If you’re toying with your future career plans, starting out for Uni or just thinking of change of direction, you could do worse then look into a future in Optics. Here’s our personality profile based summary of what you should work towards…..
Optometrists/ Ophthalmic Opticians – you can be a bit nerdy, a bit medical, a bit techno genius, a bit of a people person – all this adds up the perfect Optician! They need to be good listeners, good at dragging the real problem out of people, and good at twiddling with lots of bits of equipment. Your daily routine includes eye testing, fitting contact lenses, screening for eye disease, and ordering the rest of the team about!! Your Uni course leads to a degree, and it’s vocational training for the real world and the final day to day job.
Dispensing Opticians – you need to be a bit techno, a style advisor, a good listener, and enjoy manipulating frames and fiddling behind people’s ears! Your day includes helping patients to choose the perfect frame and lens combination, dealing with technical lens enquiries, fitting, adjusting, and repairing frames. You can study part or full time, leading to a professional diploma or a degree.
Workshop Technicians – you can be as nerdy as you like, pottering around a lab, not having to deal with the public! Day to day you’ll be making up glasses, repairing frames, advising opticians on lenses, listening to obscure experimental rock (maybe that’s just our guy!!) and patiently repairing frames, however decrepit they look when you get them! Many practices train in house, but there are some formal training courses.
Optical Assistant – you have to be a warm and friendly people person, a bit techno, excellent at organisation, and cool under pressure! You ensure the smooth running of the practice, while making tea for Opticians, and holding the hands of nervous patients through pre-screening and choosing specs. You usually get involved in selecting specs, and fittings. Training can be in house, but there are several courses to give you more background knowledge.
See how much fun working in optics can be? So just decide on your strengths, and maybe one day we’ll be greeting you here at the Internet Glasses Company!