for a new grad. It's plausible for someone with several high volume leases, who farms out work to slave ODs at $45/hr as independent contractors. That someone is not going to be a new grad. Find me a new OD who makes 180K at Walmart and I'll show you a person who knows how to lie. Most box leases are for newer stores that have very low traffic. The high volume, $1500/day stores are not sitting around waiting for lease-holders, they're already owned by established docs who have dug in and are not about to let go.

Or making $100k at an OMD office seeing 30+ pts a day doing a lot of medical--is that success? Both of these scenarios are extremely plausible.

This is plausible, but getting more and more rare. It does happen, but if 1 new grad in 50 can find something like this, what does that tell you about the profession?

New grads should have ample opportunity that reflects their time and financial investment. Those opportunities are not in place right now for most new grads.

I find it amusing that the AOA's more recent "workforce study" was completed over a year ago, and yet no one has seen any data. Just like the last wasted study, it'll be buried in the archives in St Louis, where it can't help anyone.

 

[310]

I consider myself a recent graduate within 5 years. It is difficult to find a desirable job in a desirable location. Metros are saturated with corporate ODs and private OD jobs are very hard to come by. Starting a practice is very difficult because of my student loans. Also private opticals have a hard time competing with WalMart/Costco and now online opticals. The field is tough. You're not going to graduate and be handed a 100k job, you need to work towards achieving it.

I'm not gonna echo that one at all. It's more dependent on location than "working your way up." There is no ladder in optometry that starts with taking crappy jobs. Also, it takes a person willing to accept a crappy job in order to work one.