private docs: who would you hire?

[blobs]

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To KHE and Watson and any other private-practice docs:

when looking at resumes, who would YOU personally hire and why (for a private practice associate/partner)

I recently took the OAT and will be interviewing at a few places. One of my good points is that I'll probably do well "academically" in optometry school (getting As in undergrad was very easy, i obtained all 390-400 on the six OAT categories with 2 days of studying, and also got 42 on the MCAT with 2 weeks studying but did not apply to med school). I also have a lot of job experience in pharm and academic research labs, and I do not like research and only did those because they were good brownie points for whatever professional school i ended up in, and paid better than delivering pizza. Hoever I get the feeling the sort of skills required for getting these "numbers" do not necessarily translate to any useful abilities that add value in the 'r331 w0r1d".

Do you private practice docs have any preference for optometry grads which have high grades or have done a residency or does that not matter at all? Does it mostly depend on previous experience or recommendations, or mostly what impression you get from an interview? What sort of skills, both hard and soft, are you looking for?

I want to work in private practice after optometry school graduation but it seems like only 40-50% of the grads end up doing this just coming out, and opening cold in this environment doesnt seem to be friendly especially not in 4 more years. What kind of action can I take during my opto school years to enhance my ability to get into private practice (other than willpower, to resist bigger initial salary temptation)

My previous posts on the details of commerical practice are just me trying to see what worst-case scenario is like, since obviously its not that hard to find a job at walmart and crank out 100k if you don't want a life.

 

[Ben Chudner]

To KHE and Watson and any other private-practice docs:

when looking at resumes, who would YOU personally hire and why (for a private practice associate/partner)

I recently took the OAT and will be interviewing at a few places. One of my good points is that I'll probably do well "academically" in optometry school (getting As in undergrad was very easy, i obtained all 390-400 on the six OAT categories with 2 days of studying, and also got 42 on the MCAT with 2 weeks studying but did not apply to med school). I also have a lot of job experience in pharm and academic research labs, and I do not like research and only did those because they were good brownie points for whatever professional school i ended up in, and paid better than delivering pizza. Hoever I get the feeling the sort of skills required for getting these "numbers" do not necessarily translate to any useful abilities that add value in the 'r331 w0r1d".

Do you private practice docs have any preference for optometry grads which have high grades or have done a residency or does that not matter at all? Does it mostly depend on previous experience or recommendations, or mostly what impression you get from an interview? What sort of skills, both hard and soft, are you looking for?

I want to work in private practice after optometry school graduation but it seems like only 40-50% of the grads end up doing this just coming out, and opening cold in this environment doesnt seem to be friendly especially not in 4 more years. What kind of action can I take during my opto school years to enhance my ability to get into private practice (other than willpower, to resist bigger initial salary temptation)

My previous posts on the details of commerical practice are just me trying to see what worst-case scenario is like, since obviously its not that hard to find a job at walmart and crank out 100k if you don't want a life.

I have never looked at OAT scores when looking to hire an associate. GPA is not that important to me either, but I look at it out of curiosity. I prefer to hire residency trained OD's, but my current associate did not complete one. I would say the most important attribute I look for is personality. I want someone that will take good care of my patients, but it's just as important that my patients like my associate.

 

[Dr Gump]

To KHE and Watson and any other private-practice docs:

when looking at resumes, who would YOU personally hire and why (for a private practice associate/partner)

I recently took the OAT and will be interviewing at a few places. One of my good points is that I'll probably do well "academically" in optometry school (getting As in undergrad was very easy, i obtained all 390-400 on the six OAT categories with 2 days of studying, and also got 42 on the MCAT with 2 weeks studying but did not apply to med school). I also have a lot of job experience in pharm and academic research labs, and I do not like research and only did those because they were good brownie points for whatever professional school i ended up in, and paid better than delivering pizza. Hoever I get the feeling the sort of skills required for getting these "numbers" do not necessarily translate to any useful abilities that add value in the 'r331 w0r1d".

Do you private practice docs have any preference for optometry grads which have high grades or have done a residency or does that not matter at all? Does it mostly depend on previous experience or recommendations, or mostly what impression you get from an interview? What sort of skills, both hard and soft, are you looking for?

I want to work in private practice after optometry school graduation but it seems like only 40-50% of the grads end up doing this just coming out, and opening cold in this environment doesnt seem to be friendly especially not in 4 more years. What kind of action can I take during my opto school years to enhance my ability to get into private practice (other than willpower, to resist bigger initial salary temptation)

My previous posts on the details of commerical practice are just me trying to see what worst-case scenario is like, since obviously its not that hard to find a job at walmart and crank out 100k if you don't want a life.

