If you are in the thick of exams, good luck! It may be hard to see beyond the next test. But if you are planning to head for the world of work once all the stress is behind you, there’s a great future waiting in the world of eyecare.
If you like working with people and have strong communication skills becoming an optical assistant in an opticians is a good starting point. Customer service experience is helpful but not essential. The most important quality is being willing to learn. Find out more in a week in the life of optical assistant Thomas.
If technology is your passion, think about becoming a lab tech – an optical laboratory technician. This job is all about making spectacles.
Both these roles can be apprenticeships – more info here. You can improve your knowledge and skills with structured training, turning a job into a career.
A business apprenticeship is another great option. Meet Yassin to find out more. You deal with customers and suppliers and use business systems and programmes such as Excel.
In any of these jobs, you can earn while you learn with online study and day release or block release courses. You can go on to become a dispensing optician or an optometrist. If you lean towards business, there are roles in management where you can study while working and gain recognised qualifications.
Take the first step by finding work experience at an opticians. Contact a local practice and ask if you can spend a day there. Good luck!