Local Eye Site Blog — Connecting You to the Latest News in Eye Care Employment

Prevent Blindness America Elects Four New Members To National Board of Directors

by LocalEyeSite on November 20, 2012

CHICAGO (Nov. 20, 2012) – Prevent Blindness America, the nation’s oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization, has announced that Patricia L. Davis, MD, owner and CEO of Progressive Eye Care, Brad McCorkle, founder of Local Eye Site, Richard P. Mills, MD, president of Glaucoma Consultants Northwest, and James Shyer, COO of Zyloware Eyewear, have been elected to the Prevent Blindness America Board of Directors. The vote was held on Nov. 3 at the 2012 PBA Annual Board Meeting in Chicago.

Dr. Davis has dedicated her career to the advancement of eye health treatments and programs for children. In addition to her years of treating patients in private practice, including her current role as the owner and CEO of Progressive Eye Care in Lisle, Ill., she has conducted various vision research projects and has had her work published in a variety of leading medical journals. She currently serves as a clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at Loyola University Chicago and has volunteered on multiple medical missions in Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and Peru. By joining the Prevent Blindness America Board of Directors, she will be focused on advancing pediatric access to care, improved access to continued care for people with chronic eye conditions and encouraging the general public to take better care of their eyes through preventative measures.

Brad McCorkle is the founder of Local Eye Site and heads the business development, and sales and marketing departments for the business. Local Eye Site is an online employment community that connects eyecare industry professionals, practices, groups and vision care organizations to recruit online for ophthalmologists, optometrists, technicians, opticians, administrators, contact lens techs, optical salespeople and other positions. McCorkle served on the Prevent Blindness North Carolina Board of Directors for more than six years and joins the PBA Board of Directors to provide his expertise and guidance specifically for marketing and social media practices.

Dr. Mills, president of Glaucoma Consultants Northwest, has a long and distinguished career in the field of ophthalmology with more than 140 published books and articles. He has also served as emeritus director and past-president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Today, he serves as the chairperson of the AAO’s EyeCare America and editor of EyeNet Magazine. Dr. Mills is a former PBA Board Member and has returned to serve an additional term to help advance the organization’s mission.

James Shyer, COO of Zyloware Eyewear, has more than two decades of experience in the optical industry, including 19 years with Zyloware Eyewear. Today, his work focuses on sales and distribution, expanding the company’s presence in major retailers, opening new international markets and growing the domestic sales force. He is the chairman of the Board of Directors for The Vision Council and past chairman of the eyewear and accessories division

“As 2012 comes to a close, we are excited to continue our work led by our esteemed Board of Directors,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America. “By Dr. Patty Davis, Brad McCorkle, Dr. Richard Mills and James Shyer joining us, we look forward to their guidance and valuable expertise to help us continue our sight-saving work.”

For more information on Prevent Blindness America or general eye health information, please call (800) 331-2020 or visit preventblindness.org.

About Prevent Blindness America

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness America touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates and regional offices, Prevent Blindness America is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020. Or, visit us on the web at preventblindness.org or facebook.com/preventblindness.

About Local Eye Site

Local Eye Site, the premier employment website for eyecare professionals, enables practices, groups and vision care organizations to recruit online for ophthalmologists, optometrists, technicians, opticians, administrators, contact lens techs, optical salespeople and other positions. After openings are posted on localeyesite.com, jobs are automatically posted and/or promoted on the websites of the organizations in the LES Power Network, including 20/20, Vision Monday, Review of Optometry, Review of Optometric Business, Review of Ophthalmology, SightNation, ATPO, JCAHPO, ASORN, OWL and other associations and web destinations.

Source: https://www.preventblindness.org/pba-elects-new-board-members

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November Featured Employer: Warby Parker Eyewear

by LocalEyeSite on November 14, 2012

At Local Eye Site, we really appreciate all of our great employers. Every month, one employer is highlighted as a Featured Employer to give you - the job seeker - a little more insight into the types of employers who are hiring in the eye care industry. Whether it’s a new company looking to hire for the first time, an established employer who’s been around the hiring block once or twice, or a well-known company with ongoing hiring needs - they all have one thing in common: They need quality people like YOU to get the job done! Check back here each month for a new featured employer, but first allow us to introduce this month’s LES featured employer:

Warby Parker is a good employer for a number of reasons. For one, they’ve got a great corporate culture - something everyone can appreciate. If you visit their website, you’ll notice right away that they take their jobs very seriously while working to create a corporate culture that speaks to the individual as well as the company as a whole. Corporate culture is a major element of a good job, so its important that a company has a good corporate culture in order to attract quality employers. Likewise, job seekers should consider corporate culture when searching and applying for jobs that interest them.

