Summer Job

[RSLilly]

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Hey everyone!

I'm entering Optometry School in the fall, and I'm starting to think about jobs for this summer. Really, just something to keep me busy and make a little money while not in class. I was thinking about places like Lenscrafters and Wal-Mart (and the like). (Don't freak out on me for using the "W" word... I'm only talking about a summer job, remember.)
Anyone have any suggestions, or ideas on how to go about this? What would I really be qualified for, considering I haven't even had any optemetry specific courses yet? And since the Wal-Mart Optometrists aren't technically Wal-Mart employees, how do I go about getting a job there? Will anyone actually take me on and train me, knowing full well that I'll be leaving them at the end of the summer?

 

[JeffChou]

I'm not there yet, but personally, I would take a road trip across America or something equally life-experience-ey. My humble opinion would be for you to occupy yourself, not with a job, but with whatever endeavor you find most enjoyable. I've given the last 16 years of my life to school (including every summer of high school and college. I've never traveled for more than a week and have always had to plan my time around school. Maybe this is becoming more and more a personal rant, but I'm just going to stick with it.

Take those three months off. Go to Europe. Go to Asia. Hell, get wasted and play video games all day and night. Just do something that you've not had the chance to do since college began and get it all out of your system, because the next four years of your life aren't going to be any more free. After you graduate, I'd imagine it to be a lot harder to do anything besides start working immediately and paying off your loans.


But, if I wanted to work to save up some spending money for optometry school, I'd probably try to get a job at a restaurant. I think the experience dealing with people would be helpful to me. I don't think 3 months of optometry related work would do much for me before optometry school where I'm just going to learn it all anyway (except maybe some hardcore billing experience). I'd still rather just sit back and relax for three months. But that's just me.

Whatever you do, just make sure you'll be satisfied with your decision four years from now when it's all said and done. Good luck 👍

 

[mthomas2]

I'd still rather just sit back and relax for three months. :

I totally agree. If you can, relax & enjoy the last three months before optometry school.

 

[Chuffsla]

I'm not there yet, but personally, I would take a road trip across America or something equally life-experience-ey. My humble opinion would be for you to occupy yourself, not with a job, but with whatever endeavor you find most enjoyable. I've given the last 16 years of my life to school (including every summer of high school and college. I've never traveled for more than a week and have always had to plan my time around school. Maybe this is becoming more and more a personal rant, but I'm just going to stick with it.

Take those three months off. Go to Europe. Go to Asia.

That'd be nice...unfortunately not many of us can afford to do something like that.

 

[luckyfool]

Hey everyone!

I'm entering Optometry School in the fall, and I'm starting to think about jobs for this summer. Really, just something to keep me busy and make a little money while not in class. I was thinking about places like Lenscrafters and Wal-Mart (and the like). (Don't freak out on me for using the "W" word... I'm only talking about a summer job, remember.)
Anyone have any suggestions, or ideas on how to go about this? What would I really be qualified for, considering I haven't even had any optemetry specific courses yet? And since the Wal-Mart Optometrists aren't technically Wal-Mart employees, how do I go about getting a job there? Will anyone actually take me on and train me, knowing full well that I'll be leaving them at the end of the summer?

Lenscrafters and the Big W would be your last place to look for a summer job. Corporate optometrists don't really have a say on who to hire and whatnot. Your best bet would be to hit up google map and search for optometrists in your area. Go ask a few optometrists and see if anyone needs a temporary technician. Also tell them that you are going to optometry school and it's nice to have some on site experience with patients. Good luck.

 

[bellaluna]

Walmart is good because they will hire almost anyone and depending on where it is, they let you do almost anything (I was an optician without the license basically). I worked there for a summer because no one else would hire someone with no experience for only three months. You apply at a Walmart kiosk... the OD may not be a Walmart employee, but you will be unfortunately. I'd go in and talk to the optical manager as well.

Just start early, it took a couple of weeks to go through the extensive hiring process (drug testing, personality tests, walmart computer training).

 

[cpw]

Corporate optometrists don't really have a say on who to hire and whatnot. .

I can hire whoever I want... thankyouverymuch. We made sure it was in the lease that we can hire/fire whoever we want.

Definitely relax if you can. If not, getting experience isn't going to help much for only three months. You'll get all the optometry you can handle for the next four years. Find a summer job where you can save up AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE for optometry school. Anything, to help with the debt you're going to amass in OD school.

Good luck !

 

[luckyfool]

what kind of things do optometry students do over the summer break?

 

[KelliMW]

what kind of things do optometry students do over the summer break?

We don't get a summer break. During first year, we get about 3 weeks. But after that, we're in clinic the whole time.