success in securing a job

[bruinOD]

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This is a question (actually, series of questions 😛) for those who recently graduated, knows someone who recently graduated, or graduated years back.

How many graduates secured a job right after graduation or within the 1st year after graduation? Which school are they affiliated?
What industries and cities are these students working?
How many of them are able to find work in Southern California (as an employee, not a private practice owner)?
How many of them had to relocate to a city (that's not their first-choice) to work?
What is the success rate for Berkeley students in securing a job in southern California?
How is the success rate in states outside of California?

Thanks!!!!!

 

[IndianaOD]

This is a question (actually, series of questions 😛) for those who recently graduated, knows someone who recently graduated, or graduated years back.

How many graduates secured a job right after graduation or within the 1st year after graduation? Which school are they affiliated?
What industries and cities are these students working?
How many of them are able to find work in Southern California (as an employee, not a private practice owner)?
How many of them had to relocate to a city (that's not their first-choice) to work?
What is the success rate for Berkeley students in securing a job in southern California?
How is the success rate in states outside of California?

Thanks!!!!!

Quick and dirty:

I've heard southern California is a brutal market. Too many providers, just like everywhere else. Just think, another huge school is opening up 20 miles south of SCCO in a couple of years.

I don't think any students go real long without a job. Its the professional private practice career that is difficult to get into. Of course I don't consider commercial practicing optometry so whatever.

There is always a walmart of other vision shack looking to pimp out an OD.

 

[osler]

i'm not an Optometry student. i'm not sure what school is gonna open up 20 miles south of SCCO. but, i do know that the school that i'm attending will open up a new O.D. program in a couple years---Located 25-30 miles North of SCCO.

 

[Ben Chudner]

How many graduates secured a job right after graduation or within the 1st year after graduation?

I do not know the exact percentage, but I would guess just about all graduates secure a job within the first year of graduation. In my class (1997), only one person did not get a job and that's because she decided not to practice optometry for some reason.

Which school are they affiliated?

I think all schools are equal in this regard.

What industries and cities are these students working?

The majority are spread out between private practice (OD and MD) and commerical optometry with about 20-25% going into a residency. There are other modes of practice as well, but those are the most common. They are spread out across the country.

How many of them are able to find work in Southern California (as an employee, not a private practice owner)?

Southern California, just like Northern California is a very difficult market for two reasons. First of all, they are very desireable areas to live, and secondly, there are schools pumping out grads in both locations. With the new school in Pomona (which I believe is north of SCCO), So Cal will become even more saturated.

How many of them had to relocate to a city (that's not their first-choice) to work?

I don't know the answer to this, but I will tell you that my classmates from Berkeley that wanted to stay in California ended up working part-time for a couple of practices until something full-time came up. I don't know anyone that relocated to a city that they did not want to live in.

What is the success rate for Berkeley students in securing a job in southern California?

I would think they have the same success rates as any other school. The only advantage that SCCO may have is more access to doctors that know of opportunities in the area.

How is the success rate in states outside of California?

Once you graduate, you will not have any trouble finding a job. You may have to work part-time for 2 or 3 different practices at first in states like California, or you may have to work part-time in a private practice and part-time in a commercial practice, or you may go directly into a commercial practice full-time. The bottom line is that there are plenty of opportunities for graduates regardless of what school you graduate from and in most cases what location you want to end up. I do think California may be a little more difficult, but so will any area that is nice to live in. California had the added issue of two, and soon to be three schools.

 

[reconsider]

Good luck to all of you finding work.

You'll need to string together 3 or 4 crappy jobs just to make ends meet. This will definitely include weekends. Will probably include Walmart as well.

For those of you more enterprising you may even buy a private practice that will continue to decline no matter what you do.

 

[Ben Chudner]

Good luck to all of you finding work.

You'll need to string together 3 or 4 crappy jobs just to make ends meet. This will definitely include weekends. Will probably include Walmart as well.

For those of you more enterprising you may even buy a private practice that will continue to decline no matter what you do.

Please do not listen to posts like this. I read all his other posts and they are just like this one. He admits he is in private practice and so based on the last sentence above I assume he is not very successful. Bitter OD's like this want to keep other people from becmming OD's because in their mind, that will make them more successful.

 

[posner]

Good luck to all of you finding work.

You'll need to string together 3 or 4 crappy jobs just to make ends meet. This will definitely include weekends. Will probably include Walmart as well.

For those of you more enterprising you may even buy a private practice that will continue to decline no matter what you do.

I have given up almost entirely on posting in these forums any more, largely because of the seemingly overwhelming majority of posters like this. Ignore the above post entirely.

I have found none of what this person says to be true in regards to the pursuit of employment after graduation. Ben is telling like it is. Jobs are easy to come by; ideal jobs are more difficult to find and may take more than one attempt to secure, but they do exist. The previous poster is like many other ODs who blame the profession for their lack of success. These types of people are not likely to find success in any field.

Posner

 

[prettygreeneyes]

I have given up almost entirely on posting in these forums any more, largely because of the seemingly overwhelming majority of posters like this. Ignore the above post entirely.

I have found none of what this person says to be true in regards to the pursuit of employment after graduation. Ben is telling like it is. Jobs are easy to come by; ideal jobs are more difficult to find and may take more than one attempt to secure, but they do exist. The previous poster is like many other ODs who blame the profession for their lack of success. These types of people are not likely to find success in any field.