It sounds like you are a very intelligent person. This is good for academic environments, but you must translate your intelligence into perceptive and clinical skills. Not hard to do, but many intelligent individuals can't grasp this concept.

I personally look for intelligence, but also people skills, when hiring associates. A residency is important, but if you have prior medical experience, not a necessity. I enjoy reading recommendations, but the interview usually reveals the truth. Enthusiasm plays into my decision. If you sit in front of me like a slug, then I usually come to the decision that you feel entitled to your position. This leads to the "door".

The important issue for me is compassion. If you can't relate to your patients, why are you a caregiver? Always remember that the patient in front of you is PAYING YOU for your advice and care. They would rather have you confide in them that their vision is getting worse and they may need an operation instead of hearing "Your nuclear sclerotic cataracts are maturing and a phakoemulsification is imminent".

What can you do to enhance your people skills? I'm not sure I can answer that one. It is possible to develop these skills, but most people are just blessed with them. I guess it is just a personality trait.

Hopefully my musings have answered some of your questions.

Good luck.

 

[IndianaOD]

Unfortunately blobs I think a lot of the time it is a crap shoot. I'm in no position to hire anyone, but to me grades and a residency would be important. A mild sense of humor and verbal skills wouldn't hurt either.

A lot the time its who you know anymore. I'd get to know the docs in your desired area sooner rather than later.

 

[KHE]

To KHE and Watson and any other private-practice docs:

when looking at resumes, who would YOU personally hire and why (for a private practice associate/partner)

.

Choosing someone for a partner is a COMPLETELY different animal than choosing someone for an associate position and there are just far too many variables to consider to really give a good answer to the question as it pertains to a partner. Choosing a partner is a lot like choosing a spouse....what works for me may not work for you.

As far as an associate goes, I am looking for someone who can make my office (and therefore, me) money. The vast majority of people who graduate optometry school and pass the boards and get a license have adequate clinical skills to handle the majority of situations that arise in private practice. So I need someone who has a personality, is comfortable dealing with a diverse public, and who makes the diverse public comfortable in dealing with them. Someone who knows every single thing about MEWDS or ARN but who is cold and flat has little value. Someone who is a hyper aggressive "salesman" type may bring in money in the short term but ultimately drives away more people than they bring in. I need someone in the middle.....

 

[broadway]

I never look at grades. I hire people on a trial basis. If we and the patients like you and you like us you've got the job. I also like to see how you handle patients. How many pts can you see per hour. How many redo's we get. Working is the true test. I hired an OD with a 3.9 he spent an hour with a pt. doing every test possible. Pt. had the best exam ever. She picked up her glasses and could'nt see. That happened more than once. He didn't last.

 

[stevemc1]

I have never looked at OAT scores when looking to hire an associate. GPA is not that important to me either, but I look at it out of curiosity. I prefer to hire residency trained OD's, but my current associate did not complete one. I would say the most important attribute I look for is personality. I want someone that will take good care of my patients, but it's just as important that my patients like my associate.

I agree 100% with Ben. I might add strong work ethic, and willingness to learn and advance the BUSINESS aspect.

Most new docs have excellent clinical skills, just need to be honed a bit in the real world. It's all "the other stuff" that is lacking that is a bit frightening to me when looking to bring on an associate.

BTW...if you listen to the Ken Elder style of negotiating you'll never get hired.😀 No worries....there are new Walmarts opening up every day.🙄

 

[Ben Chudner]

I might add strong work ethic, and willingness to learn and advance the BUSINESS aspect.

I completely agree.

 

[IndianaOD]

I agree 100% with Ben. I might add strong work ethic, and willingness to learn and advance the BUSINESS aspect.

Most new docs have excellent clinical skills, just need to be honed a bit in the real world. It's all "the other stuff" that is lacking that is a bit frightening to me when looking to bring on an associate.

BTW...if you listen to the Ken Elder style of negotiating you'll never get hired.😀 No worries....there are new Walmarts opening up every day.🙄

A strong distain of commercial probably wouldn't hurt in Steve's case 😀.

That's a definite gold star!

 

[KHE]

I agree 100% with Ben. I might add strong work ethic, and willingness to learn and advance the BUSINESS aspect.

Most new docs have excellent clinical skills, just need to be honed a bit in the real world. It's all "the other stuff" that is lacking that is a bit frightening to me when looking to bring on an associate.

BTW...if you listen to the Ken Elder style of negotiating you'll never get hired.😀 No worries....there are new Walmarts opening up every day.🙄

Hey...I kinda like that style of negotiating! 👍