Work experience – Careers in Eyecare

Careers in eyecare, For Employers, Work experience 17 April 202417 April 2024 Kaye McIntosh

Making work experience work for employers

Why offer work experience? Providing short-term placements helps employers reach the talent, different perspectives and skills that young people – or career changers – offer. It also provides opportunities for your staff to supervise and mentor, helping to develop their management, leadership and communication skills. Students bring the interests and needs of the next generation of patients and customers. Engaging with the community also helps boost your profile and customer loyalty. Work experience programmes typically involve shadowing an employee and…

Careers in eyecare, Contact lens optician, Day in the life, Dispensing optician, For students, Looking for work, Optical practice manager, Work experience 11 April 202411 April 2024 Kaye McIntosh

A day in the life – the contact lens optician

Wilma Paton is a contact lens optician at Specsavers in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire What's your role? I’m a dispensing optician (DO) and contact lens optician (CLO). I quickly knew that optics was my career when I first joined Specsavers Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, in a meet and greet role nearly 20 years ago. That developed into the practice manager role. I’ve been learning ever since to progress and support our patients. I moved to Specsavers Newlands, in Glasgow, ten years ago…

A levels, Apprenticeships, Careers in eyecare, Dispensing optician, For students, GCSEs, Looking for work, Optical assistant, Optical sales rep, Optometrist, Traineeships, Work, Work experience 28 February 202418 March 2024 Kaye McIntosh

Get that job – how to succeed at interview

Getting a job in eyecare requires strong communication and interpersonal skills. The interview is crucial – a chance to showcase your qualifications and personality. Here are some top tips to help you succeed from Danny Alaimo, associate director at Vivid Optical recruitment consultants. Research Before stepping into the interview room, thoroughly research the firm. Understand their values, mission, and recent achievements. This knowledge will not only demonstrate your genuine interest but also allow you to tailor your responses to align…

Apprenticeships, Careers in eyecare, Education, For students, Looking for work, Optical assistant, Students, Study, Work, Work experience 5 February 202423 February 2024 Kaye McIntosh

Celebrating apprentices with learning differences and disabilities

Virtual event, Monday 5 Feb 1pm–2pm Register here Join this webinar on the first day of National Apprenticeship Week to hear from disabled apprentices, and those with learning differences, sharing what works when it comes to supporting people with additional needs. Rabia Lemahieu of Disability Rights UK explains how employers can embrace diversity.

A levels, Careers in eyecare, For students, GCSEs, Work experience 4 January 20244 January 2024 Kaye McIntosh

How to find work experience

Work experience is a great way to get a taste of a future career and find out what avenues might suit you. But it’s important to start your research soon – lots of other students are looking at the same time so opportunities can go fast. How can you find the right opening? Your tutors will be able to advise you on common routes and connections to employers. But that doesn’t mean you need to stick to their contacts. For…

A levels, Careers in eyecare, For students, Students, Work experience 10 October 20239 October 2023 Kaye McIntosh

Find out what it’s like to work in a hospital

Are you interested in a healthcare career in a hospital? The University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton are offering students in Years 12 and 13 the opportunity to apply for live virtual work experience. Brighton and Sussex Medical School also offers virtual work experience without any application. At the University of Southampton, a typical timetable usually includes: Operating theatre Ward rounds Outpatient clinic Wessex Investigational Sciences Hub (WISH) laboratory Apprenticeship opportunities A chance to to speak to current medical…

A levels, Careers in eyecare, Dispensing optician, For students, Looking for work, Optical assistant, Work, Work experience 19 April 20239 August 2023 Kaye McIntosh

Starting from scratch

Megan never planned to become a dispensing optician. Now she’s on course to become fully qualified in a professional career. She applied for a job at Specsavers Fox Valley practice in Sheffield in her year out before going to university. She had planned to study forensic science. “I had no idea what working at an opticians involved as I’d never had an eye test myself,” Megan says. She quickly realised she’d found her passion. “As I grew more comfortable with…

Awards, bursaries and scholarships, Careers in eyecare, Education, For students, GCSEs, Looking for work, Optometrist, Students, Study, Work, Work experience 24 March 202324 March 2023 Kaye McIntosh

Specsavers expands bursary scheme

A project to inspire young people to become optometrists is being expanded across the UK. Specsavers is rolling out its Bright Futures bursary programme into England and Wales after it was initially launched in Scotland and Northern Ireland. More than £2,000 is available to help students into their career and pay for some of their equipment. The programme also offers part-time work in local branches, providing vital experience as well as shadowing and mentoring. "The bursary will allow partners in…

Careers in eyecare, For Employers, T Levels, Work, Work experience 25 January 20231 February 2023 Kaye McIntosh

Get to grips with T levels

T levels are two-year courses for 16 to 19 year olds in England, broadly equivalent to three A levels. Health, science and healthcare science T levels were launched in September 2021, while qualifications in other subjects are still coming on stream. They were developed with employers, schools and colleges. Health representatives involved in the panels that worked on the health and science courses included optometrists as well as nurses and hospital staff. Placements An alternative to A levels and apprenticeships,…

Looking for work, Students, Work, Work experience 30 October 202230 October 2022 Kaye McIntosh

How to succeed at job interviews

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…

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Category Archives: Work experience