You have worked extremely hard to graduate from Optometry School and you should be excited, but the uncertainty of your career path can come with tremendous anxiety. As a new optometrist, it is important to understand the different options you have after graduation and what steps to take to start your career. Here are some things to consider as you evaluate your options for the future.
Know Your Career Options
What kind of setting would you be happiest working in? There are potential positives and negatives associated with each depending on your preferences, so it is important that you do your research on the different career options. In order to gain insight, do your research online, talk to other optometrists in the field, and visit the resource center at your Optometry school. For additional resources, check out OD Grad-Connect on Local Eye Site. These are opportunities exclusive to graduating Optometry Students from employers on Local Eye Site.
- Corporate/Commercial Opportunities: Optometrists are employed by large, established corporations to provide eye care or perform clinical research
- Independent Private Practice: An individual primary care optometrist starts a business and has a stand alone practice
- Group/Partnership Practice: Similar to an individual private practice, but there are two or more optometrists who may specialize in a different area of optometry
- Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs): An optometrist in an HMO is usually contracted or employed as the primary eye care provider amongst a group of other primary health care practitioners.
- Ophthalmic Practices: Partnering with an ophthalmologist to work with a shared client base
- Military/Public Health: Optometrists are commissioned and work in a hospital or clinical setting (such as Veteran’s Affairs) amongst other health care providers
- Academia: Optometrist preforms research in a university setting or teaches optometry students
Consider a Residency
If you are interested in diving deeper than full-scope optometry, then a residency may be for you. According to the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), a residency is a program of post-O.D. clinical education that enhances an optometrists experience in a specific area. A residency gives you invaluable exposure to a specialty that can put you a step ahead of your peers. On the other hand, an additional year of schooling and a fraction of the pay that comes along with having a residency aren’t always favorable. If you choose to pursue a residency, you will be able to practice supervised clinical eye care and self-directed learning in one of the recommended titles:
- Family Practice Optometry
- Primary Eye Care
- Cornea and Contact Lenses
- Geriatric Optometry
- Pediatric Optometry
- Low Vision Rehabilitation
- Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation
- Ocular Disease
- Refractive and Ocular Surgery
- Community Health Optometry
- Brian Injury Vision Rehabilitation
If you are interested in pursuing this option, Optometry Residency Match (OR Match) is an excellent resource to help you find and apply for one. If you still aren’t sure, check out www.opted.org for more information on residencies.
What’s Next? Find & Apply for Jobs!
As a graduating optometry student, you will want to invest plenty of time preparing your resume/CV, developing your personal brand, and narrowing down your options about what to do after college. If you are ready to apply for jobs, visit localeyesite.com and find some jobs that align with your goals and preferences. Once you make your Job Seeker account, you will want to take the following steps to help you attain the job of your dreams:
- Submit a Resume or CV. Not sure which one? Read this.
- Consider including a personalized cover letter with each application
- Tip: Keep a document or spreadsheet updated with what position you applied to, the resume and cover letter you submitted, dates of contact, and whether or not you have sent a follow-up or thank you letter. If you get a call from an employer, you can easily pull up this document and know exactly what position you applied to and what you have submitted to them so far.
- Follow up with Thank You emails when employers take the time to talk to you
- Prepare and practice for interviews. Dress professionally, do your research, and ask the right questions.
It is important to realize that, as with many careers, you are not going to start out with your dream job or pay. It takes time, hard work, and experience to make your way to the top. The beauty is that you have options, and if you find yourself unhappy with one path, you can always change it.
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Sources: https://www.opted.org/about-optometric-education/residency-programs/faqs-about-residencies https://www.opted.org/about-optometric-education/residency-programs/optometric-residency-titles-descriptions https://www.opted.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/EyesHaveIt_CareerGuide.pdf https://www.aoa.org/Documents/students/residency_manual_08_2014.pdf https://www.newgradoptometry.com/new-graduate-optometrist-guide-job-searching/