Another reason this company would make a good employer is a simple one - they care. The folks at Warby Parker have a humanitarian approach to the eyewear retail market. When one pair of glasses is purchased, they send another pair to those in need oceans away through a non-profit known as VisionSpring. A fascinating endeavor, and something that can definitely catch the eye of a job seeker.

So there you have it! November’s Featured Employer - Warby Parker Eyewear in New York, NY. If you would like more information about Warby Parker, or to apply for one of their available positions on Local Eye Site, then we encourage you to check out their Featured Employer page. Who knows, you may just be the one they’re looking for!

Search Open Positions at Warby Parker

*Note: The monthly Featured Employer Program is a paid advertisement, and doesn’t necessarily reflect the opinions of Local Eye Site, LLC.

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Local Eye Site Brings Eye Care Jobs to JCAHPO & ATPO Meeting

by LocalEyeSite on November 13, 2012

This past weekend, Local Eye Site ventured to the great city of Chicago for the 2012 JCAHPO & ATPO Annual Continuing Education Program and AAO Annual Meeting. This year’s meeting showcased a variety of lectures, workshops, sub-specialty sessions, certification exam review sessions, and exhibitions for Eye Care Professionals in Ophthalmology. During the meeting, we had several opportunities to reconnect with many of our closest friends in the industry - all while making new connections with some of the country’s most esteemed professionals in Ophthalmology. We even gave away a cool new pair of folding Ray-Bans to one lucky winner! Our winner, Rene Angeles, (pictured below) was clearly very excited to take home his new shades.

In the midst of all the excitement, our very own Brad McCorkle had the privilege of speaking at the Ophthalmic Women Leaders‘ ”Quick Career Insights” session at the AAO Meeting. He delivered some excellent talking points to a receptive audience on how they could use LinkedIn for professional networking online, building their personal brand, and opening doors for advancing their career in eye care. We also had the opportunity to speak to several attendees who stopped by our booth to talk about eye care jobs, career advancement opportunities, and ways job seekers could leverage their experience and skills to find jobs in the eye care industry. Since Local Eye Site powers the ATPO Career Connection website, we were able to demonstrate how quick and easy it is to search online for available opportunities in Ophthalmology for eye care professionals through ATPO and Local Eye Site.

Overall, we had an outstanding time in Chicago. We are most of all grateful to our friends at JCAHPO, ATPO, AAO and OWL for their hospitality and hard work in putting this whole experience together. We hope to see you all again soon, but know that in the meantime we’re going to be hard at work bringing quality jobs and career opportunities to all eye care professionals. See you in 2013!

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5 Important Things To Know Before Using LinkedIn

by LocalEyeSite on November 12, 2012

How to Get Started Networking Online

As technology continues to provide new ways for us to communicate in both our social and professional circles, there are some things everyone should keep in mind when it comes to professional networking online. Here are 5 main points we suggest you consider before you get started using LinkedIn or any other professional networking website.

1. Networking online can impact your personal brand (positively and negatively) – Always keep a clean and professional profile (this includes picture), join the right groups that reflect your interests, and connect with colleagues in your field whom you’ve been properly introduced to or know in person. LinkedIn is a great way to display your talents, career goals, motivations, and professional expertise in a tasteful yet transparent manner. This can lead to a stronger personal brand and professional reputation.

2. Networking online allows you to keep up with new and former colleagues – This is something that LinkedIn is really good for, and that’s keeping in touch with important connections that you can benefit from down the road. Don’t be afraid to ask for LinkedIn recommendations or endorsements from former or current colleagues – and don’t be stingy with your endorsements as well.

3. Networking online is not just for the Job Search – Although it is widely used for career movement, don’t abuse the privilege of being connected online by only using LinkedIn when you need something (like a career change or a favor). Try to engage with your connections every now and then by posting interesting content, inviting them to in-person networking events (or a quick drink if you’re going to be in their area while traveling). Believe it or not, the personal touch still matters more than an online presence. How would you feel if someone only talked to you when they needed something?

