Introduction Work experience plays a vital part in preparing young people for their future careers. It’s an opportunity for them to step outside the classroom and, for many, a chance to see the world of work for the very first time. It can build confidence and be the first thing to go on a CV. Employers really can benefit from the exchange, as running effective work experience programmes can provide great opportunities for developing staff, engaging with new ideas and future customers –…
Lucy Knock BA MA PGCE is the Early Careers Manager, Clinical Services for Specsavers. Part of her role involves inspiring the next generation of eyecare professionals, talking to students at schools and colleges, and in this article she shares her tips. Firstly, if you are talking to young people about careers in eyecare, show, and really demonstrate, how STEM impacts our everyday lives. You could show how an OCT scan picks up subtle changes in layers of the retina allowing…
Work experience is not only for school students, you can complete work experience if you are in college, university and beyond. It is a great addition to your CV and can help you build skills and confidence. Talk to teachers, lecturers and even friends about work experience opportunities. If you want to find out more about working in an optician’s practice, give your local optician a call. Many of them are happy to help. Download a work experience handbook here…
Experience a day in the life of a pre-reg optometry student as Charlotte walks you through her day. Being organised is essential as she juggles revision, assessment preparations, and her daily clinics. Have you ever wondered what a pre-reg optometry student gets up to on a typical day? We caught up with Charlotte Acton to find out. My daily routine… I set up my test room first thing in the morning and then look through my patient list for the day. After the daily team briefing, I catch up with my supervisor to discuss my…
What is STEM? STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines: ScienceTechnology EngineeringMathematics STEM education in the UK has grown in recent years as a curriculum that aims to skill students by presenting a cohesive learning platform that based on real-world applications. It underpins the foundational stage of many sectors, including healthcare, and is often integral to an organisation and thus is becoming an ever-more important field for students. What is a STEM Ambassador? Aged 17+ and at…
If you would like a medical career, there are many options open to you. Becoming a doctor or nurse are two careers that most people might think of, but there are plenty of other people working in a hospital too. Read on to discover some of the wide range of careers in healthcare where you might work in a hospital. For your first role, why not start as a health care assistant? Your role is to help patients feel as…
There just might be a job for everyone in eye care and eye wear: read on to find a job to suit you. Love technology? Become a lab technician or dispensing optician and you can find out all about lenses and the latest technology to fit and glaze spectacles. There are jobs and careers in optical manufacturing too: you could work on lens design and help thousands of people see better, through thinner, lighter spectacle lenses. Love fashion? Start as…
Have you thought about becoming an apprentice? It’s a great way to start work, gain experience and get a qualification too. Working in eyecare is a great career for a range of people: there are jobs for you if you are interested in fashion, retail, science, technology, health and business. Read on to find the answers to your questions about apprenticeships. What apprenticeships are available in the eyecare sector? There are two apprenticeships are available in the eyecare sector: Optical assistantSpectacle…
ABDO has won the 'Best Newcomer' award for its Careers in Eyecare campaign from Youth Employment UK (YEUK). The Career in Eyecare campaign promotes careers across the sector, highlighting the range of clinical, fashion, design, technical and retail roles available. It was launched in 2020, and maximises the use of social media to reach out to young people, parents and careers advisers, and those looking to change career. YEUK made the award at its Annual Impact & Awards Event. There…
Area of focusSTEM CareersLesson plan titleSTEM Careers in EyecareTime needed60 minutesYear groupYear 10+Lesson plan overviewStudents will research a range of eyecare careers linked to STEM subjects and present back to class what information they have found.Learning outcomesStudents will better be able to link the learning in the classroom to a range of careers they may be interested in Students will see how STEM subjects fit into so many careers and that with a good understanding of STEM subjects the world…