Posner

Wow... Posner. Long time, no post. 🙂

 

[posner]

Wow... Posner. Long time, no post. 🙂

😳 I mostly lurk in the shadows any more...I cant help but check things out every so often.

Posner

 

[Ben Chudner]

😳 I mostly lurk in the shadows any more...I cant help but check things out every so often.

Posner

We just keep dragging you back in 😉

 

[Eyegirl2k7]

I have recently secured a corporate job in IL. Pay is 100 000 +incentives.
I just went to recruiting interviews. Will I be pimped out? Maybe. Right now I just need to make as much as I can for about a year...Hopefully I'll like it--it's in a good location.

 

[362.04]

I have recently secured a corporate job in IL. Pay is 100 000 +incentives.
I just went to recruiting interviews. Will I be pimped out? Maybe. Right now I just need to make as much as I can for about a year...Hopefully I'll like it--it's in a good location.

Eyegril2k7,

What were they looking for? What made you the best candidate?

 

[eyestrain]

Eyegril2k7,

What were they looking for? What made you the best candidate?

I think a warm body is typically what they are looking for.

 

[KHE]

I have recently secured a corporate job in IL. Pay is 100 000 +incentives.
I just went to recruiting interviews. Will I be pimped out? Maybe. Right now I just need to make as much as I can for about a year...Hopefully I'll like it--it's in a good location.

What steps, if any did you take to secure a position in private practice?
If you took none, was there a reason?

What makes it a "good" location?

 

[362.04]

I think a warm body is typically what they are looking for.

I beg to differ. I' m betting that they had more than one candidate for that position.

 

[still_confused]

Good luck to all of you finding work.

You'll need to string together 3 or 4 crappy jobs just to make ends meet. This will definitely include weekends. Will probably include Walmart as well.

For those of you more enterprising you may even buy a private practice that will continue to decline no matter what you do.

good luck to you in life, looks like you screwed yourself

 

[asmaka19]

The optometrist that I'm now shadowing graduated in 1996 from ICO and got a job right away at a commercial location here in Baton Rouge, LA that gave him $90,000 and that was 11 years ago! He says the biggest influencer on what kind of job/pay you get is the need in that area and not so much school you came from or your GPA but just that you're licensed.

Also, I got hired at a different commercial optical center and the manager let me know that he pays a full time optometrist $150,000 and all he looks for is that they're licensed. I know in New Orleans they're paying even more than that, it's alot about need!

 

[drbizzaro]

The optometrist that I'm now shadowing graduated in 1996 from ICO and got a job right away at a commercial location here in Baton Rouge, LA that gave him $90,000 and that was 11 years ago! He says the biggest influencer on what kind of job/pay you get is the need in that area and not so much school you came from or your GPA but just that you're licensed.

Also, I got hired at a different commercial optical center and the manager let me know that he pays a full time optometrist $150,000 and all he looks for is that they're licensed. I know in New Orleans they're paying even more than that, it's alot about need!

Very very true. One of the girls from my class who moved to New Orleans is getting 160,000/year in base salary for 5 days of work in a commerical establishment. If people want fast cash, they should all go to New Orleans. It has the lowest % of OD's per general population in all of the US.

 

[eyeguy03]

Good luck to all of you finding work.

You'll need to string together 3 or 4 crappy jobs just to make ends meet. This will definitely include weekends. Will probably include Walmart as well.

For those of you more enterprising you may even buy a private practice that will continue to decline no matter what you do.

Every day I have to say to myself, "There is no benefit in that." Meaning - there is no benefit in trying to convince the general public with words, that you are in fact a doctor just like there is no benefit in arguing with those with the opinions of that quoted above. Actions speak louder - every time.

I graduated a year ago - bought an office on my own - no money in the bank, no money from family, first generation O.D. and in one year my SOLO PRACTICE OFFICE this month alone will generate $30,000 in PROFIT (multiply that by 12) And that will be my take home NET income.😀 Yes I take VSP, EYEMED, MEDICARE, MEDICAID. It can be done and it is fun.

Ignore the ignorant that say that you must go corporate to make it.

There is benefit in that!

 

[nova2010]

eyeguy03,
Thank you for your postive thread. Since I am just beginning my second year, I am already thinking about my future. I will also be a first generation OD, with no $$$. Can you give me any advice? Thanks-

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

Every day I have to say to myself, "There is no benefit in that." Meaning - there is no benefit in trying to convince the general public with words, that you are in fact a doctor just like there is no benefit in arguing with those with the opinions of that quoted above. Actions speak louder - every time.

I graduated a year ago - bought an office on my own - no money in the bank, no money from family, first generation O.D. and in one year my SOLO PRACTICE OFFICE this month alone will generate $30,000 in PROFIT (multiply that by 12) And that will be my take home NET income.😀 Yes I take VSP, EYEMED, MEDICARE, MEDICAID. It can be done and it is fun.

Ignore the ignorant that say that you must go corporate to make it.

There is benefit in that!

Every month of the year is not as profitable as the next. May is slow, November can be pretty slow months out of the year. I rarely hear of a new practicing OD breaking much more than even his first year in private practice. Congratulations, but I don't know if I believe the profit margin.