Was it hard for current OD's to find a job

[cdea]

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Just curious for those that are already working OD's. Was it difficult to find a job, part time / full time or whatever, after you got out of school.

 

[xmattODx]

Just curious for those that are already working OD's. Was it difficult to find a job, part time / full time or whatever, after you got out of school.

I was living in the greater Portland, OR area and the answer is yes.

 

[r_salis]

I was living in the greater Portland, OR area and the answer is yes.

Was it difficult getting your "dream job", or just difficult getting any job at all?

 

[xmattODx]

Was it difficult getting your "dream job", or just difficult getting any job at all?

There was nothing full time. I worked multiple part-time jobs for over 2 years gave up and moved.

 

[a1bui]

It seriously depends on where you live and how much money you already have. Location wise, if you're in a city with lots of optometrists already, then the only choice you have is to do part time because patients don't switch doctors so easily, so opening up a new place wouldn't help.

Money wise, most newly graduated students have lots of loans to pay back from undergrad and grad, so they won't have money to have their own practice.

Otherwise, part-time work isn't too hard to find in big/suburban cities. Lots of optometrists need vacation, or maternety leave, so they need replacements. Also some optometrists need additional help, so you wouldn't exactly be their partner (though its possible), but they would be paying you as an employee. There's also some chance of working full time for health care companies (i.e. Kaiser), OR corporations (i.e. walmart/costco), though i heard it's not recommended to work for the corporations.

.....Um, i just noticed that you wanted working OD's to reply...I'm not one, I'm actually in my undergrad still, but, i've talked to some OD's and thats what they told me ;-)

 

[smith351]

It seriously depends on where you live and how much money you already have. Location wise, if you're in a city with lots of optometrists already, then the only choice you have is to do part time because patients don't switch doctors so easily, so opening up a new place wouldn't help.

Money wise, most newly graduated students have lots of loans to pay back from undergrad and grad, so they won't have money to have their own practice.

Otherwise, part-time work isn't too hard to find in big/suburban cities. Lots of optometrists need vacation, or maternety leave, so they need replacements. Also some optometrists need additional help, so you wouldn't exactly be their partner (though its possible), but they would be paying you as an employee. There's also some chance of working full time for health care companies (i.e. Kaiser), OR corporations (i.e. walmart/costco), though i heard it's not recommended to work for the corporations.

.....Um, i just noticed that you wanted working OD's to reply...I'm not one, I'm actually in my undergrad still, but, i've talked to some OD's and thats what they told me ;-)

What's wrong with working for corporations like walmart?

 

[a1bui]

Here's some info I found about Corporate optometry:

Corporate Practice

Ø In corporate practice, the practice is owned by a corporation. The corporation provides equipment. The optometrist has to pay lease. At Wal-Mart, a percentage of each month sales is considered the payment for lease.

Ø You can begin paying off your student loans right away.

Ø Corporation suggests what your hours should be. You don’t have to set those hours, but the corporation will find other optometrists that will abide by those hours.

Ø You do not have to deal with the optical sales because the corporation takes care of this.

Ø There is a contract that needs to be signed that lasts for a year or two.

Ø The corporation does not advertise for the doctor, only for the optical store. The optometrist is an independent worker.

Ø You can take or sell your files when you leave the corporation. You can sell your files to the incoming optometrist for $0.25 or whatever price that you believe to be reasonable.

Ø You can set price for exams at any amount. It is illegal for the corporation to tell you what price to set.

Ø Wal-Mart replaces broken equipment and other problems with the office such as a leaky ceiling.

Ø You are not able to accept a wide range of insurance as private practice.

....I heard it wasn't as good because you don't get as many patients as you would as if you were in your own private practice. Also, because you can't accept a wide range of insurance, this limits your number of patients. Although it may be true that Walmart can't tell you where to set your examination prices....they do tell you whether or not you can renew your lease, so they'll make "suggestions" for your examination prices, which you might want to consider. Also, I researched and a good Walmart location will make the optometrist roughly 80-85,000 a year...and that's for a good location.

I'm not saying its totally out of the question to work at such places...true, it may be good to start off there to start paying back loans right away, but you wouldn't benefit from staying there too long. Also, there is competition for these corporate optometry positions as well, so if your local store already has one, you might have to end up moving to another county, or state even.

 

[RLK]

I wonder if it would be a lot easier to find a job in the area in which you currently live if you were just getting out of pharmacy school instead of optometry school. Pharmacy and Optometry are both options that I'm considering. I'm just finishing the prerequisite courses now.

