Careers for all talents and interests

Whatever your interests, there’s a career in eyecare that’s just right for you. From optometry to optical sales, frame design to practice manager, take a look at these ideas. Patient care There are lots of careers where you can make a difference to people’s health, from saving their sight to looking after those facing life-changing conditions. Ophthalmologist Optometrist Dispensing optician Orthoptist Ophthalmic nurse People skills Do you enjoy communicating and spending time your day interacting with other people? These roles…

Get ready for results day

You did all the work, you’ve taken a break… now results day is approaching. What are your options if things don’t go as well as you hoped after GCSEs, A Levels, BTECs, Nationals, Highers or T Levels? Key dates 5 August – SQA Highers and Nationals 14 August – A Levels 14 August – T Levels 14 August – BTEC Nationals 19 August – IGSCE (International GCSE) 21 August – BTEC First/Tech 12 August – GCSE If your results are…

Healthcare employers reach out to teachers and students

Health and social care is one of the most popular career choices among Year 11 students, according to a survey from the national body for careers education in England. The NHS is the most desirable employer, coming ahead of Google, Apple and NASA, according to a questionnaire completed by 230,000 secondary students for the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC).  There are over 350 career pathways available across health and social care, from dentistry to optometry, pharmacy to occupational therapy and…

How to get your CV in front of a human

Many employers use software called applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sift through CVs to find candidates for interview. Your application has to successfully get through the ATS before it even reaches the recruiter or hiring manager. So how do you get your CV through to the next stage, where it’s seen by a human being?  The answer is keywords. The ATS scans hundreds of CVs and ranks candidates based on keywords chosen by the employer.  These are specific words or…

How to change career

Are you stuck in a role that isn’t right for you? Do you feel unfulfilled – trapped in a career you chose years ago but is no longer satisfying? Maybe it’s time to make a move.  Eyecare is a field that welcomes career changers. Skills gained in other areas are often transferable, such as customer service or communication, and the extra maturity gained by people who have plenty of experience can be a real asset to employers. The government says…

Opportunities in eyecare

There’s a great future waiting for you in the growing field of optics. Almost 60% of people in the UK wear spectacles, among the highest percentages in Europe, and 9% wear contact lenses. Did you know dispensing opticians and optometrists can help to slow the progression of myopia (short sight) in children? Or help to manage conditions such as dry eye, often linked to screen use? Key roles  Optometrists are health professionals who provide vision care. They are trained to…

Day in the life: the optical assistant overcoming anxiety

Can you succeed at work if you face extra challenges? James, 24, works at Specsavers in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, and has an anxiety disorder. He takes us through a typical day.  What do you do every day?  My main tasks include performing pre-screening tests for customers before their eye test, helping them choose and purchase frames and lenses for their glasses, and fitting their glasses when they come to pick them up. I also have mandatory learning time, training on the…

Career choices in eyecare

There’s a great future waiting for you in eyecare, with lots of choice whatever your interests and skills. Whether you are planning to go into employment straight from school, head to university, or you are already working and looking for a new career, there are plenty of reasons to go into this field.  Enjoy flexible training and careers Whether you want to train or work full or part-time, weekends or weekdays, there’s a job for you. More and more high…

What’s next after school or college?

If you are in Year 13, it can feel like everyone is asking what you plan to do next. Where does your future lie? It feels like the pressure is on and you have to know what you want to do for the rest of your life. Don't worry. You have time to explore your options and there’s plenty of help and information out there. Finding the right career There’s lots of ways to find ideas and explore whether they…

Explore a great career as a dispensing optician

Are you interested in healthcare, science or fashion trends? Helping people achieve their potential at work or in education? Working with children or vulnerable people? There’s a great career on offer in dispensing optics. This field gives you the chance to qualify as a registered health professional, with a degree or diploma. You’ll develop skills in fitting and supplying spectacles that take account of your patients’ needs and lifestyle.  Did you know that all registered dispensing opticians (DOs) have a minimum…