Finding the dream job can be one of the most difficult and frustrating steps after graduation. As an optometry student you spend all your waking hours for the purpose of earning the coveted optometry diploma. Once you graduate you study, fret, and pace thinking about the state boards you must now pass. Then you will worry about where you are going to practice as an optometrist. Unfortunately, your priorities are somewhat backwards. It is important for you to jump through the hoops described above but without a prearranged associate agreement you are left wondering through the help wanted section in the back of the optometry journal or searching through Optometry’s Career Center on the AOA website.
Here are a few thoughts to put into practice prior to graduation.
- Caught not Taught – Many people are born with the ability to talk to anyone. They are the ones that own that own the room in any social setting.
They slip into and out of conversations with multiple people leaving the impression that they are the most caring and thoughtful individual. For most of us, this is not the case. For most of us, the thought of striking up a conversation from nothing is as frightening as public speaking. For most of us, we
approach someone with the typical small talk that leads to silence which leads to uncomfortable panic, which leads to destroyed confidence. If you are the “most of us” take a lesson from parenting. In parenting most of your values and priorities are caught not taught. Find that magical networker and hang out with them. Ask them if you can just observe and learn how they effortlessly make small talk that connects. - Follow up- Many students and new ODs that ask me how they can have the best chance to land their dream job. I tell them that when they meet an OD at a meeting or in passing, they should ask for a card and email a follow-up message to the OD. The email should include a thank you for taking the time to visit with them, an “I hope we have a chance to meet again,” and a brief bio of what you are looking for in a job. THEN, in your to do list, put a reminder to email them a follow-up 3-6 months just to touch base. Your network will grow and grow giving you many connections for future employment.
- Become Known – Your 4th year of optometry school is too late. Most practices know if they will need another optometrist within the next 5 years. If you are in your last year of undergraduate school you should start looking for where you may potentially practice. When you shadow practicing ODs you not only learn what optometry practice is all about, you become known. Our current associate shadowed myself before she went into optometry school and she went to another practice out of school. We did not have an interest and she was onto other plans. Amazingly, the need for an associate came up and who came to mind first? You guessed it, she did.
It is important that new graduates find jobs to enter into the field of optometry. Too many times, practicing optometrists, like myself, are guarded in helping the new ODs find a job. We need to work together to continue to grow opportunities in optometry. We all become stronger when we work together. Please leave comments regarding your experience in finding an optometry job.
i m realy proud of my self that i m becoming the part of AOA
i m realiy happy!!