 

[Tom_Stickel]

Just curious for those that are already working OD's. Was it difficult to find a job, part time / full time or whatever, after you got out of school.

Cdea,

It wasn't that hard finding a job in the St. Louis area. It wasn't a particularly attractive job, as I was working 5 days a week at two Sam's Clubs, but it paid the bills.

If you're strongly limited by geographic area (e.g. spouse, family), you could be in trouble. If you're flexible as to where you'll move, you'll always be able to find something full time.

Tom Stickel
Indiana U. 2001

 

[soccerfan]

I wonder if it would be a lot easier to find a job in the area in which you currently live if you were just getting out of pharmacy school instead of optometry school. Pharmacy and Optometry are both options that I'm considering. I'm just finishing the prerequisite courses now.

As a practicing Optometrist I would have to admit right now job prospects are better in Pharmacy. However my advice would be to pursue the career that you would be your first choice and don't base it entirely on job prospects.

 

[Ben Chudner]

Cdea,

It wasn't that hard finding a job in the St. Louis area. It wasn't a particularly attractive job, as I was working 5 days a week at two Sam's Clubs, but it paid the bills.

If you're strongly limited by geographic area (e.g. spouse, family), you could be in trouble. If you're flexible as to where you'll move, you'll always be able to find something full time.

Tom Stickel
Indiana U. 2001

Flexibility is the key. If you want to practice in an area that is close to an OD school, the job search will be more difficult. If you are willing to move the search is easier. I am originally from LA, went to school at Berkeley, did residency in Miami, and ended up in a smaller town outside of Seattle. I had no problem finding a job, because I was willing to move to where the jobs were.

 

[scott McGregor]

Flexibility is the key. If you want to practice in an area that is close to an OD school, the job search will be more difficult. If you are willing to move the search is easier. I am originally from LA, went to school at Berkeley, did residency in Miami, and ended up in a smaller town outside of Seattle. I had no problem finding a job, because I was willing to move to where the jobs were.

Dr Chudner offers great advice, flexibility. Another helpful hint is to specialize if you can. I am in a metropolis of over 5 million people, yet there are less than half a dozen of us that fit diseased and damaged corneas (K-conus, scarring, post-op transplants). All I do basically is fit RGP lenses on referrals from MDs. It is a full time practice plus. Another OD just finished this year and is working in our group until license arrives and she is looking to join a VT practice. There are less of them (VT specialists) than corneal-contact lens specialists. It is alot easier to move than become a specialist, but both will create a future.

 

[jchod]

I don't know. I found my dream job. I had several offers too. Really, I had no problems whatsoever!!!!!!! You just have to be aggressive.

 

[kgrabar]

I don't know. I found my dream job. I had several offers too. Really, I had no problems whatsoever!!!!!!! You just have to be aggressive.

Jchod,
I haven't fully figured out what mode of practice I would consider my "dream job," but I still have 4 years of Opt school to figure that out. Can you elaborate on your "dream job?" There are known pros and cons to each style of practice, so I am just curious what you found to be perfect for you and why. Is it based on location, patient demographic, salary, variety of diagnosis to spice up your day, etc.?

 

[Nanoosa7]

I don't know. I found my dream job. I had several offers too. Really, I had no problems whatsoever!!!!!!! You just have to be aggressive.

What area/location did you find your job and the other several job offers you got?

 

[Ben Chudner]

Dr Chudner offers great advice, flexibility. Another helpful hint is to specialize if you can. I am in a metropolis of over 5 million people, yet there are less than half a dozen of us that fit diseased and damaged corneas (K-conus, scarring, post-op transplants). All I do basically is fit RGP lenses on referrals from MDs. It is a full time practice plus. Another OD just finished this year and is working in our group until license arrives and she is looking to join a VT practice. There are less of them (VT specialists) than corneal-contact lens specialists. It is alot easier to move than become a specialist, but both will create a future.

Absolutely correct. If you can offer a practice the ability to expand into a specialty area, you will be very marketable. All of us can spin dials, but there are far fewer that want to do vision therapy, low vision, specialty cl fits, etc.

 

[Nanoosa7]

Does anyone know if it is difficult to find full-time job opportunities in southern cali (LA, orange county, etc.) because I cannot be very flexible with location due to family, etc. All this talk about it being difficult to find jobs once you graduate is making me nervous...i don't want to go thru 4 years of optometry school and not be able to find a job!!