4. Networking online is similar to (but not quite like) networking in-person - When you attend a networking event, you typically prepare to put your best foot forward. Online networking, however, is like a perpetual networking event on the Internet. This implies that you should always put your best foot forward by minding your manners, always trying to bring something interesting to the table (as in, post meaningful content) and above all, staying professional and respecting others. Even if you aren’t logged in, others can still see what’s on your profile page, so be mindful of that.

5. Networking online is necessary in today’s business climate – Like it or not, online networking is here to stay. Your boss is online, your colleagues are online, and your customers are online. Not maintaining an online professional presence won’t mean the end of your career, but you could be missing out on a wealth of knowledge, connections, and opportunities you would never get to otherwise experience elsewhere.

Being new to the online networking scene can bring about an overwhelming feeling. Begin networking today with Local Eye Site on LinkedIn if you need a place to start!

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Job Search Tips for Eye Care Professionals: Tip #2 - 5 Rules for Preparing a Resume or CV

by LocalEyeSite on October 23, 2012

Let’s face it. Finding a job - regardless of your level of experience - can be a challenging task. In this blog series, we plan to equip you with the power to land the job of your dreams with 10 helpful tips for the job-seeking ECP. Let’s get started!

Job Search Tip #2: 5 Essential Rules for Preparing a Rock Solid Resume or CV

Building a solid Resume or CV is one of the most important steps you can take in making sure that you are adequately prepared for a successful job search. Every detail, from font to format, is an important element in making your Resume or CV effectively work to get you that coveted interview. That’s why we’ve put together these 5 essential rules as a guide to help you in this important step.

Rule 1: Choose a Format

Before you begin, you need to decide what type of document you plan to create. If you’re searching for an administrative, sales, or other office-type position, a functional or reverse-chronological Resume might be the best option for presenting the most important information about your experience and work history. If you’re searching for a position that requires medical credentials, then a Curriculum Vitae may be the more desirable option - since many employers require a CV rather than or in addition to a Resume for these types of positions. Of course, it’s always best to figure out beforehand what type of document a certain employer wants from you before you submit your application.

Rule 2: Pay Attention to Detail

Paying attention to detail is critical to writing an effective Resume or CV. Always proofread your Resume to ensure that your document is free of spelling and grammatical errors before submitting it to a potential employer. Likewise, be sure to pay attention to spacing, headers, and fonts when constructing your document. Although these things may not seem very important, they can make a big impact in the hiring process when the time comes for a hiring manager to read your document. Small font sizes, improper formatting, and spelling errors don’t typically work in favor of someone who is looking to be taken seriously in the hiring process, regardless of your experience and expertise.

Rule 3: Speak Their Language

When preparing your Resume or CV for a specific job, make sure you scan the job description for key words or phrases the employer is looking for in a potential hire. By aligning the employer’s key words with your experience and skills in your document, you are leveraging your work history to better reflect your level of compatibility with that particular position. In other words, using key words in your Resume or CV will help you establish a better connection with a potential employer because you are essentially speaking their language.

Rule 4: Sell, Sell, Sell!

Even if you’re not searching for a sales position, your Resume or CV needs to speak on your behalf when you’re not in the room to explain yourself to a hiring manager. When writing your document, use content that will highlight your skills and talents to generate more interviews and - ideally - more job offers. This means being short, sweet, and to-the-point in your explanations to successfully demonstrate to a potential employer that you are qualified for the job.

Rule 5: First Things First

As a final rule on writing an effective Resume or CV, we recommend that you highlight the most important information on your document first. This means prioritizing your skills, work history, and experience in your document to catch the attention of hiring managers within the first few seconds of their review. By highlighting your best qualities first, you’re allowing a potential employer to get a good first impression of you without making them dig for it.

Overall, your Resume or CV is the first time an employer will learn about who you are and what you’re all about when they’re trying to make a quick hiring decision. By following these simple rules, you can create a document that will highlight your experience, demonstrate your professionalism, and ultimately prove you’re qualified to do the job you applied for.

Ready to submit your Resume or CV? Then register on Local Eye Site today and apply for your dream job in eye care today!

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LES Featured Employer of the Month: St. Luke’s Cataract and Laser Institute

by LocalEyeSite on October 15, 2012

St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute is a good employer for a number of reasons. For one, they care a great deal about their patients. The folks at St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute are dedicated to maintaining a high standard of care while keeping costs low for their patients - which is no easy achievement. They also place a great deal of value on patient education. In addition to the information available on their website, St. Luke’s supplies patients with printed information and videos while also offering weekly eye surgery seminars for patients who wish to learn more about certain procedures.

