Interviews are opportunities to show your skills to the recruiter. Preparation is key. Before the interview, research the company. What does the website or social media say about the business’s activity, values and history? Who are the senior people? This can give you insights into their priorities, what they want from potential employees and why they are hiring. Read the job advertisement again and think about what it says about the business, the role, and the candidate they want. Rehearse…
Primary schools across Birmingham came together to celebrate the finale of the ZEISS Challenge your Imagination programme at Millennium Point. Eleven schools pitched innovative product ideas that aid visual impairments, to a panel of judges, followed by two workshop sessions and an awards ceremony. https://youtu.be/x8u_WAWggiY Funded by ZEISS and delivered by Learn by Design, the year-long Challenge your Imagination programme gave pupils from twenty local schools the opportunity to experience and understand optics, robotics and visual impairments through interactive STEM…
If you are awaiting exam results in a state of trepidation, read this article from newly qualified dispensing optician Matthew. We covered a day in his life as a student DO - now he is ready for his first fully qualified role! Well done Matthew, it's inspiring to read your story. On the Thursday morning, 11 August 2022, around 1am I ran upstairs and woke my wife up. She was confused until she heard my words; “I passed! I bl**dy…
If you are awaiting your GCSE results you may be feeling relaxed – or you may be really worried. Your GCSE results can be key to your next steps at sixth form or college. But if things don’t work out how you hoped, there are alternatives for you to consider. Just missed your grades? If you are not far off what was needed to study your chosen subject you may be able to study it if your college has some…
Specsavers has announced an initiative to help develop talented new healthcare specialists. It has pledged to offer 100 placements in optical care services for learners studying the new Government-led T Level qualification in Healthcare Science. Working in partnership with the educational charity and leader in vocational and technical learning NCFE, it is hoped the scheme will help to expand the pipeline of talented individuals entering the profession. Dena Wyatt, National Apprenticeship Manager for UK Apprenticeships at Specsavers, says: ‘Supporting the…
A level results day can be a fraught time as you’ve pinned your hopes and next steps on getting the grades you need for a particular course at a particular university. But if things don’t work out how you hoped, there are alternatives for you to consider. Just missed your grades – you may still find that your first choice is possible as the university may decide to offer the place to you anyway via a ‘changed course offer’ meaning…
Becoming a dispensing optician or optometrist gives you a range of options for your career. Some people may enjoy the clinical side of the role, while others may like to focus on management and retail. If you would like to have control over all aspects of the business, have you thought about running your own optical practice? You can discover more about running a practice at the ABDO Become an Independent Optician twilight session. This event is free of charge…
If your school or college is putting on a careers fair, it's worth thinking about what to ask before you go. A careers fair gives you the chance to speak to someone already working in a role. It's a great chance to get an inside take on a number of different jobs. Planning your questions ahead can help so what should you ask? Here are some ideas to get you thinking. Before you go, look at the list of attendees.…
May and June are stressful months if you have exams, and anxiety can hold you back from doing your best in your exams. Read on for some simple tips to help you stay on top of anxiety. Remember, it's normal to feel stressed and anxious about exams. Even if your friends and classmates seem calm, they are probably nervous inside. A little bit of adrenaline can help your performance, but you also need some tools to help you stay cool.…
Exams are starting and the pressure is hotting up to keep on revising. Here are some tips on how to revise when time is short. Use any spare moments for revision. Make the most of bus trips or the moments while you are waiting for the kettle to boil.Practise regularly - every day is better than once a week. Keep cards of key facts in your pocket or bag so you can review them regularly. Arrange your revision into short…