 

[JennyW]

Does anyone know if it is difficult to find full-time job opportunities in southern cali (LA, orange county, etc.) because I cannot be very flexible with location due to family, etc. All this talk about it being difficult to find jobs once you graduate is making me nervous...i don't want to go thru 4 years of optometry school and not be able to find a job!!

You will be able to find a job in that area.

You just might not be able to find a "good" job.

Jenny

 

[Ning]

Hello,

I've heard that there are already many optometrists working in Cali and like Jenny said, it may be difficult to find a good job. They usually have to work several part-time jobs. Perhaps some optometrists from Cali on the forum can shed some light.

This is probably because there are 2 optometry schools in Cali, and that always means more competition. Also, the students in Cali seem to be really into optometry. When I interviewed at other schools, it appeared that a large proportion of out-of-state students came from Cali. Also, when I was taking the OAT last October, there were only like 11 people there. Another person on the forum mentioned there were like 100 or so people when they took it!

Like you, I also would like to remain in Cali after optometry school...I chose Berkeley because I loved Cali. But it would really depend on what types of jobs are out there after graduation.

Ning-Ju

 

[nnamdi67]

Maybe its because i'm from MS...the optometrist at my local walmart makes about 150k. he hasnt been in practice very long either.

 

[ppa93]

Maybe its because i'm from MS...the optometrist at my local walmart makes about 150k. he hasnt been in practice very long either.

are u serious? I will move to MS then haha

 

[nnamdi67]

are u serious? I will move to MS then haha

its really part of what got me going into the profession (of course.lol). the optometrist i know made it clear to me that making between 90 - 150K ( and up) is not difficult in the walmart chains. but you can imagine the number of walmarts in ms.

 

[Ning]

its really part of what got me going into the profession (of course.lol). the optometrist i know made it clear to me that making between 90 - 150K ( and up) is not difficult in the walmart chains. but you can imagine the number of walmarts in ms.

Wow...I thought that chains such as Wal-mart didn't pay that well?? In general, do companies such as D.O.C pay more or the Wal-marts/Sam's club?

With such a high pay (150k), it almost doesn't seem that bad working for a corporations 🙂

Ning-Ju

 

[rpatel79]

I just recently graduated from ICO and I got an offer from Sam's Club in Lexington, KY where I live now with my husband, and I was just wondering if anybody could tell me what I should expect while working there in terms of the business aspect of it all.
thanks
🙂

 

[cpw]

While in school, pick externships in areas you'd be willing to move. I have three standing offers right now (and no, I wont say where til it's final). Work hard, be good at what you do on extern, ask lots of questions, show interest... they won't want you to leave.

 

[Tom_Stickel]

I just recently graduated from ICO and I got an offer from Sam's Club in Lexington, KY where I live now with my husband, and I was just wondering if anybody could tell me what I should expect while working there in terms of the business aspect of it all.
thanks
🙂

Dr. Patel,

You should check out the forums on seniordoc.org. There doctors there who can tell you the good (and bad) of the situation.

Tom Stickel
Indiana U. 2001

 

[TPMOH]

Wow...I thought that chains such as Wal-mart didn't pay that well?? In general, do companies such as D.O.C pay more or the Wal-marts/Sam's club?

With such a high pay (150k), it almost doesn't seem that bad working for a corporations 🙂

Ning-Ju

It's not Walmart that is paying anything towards your salary- you will pay them about 20% of your exam fees and keep the rest, and they will take care of your equipment and techs (at least in the situations that I've heard of). The reason why some ODs make 70K and others make 150K is that the ODs that make 70k see about 10 patients a day and the ones who make 150k see about 20-25 per day on average. I guess there is some variation in the exam fees but I usually see the standard exam fee betw $45-$55. There's probably a lot less ODs per capita in MS verses Columbus, OH for instance, thus the MS ODs have more patients on average.

 

[ucbsowarrior]

Just curious for those that are already working OD's. Was it difficult to find a job, part time / full time or whatever, after you got out of school.

Job are easy to come by, but are highly dependent on local conditions - so this question is too broad......, but a lot of more experienced docs (not all of the) are looking to give you the suckers deal! So beware of where their interest lies and if the deal is symbiotic.

 

[foureyes2020]

does anyone have any suggestions of a good way to determine how much optometrist are making in a particular city? I'm a current optometry student and i have a few places in mind that i would like to practice but not sure of a good way to start narrowing down my options.

While I'm posting this........ if there are any optometrist practicing in the chattanooga and north georgia area? i would greatly appreciate if you could PM so that i could ask a few questions, i will be in the area for the remainder of the summer.