Another reason why St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute is a good employer to consider during your job search is that they also care deeply about their staff. As one of the largest freestanding ambulatory eye care centers in the United States, the staff at St. Luke’s serve patients in four Florida locations: Tarpon Springs, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Spring Hill, and Bayonet Point. With a high level of care in multiple locations, it’s evident that St. Luke’s is not only an attractive eye care institution for patients, but is also a great place to work as well - since they need a great staff to attract such a high volume of patients. They’re also a member of the Tampa Bay Eye Care Network, an educational, nonprofit organization established in 1993. Members include hundreds of optometrists throughout the state of Florida. The network holds yearly medical conferences where attendees receive continuing education credits, so staff members will always be able to continue growing in their profession while on staff at St. Luke’s.

So there you have it! October’s Featured Employer - St. Luke’s Cataract and Laser Institute with four locations in sunny Florida. If you would like more information about St. Luke’s Cataract and Laser Institute, or to apply for one of their available positions on Local Eye Site, then we encourage you to check out their job postings here on LES. Who knows, you may just be the one they’re looking for!

Search Open Positions at St. Luke’s Cataract and Laser Institute

*Note: The monthly Featured Employer Program is a paid advertisement, and doesn’t necessarily reflect the opinions of Local Eye Site, LLC.

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Using Social Media To Make The Right Impression

by LocalEyeSite on October 12, 2012

Originally published in OWL eNews September 24, 2012

Social networking sites have dramatically changed the nature and frequency of our online activity and personal interactions. They have similarly shaped our professional interactions and the means by which we connect with colleagues and customers.

For better or worse, there is little doubt that social media and social networking sites will have an important role to play in your career and professional life. As much as they can be used to connect us, these online tools may also be leveraged as a means to create and shape a personal online brand.

While each business may have a different marketing strategy when it comes to utilizing social media, as an individual you will have the power to generate your own online persona. Because sites like Facebook and LinkedIn are some of the first places colleagues and acquaintances go to learn more about you, this presents a unique opportunity to control the image you project. Crafting a thoughtful profile on either of these sites will give you the chance to tell your own story regarding your talents, interests, and aspirations.

Getting out in front of your online presence can help you shape the impression you want to make, but in some cases, having no online presence at all could take a negative effect. According to Forbes, people increasingly make a “negative assumption” about individuals who are not on Facebook. Fair or not, the reality is that more and more, maintaining some online presence is the norm.

Even the paper résumé as we know it may be disappearing as employers expect to find you online before meeting you in person.

“Whether you’re in the midst of a job search, establishing a professional network or simply keeping up with friends and colleagues, LinkedIn is an excellent tool for building your personal brand online,” notes Steven Squires, director of marketing at Local Eye Site.

Creating an online brand means conveying a consistent message about who are as a professional. This can go further than the description on your profile, too. By sharing links, comments, recommendations, and more you can establish yourself as a thoughtful arbiter and disseminator of knowledge within your profession.

Sites such as LinkedIn can also present unique opportunities for you to reach out and connect with potential clients or customers directly. It isn’t always possible to gain an introduction with someone in person or over the phone. LinkedIn has become a natural place for like-minded professionals to connect with each other on topics of mutual interest. Making direct connections this way won’t always be effective from a sales perspective, but keeping this avenue available is important. It could represent an opportunity to make a key connection that wouldn’t otherwise be available to you.

One of the most commonly cited reasons for not getting online is the concern for intrusions of privacy. Today though, most sites have security features and privacy settings that are familiar and manageable. Often, you can set your profile to be viewable only by users you approve. Choose the privacy level with which you’re most comfortable. It’s wise not to broadcast too much personal information online, but you can still craft a professional profile that can serve as the basis for interacting and sharing with others.

The extent to which you engage with social media is certainly up to you, but it is smart to understand the possible impact your online brand can make. Your ability to network and create your own online brand can help you forge new connections and establish your credibility within your profession. Creating an online brand may help you land a job, gain a new client, or keep you in touch with the latest news and information within your field. As more of our personal and professional interactions move online, keep an eye to what message you’re choosing to convey.

