Question about job shadowing

[euphaire]

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Hello all,

I'm hoping to try to apply for optometry 2011. Due to the lateness of my decision, I have been working very hard to pull my application together and studying for OAT.

The hardest thing for me is to find someone to let me job shadow.

I have been desperately looking for an optometrist who'd take me in for job shadowing in the past 2 months. No success so far. I heard it's harder in Canada (I'm a Canadian) but this is almost impossible. I gave my situation some thoughts and I guess it makes sense -- the optometrists gain nothing from this arrangement, while having to spend time mentoring/teaching me about things. Most importantly, their workplaces are usually clinics. I don't think it'd be very professional to just have me sit in the same room while they treat patients, and the patients may not like it. Lastly, they usually don't need any extra help - or they'd hire someone already. The last time I talked to an optometrist, he shook his head and said it wouldn't work because he really can't think of anything I could do there.

It all really makes sense - or perhaps I haven't thought of a way to establish a mutually beneficial arrangement here. I'd really appreciate some help at the moment. What are some of the things I could do or say to persuade the optometrist? What do you guys usually do at job shadowing? Do you (can you) actually help out with anything?

Thank you in advance!

 

[kiwi5frog]

Hello all,

I'm hoping to try to apply for optometry 2011. Due to the lateness of my decision, I have been working very hard to pull my application together and studying for OAT.

The hardest thing for me is to find someone to let me job shadow.

I have been desperately looking for an optometrist who'd take me in for job shadowing in the past 2 months. No success so far. I heard it's harder in Canada (I'm a Canadian) but this is almost impossible. I gave my situation some thoughts and I guess it makes sense -- the optometrists gain nothing from this arrangement, while having to spend time mentoring/teaching me about things. Most importantly, their workplaces are usually clinics. I don't think it'd be very professional to just have me sit in the same room while they treat patients, and the patients may not like it. Lastly, they usually don't need any extra help - or they'd hire someone already. The last time I talked to an optometrist, he shook his head and said it wouldn't work because he really can't think of anything I could do there.

It all really makes sense - or perhaps I haven't thought of a way to establish a mutually beneficial arrangement here. I'd really appreciate some help at the moment. What are some of the things I could do or say to persuade the optometrist? What do you guys usually do at job shadowing? Do you (can you) actually help out with anything?

Thank you in advance!

Instead of writing all the advice I've gotten, I think it's best to go straight to the source. =) Contact SCCO admissions person Dr Jane Munroe OD and ask her for advice on how to request shadowing. She has written an excellent document on it and will be more than happy to email it to you.

 

[euphaire]

Thanks kiwi. I will try to ask the admission people and professors for advice, as you suggested. but i'd still appreciate any advice you've got if you dont mind sharing 🙂

Cherry

 

[kiwi5frog]

Thanks kiwi. I will try to ask the admission people and professors for advice, as you suggested. but i'd still appreciate any advice you've got if you dont mind sharing 🙂

Cherry

Oh i didn't mean ask professors and admission PEOPLE. I meant contact Dr. Jane Anne Munroe specifically. I don't have the document she wrote, but she is the one person I would recommend you ask.

essentially you just tell them you would like to quietly observe them for one or two days just to learn what optometrists do. That you will not speak with patients and will be of minimal disturbance. after your first one, you can simply ask the optometrist if they have another optometrist they can recommend you contact.

 

[Oogilily]

The thing is, is that you don't need anything to do. You are shadowing and not working or volunteering. You will most likely sit in a corner and just watch. That is what you are there to do. Just explain that to the eye doctor. Seems odd that not a lot of doctors want to help out. The docs I shadowed just asked the patient if it was ok if I sat in on the exam just to observe and I never had a patient say no. Anyways, during shadowing, you aren't there to do anything only to observe. If you get a doc that gives you hands on stuff even better, but I wouldn't expect that.

 

[quackquack]

Had the same problem, I'm from Canada (Ontario) by the way. I tried from private practices to Walmart and Costco. I could never find the doctor at Costco but Walmart just flat out turned me down...

Anyway, it took me a year to find a place I'm working at now and even then, I had to arrange for it 1+ year well in advance and had to interview for it. That's the main reason I couldn't apply last cycle! Like someone mentioned, I'm not really sure why the doctors here are so not willing to help. Yes, like you said they gain nothing from it but if anything they should remember what it was like to be a student and applying, just my opinion.

All I can say is to keep trying! Some really busy clinics might want people. The place I'm working at is busy all the time so it's really easy for them to find me work to do. Definitely keep trying. My view of optometry changed once I started volunteering (and fortunately I like it more than ever now!).