The Job Search 🙈
Searching for optometry jobs doesn't begin where you think it does. In this ebook, learn where to search for jobs that others don't.
The Resume 🚨
Your resume is likely pretty crummy and lacks the terminology needed to really make an employer take notice of you!
The Interview 🤦♂️
Fourth-year optometry students forget how important it is to talk about revenue, growth, and performance in a job interview.
The Negotiation 🤝
So you got offered $96,500 but want $100,000 in annual compensation? We'll tell you how to negotiate like a pro!
“The first step in my job search process was reading this ebook. Without clear and easy to understand advice on goal setting and negotiation, I would have settled for good enough instead of working toward (and achieving) great.”
Steven Turpin, OD
Pacific University College of Optometry
Class of 2017
Pacific University College of Optometry
Class of 2017
Get the best job, not any job!
Would you ever consider putting the same amount of effort that you put into studying for the NBEO Part 1 into finding your 1st optometry job? Most people wouldn't approach it with the same tenacity, but you should.
Our eBook is going to show you how! Start the download now!
One of the first steps in the optometry job search is building a solid resume. A resume is usually a 1-page document that summarizes your credentials:
- Education
- Work history
- Accomplishments
- Skills
Be careful not to confuse this for a CV (or curriculum vitae) which contains the same information, but is a chronicle of your entire experience, and may be several pages in length. It can be challenging deciding on what and what not to include in a resume. In order to help, we created ResumeRobot, a free tool that uses artificial intelligence to provide actionable feedback your resume. So be sure to utilize this tool as you begin working on your resume!
As you begin writing your resume, here are some things to consider.
- Contact Information: A mailing address is typically not needed anymore, nor are multiple contact numbers. You should have a professional email address by this point!
- Education: Schools attended, location, graduation year, degree obtained, concentration (GPA can be left out unless you are a new graduate and your GPA was truly exceptional).
- Work Experience: Employer name, location, dates worked, title and description of duties.
- Clinical experience: Clinic name, location, dates and care provided (this section can be very important depending on the potential employer). This could be a good place to highlight specialty externships and residencies outside of your primary care experience.
- Organization Memberships and Leadership Roles: Include membership and roles in optometric societies, clubs or groups that demonstrate your initiative and experience.
- Honors / Awards: Here you can include scholarships, grants, certificates, and other special honors that have been publicly recognized.
- Additional Skills
- Languages
- Additional certifications aside from your O.D. license. (Business degrees, etc.)
Formatting and targeting your resume is a critical step in having a successful resume. To find out more, download the eBook! 📕
After you've applied for a job and been looked at favorably by the employer, chances are you will be invited in for an interview! Interviewing just might be the most important part of the optometry job search. You could be the smartest optometry student on the planet, but if you lack social skills, a potential employer might be inclined to overlook you for a job.
Important Social Skills
- Keeping things friendly, but still acting professionally
- Picking up on subtleties in body language and voice tone
- Creating a personal vibe and professional vibe
- Portraying cultural adeptness without stating it explicitly
- Changing your tone and language to match the person you are speaking to
- Using the right terminology
Qualities of a Great Interviewee
- Iterates key points backed by examples
- Can utilize voice tone and modulation to convey emotion and feeling
- Uses body language, rather than words, to be expressive
- Can share quick, exciting stories to back up experiences
- Can talk about what they want to bring to a job, beyond just filling requirements
- Can connect to an interviewer on a deeper level with questions as to why and not just about how
- Lets answers come organically rather than worrying about rehearsing answers
- Is extremely expressive and not monotonous
Hang on! We can't give you all the gems right now... To learn more great social skills, interviewee qualities, dress code, and questions to ask, just download the eBook! 👍
So you've put together that resume, interviewed, and finally received an offer. Now it's time to understand your contract and negotiate!
This step isn't always the most clear-cut in the optometry job search. Your offer might have everything want and you may be completely satisfied already. Your offer might be nearly perfect and you may just want to iron out a few small details. Or, your offer might be entirely the opposite of what you were expecting, and it might be time to prepare for some serious negotiation!
Here are some important details to pay attention to while you look over your contract:
- Salary
- Benefits
- Performance Plan / Bonuses, and how this will be tracked
- Malpractice Insurance
- Continuing Education Allowance
- Time Off
- Hours
- Employee status vs Independent Contractor
This is an opportunity to show the value you can bring to your employer and negotiate the type of contract you desire. Chances are, your hours are probably set in stone and unlikely to be flexible all that much, especially when working at a standard optometric practice. Some smaller practices might offer more flexibility. When it comes to negotiating salary, you'll need to understand if it is fair and coincides with the market value in your area. One way to find out is ask local colleagues and classmates where they fall in terms of compensation.
If your salary is below expectations, then you'll either have to accept it, or negotiate it immediately.
But if you want our top tips on exactly how to squeeze out that extra $10,000 in compensation, then stop reading and start downloading! Everything you want is in the eBook! 👩💻
Here's What You'll Learn 🎓
🕵️♀️ The Optometrist Job Search
- Finding jobs
- Aligning with life goals
- When to search
- How to search
- How to spend your time
- Finding jobs in saturated areas
📄 The Optometrist Resume
- Writing a good resume
- Resume effectiveness
- Resume complexity
- Free resume tools
- Making more than a resume
- Hybrid business plan resumes
💬 The Optometrist Interview
- Skills of top candidates
- Social skills
- Qualities of good candidates
- Spy work and research
- 11 interview questions
- Body language and voice
🤝 The Optometrist Negotiation
- Closing the deal
- Negotiating a raise
- Negotiating benefits
- Getting what you’re worth
- Compensation vs. value
- Scripts and videos
🎓
Download the updated version of The Simple Guide to Optometry Jobs right now!
Get the edge over other 4th year optometry graduates!