OWL on Facebook
OWL on LinkedIn

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World Sight Day 2012

by LocalEyeSite on October 11, 2012

Today is World Sight Day 2012! World Sight Day (WSD) is an international day of awareness, held annually on the second Thursday of October, to focus attention on the global issue of avoidable blindness and visual impairment. As an organization who is dedicated to employment in the eye care industry, all of us at Local Eye Site would like to show how much we appreciate the Eye Care Professionals who work tirelessly to help prevent blindness and treat vision impairment (and those who hire them). To show our support, we vow to donate 10% of the proceeds of any new job post purchased today to OneSight, a non-profit organization committed to providing clear vision to millions in need through the hand-delivery of primary vision care and eyewear. Help us in our collective effort to restore vision to the world. Hire your next qualified ECP through Local Eye Site, and know that a portion of what you spend today will go to a great cause!

Definition and Image Source: https://www.vision2020.org/

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Big Winners at Vision Expo West with LES

by LocalEyeSite on September 12, 2012

With Vision Expo West not far in our hindsight, we can finally begin to recap some of the most exciting moments experienced at the Local Eye Site booth during the show. Although everyone was a winner who pulled that tantalizing lever on the Job Search Jackpot Slot Machine, a lucky few walked away with some awesome prizes including two new pairs of Ray-Ban Sunglasses donated by Luxottica, an Amazon Gift Card and Prize Pack from VisionWeb, and a few Free Job Postings from Local Eye Site. Here are a few photos of our team with the winners of our Large Prizes:

Our first Big Prize Winner was Judy Klein with Klein Specialties! She won a pair of Ray-Bans courtesy of Luxottica.

Our first Large Prize Winner was Judy Klein with Klein Specialties! She won a pair of Ray-Bans courtesy of Luxottica.

Our 2nd Big Prize Winner was Dr. Alan Schaeffer who won some Ray-Bans courtesy of Luxottica!

Our 2nd Large Prize Winner was Dr. Alan Schaeffer who won some Ray-Bans courtesy of Luxottica.

Our third Big Prize Winner was Eye Care Professional Michelle Pross! She won an Amazon Gift Card courtesy of VisionWeb.

Our third Large Prize Winner was Eye Care Professional Michelle Pross! She won an Amazon Gift Card & Prize Pack courtesy of VisionWeb.

There were also a few lucky employers who walked away with a Free Job Posting from Local Eye Site that are not pictured above. So if you’re a job-seeker, get ready to see a bunch of new jobs on Local Eye Site in the coming days!

Although many walked away from our booth with some sort of prize, we wish we could say someone won the $10,000 Grand Prize. Unfortunately, lady luck was the only one who didn’t stop by our booth at the show, so the $10k went unclaimed this time around - which means someone will have to win it next time! Until then, we would like to congratulate all of our winners once again and thank everyone for stopping by our booth during Vision Expo West! We had a great time getting to know you, and we hope you had as much fun as we did playing the Job Search Jackpot!

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OAA and LES Ink Deal on Recruitment Listings

by LocalEyeSite on September 12, 2012

Lakeland, TN (September 7th, 2012) – The Optician’s Association of America (OAA) announced today that it will join Local Eye Site’s LES Power Network effective November 1, 2012. The LES Power Network is the leading online job site for the eye care and eyewear industry.

Recruitment advertising that is placed with LES or through one of the 22 Power Network partners, will now appear on the OAA website Career Center. LES features online application posting & processing, the ability to search by state and by position and delivers massive exposure through the Power Network with over 100,000 monthly visitors.

“The new career center will simplify the job search process, said Chris Allen - Executive Director of the OAA, and better connect employers and employees with up-to-date employment opportunities. This new ‘one stop’ location to advertise optician jobs will be a great value to optical shops and eye care practices across the country and at the same time provide our members with a simple, efficient and user friendly source whether looking for qualified employees or seeking new opportunities for themselves.”

Since its founding in 2007, LES has experienced tremendous growth. A partnership with Jobson Medical Information announced in the summer of 2010 greatly enhanced the scope of the LES Power Network. The addition of the OAA brings the total number of LES Power Network sites to twenty-three.

“We are thrilled to be powering the job center for the OAA,” said Brad McCorkle, Founder of LES. “This partnership will enhance our exposure within the professional community of Opticians, which will mean even better recruiting results for LES customers recruiting Opticians.” Local Eye Site is the premier online employment site for all eye care professionals. Local Eye Site is more than a destination recruiting site; LES is the engine that powers online recruiting for the entire eye care industry.

OAA is the only national organization representing opticianry’s business, professional, educational, legislative and regulatory interests. OAA’s mission is to promote and expand opticianry by being the single unified voice of America’s Opticians.

Check out this Press Release in VisionMonday by clicking here.

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