It’s quite rare to spend your entire optometry career in the same testing room or practice. While some may find comfort in staying put after pre-registration, others might feel anxious about moving to a new practice, especially without seeking out optometry career advice. However, letting fear keep you in one place can hinder your career growth, limit your salary, and sometimes affect the respect you receive in your practice.
Personally, I worked as a locum in my pre-registration practice and often felt like I was still seen as a trainee rather than a qualified optometrist. Whether this was true or just my perception, it became clear that to progress both personally and professionally, I needed to move on.
Staying in one place due to fear of change can significantly impact your optometry career. My overarching piece of optometry career advice emphasises the importance of gaining diverse experiences and expanding your professional network. By moving to different practices, you not only enhance your skills but also increase your visibility in the field. This can lead to better job opportunities, higher salaries, and greater professional respect.
It’s essential to recognise that career growth often requires stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing new challenges.
Moreover, working in various settings can provide invaluable insights and experiences that are crucial for your professional development. Optometry career advice suggests that exposure to different patient demographics, equipment, and practice management styles can make you a more versatile and competent optometrist.
This adaptability is highly valued in the optometry field and can set you apart from your peers. Therefore, while the idea of moving to a new practice might seem daunting, it is a necessary step for those who aspire to achieve long-term success and fulfillment in their optometry careers.
Finding a Role
The first step in moving to a new place is to identify the type of role you want. Are you aiming for a hospital or high street setting, an independent or multiple practice, specialty clinics, or primary care? Knowing your desired role will guide your search.
Location is also crucial—do you want to stay in the same region or relocate? Check if your current contract restricts you from working within a certain radius of your current practice, as many contracts include such clauses. Further information on this and restrictive covenants can be found in my article “Contracts and the Pre-Registration Optometrist“. Further bespoke advice can be sought by contacting the Association of Optometrists.
Once you’ve pinpointed the role and location, the search can begin. The optics community is tight-knit, with many professionals connected through a UK-wide network. You might find a job through word of mouth or by asking around individual practices that you may wish to work for in person.
Alternatively, specialist optical recruitment agencies, such as BlackSquare Optical, Prospect Health or PPR UK, can help you find the role you are looking for, as well as offer further optometry career advice.
Building Strong Team Relationships
Your first task in a new role is to build professional relationships with your team. In some places, I’ve offered to make a cuppa and the reception staff were astonished because an optometrist had never done that before. It’s important to remember that we are all parts of a well-oiled machine and not one role is more important the other within a clinical environment.
Patients come to see us for their appointments, but they wouldn’t be able to do so without reception staff to book them in. Without optical assistants, we’d have to check patients in and pre-screen patients ourselves, and without dispensing opticians, dispensing would be an added task to end every appointment.
Show your team that you appreciate them and
remember to act as a team player.
You’ll find they will be much warmer towards you and help you settle into your new role. Building these relationships is crucial for a harmonious work environment. When students approach me for optometry career advice I often emphasise the importance of teamwork in achieving both personal and professional success.
Understand Local Protocols
If you’re staying in the same area, protocols are likely to be similar, but it’s always worth checking with other practicing optometrists and the LOC if you’re unsure (I have compiled a list of the different referral pathways provided by the different LOCs here – so feel free to check it out and bookmark it for future reference).
Different areas have their own priorities for referrals; what might be a same-day referral in one area could be within a few days in another. Knowing how each local hospital and CCG operates is vital before starting in any new practice and will make your transition smoother.
Understanding local protocols is crucial for providing consistent patient care. Optometry career advice often highlights the importance of being familiar with regional practices and guidelines. This knowledge ensures that you can navigate the healthcare system efficiently and provide the best possible care to your patients.
Additionally, being aware of local protocols can help you integrate more smoothly into your new practice. It demonstrates your commitment to adhering to regional standards and can enhance your professional reputation. This is why I often raise this point to anyone asking for optometry career advice that staying informed about local protocols is a key component of successful optometric practice.
Adapting to New Testing Rooms
As a locum, I’ve worked in over 50 different testing rooms. Each one has been unique, with different equipment, layouts, and atmospheres. Find out if you’ll be the main optometrist in your room or if you’ll be sharing it with others. Knowing where things like the light switch are (believe me, this is more important than you think!) can help you recalibrate your routine to make the most of your appointment time.
Adapting to new environments is a crucial skill in optometry. General optometry career advice often stresses the importance of being flexible and adaptable. Each testing room will have its own quirks, and being able to quickly adjust will ensure that you provide consistent and efficient patient care.
Additionally, familiarising yourself with the layout and equipment in each new testing room can significantly enhance your workflow. Those seeking optometry career advice from me are often told that taking a few moments to orient yourself can save time and reduce stress during appointments. This proactive approach will help you maintain a high standard of care, regardless of the setting.
Build Your Reputation
Being the new person in a practice can lead to some interesting interactions with the patients that come to see you. They may wonder where the previous optometrist is, or be concerned that “you are too young to be an optometrist.” The first year or two in a given location can be the most difficult, as you need to build up rapport and trust with your patients.
Put extra effort into winning them over. Show you are human and let them know that they can come back to you with any questions or concerns in the future. You’ll soon get recommendations, and there will be less resistance from the patients coming in to see you, allowing you more time to focus on being the best optometrist you can be.
Building a strong reputation is crucial for long-term success. General optometry career advice often emphasises the importance of patient trust and satisfaction – and for good reason! By demonstrating your expertise and approachability, you can create a loyal patient base that will support your career growth.
Conclusion
Embarking on a new journey in your optometry career can be both exciting and challenging. By embracing change, seeking out the right opportunities, and building strong professional relationships, you can significantly enhance your career prospects. Understanding local protocols and adapting to new environments will ensure you provide the best care for your patients. Remember, building a solid reputation takes time and effort, but it is a crucial step towards long-term success. With the right optometry career advice, you can navigate these transitions smoothly and achieve your professional goals.
If you have enjoyed this article or found it useful, please consider sharing it with colleagues and peers. If you have any optometry career advice that you wish to share, please feel free to comment below. To be notified about future posts from The Eye Care Advocate, please consider subscribing below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to move to different practices during a career in optometry?
Moving to different practices can enhance your skills, increase your visibility in the field, and lead to better job opportunities, higher salaries, and generate greater professional respect.
What should I consider when finding a new role in optometry?
Consider the type of role you want (hospital, high street, independent, multiple practice, specialty clinics, or primary care) and the location. You should also if your current contract restricts you from working within a certain radius of your current practice.
How can I build strong team relationships when in a new optometry role?
Show appreciation for your team, act as a team player, and build professional relationships. This is crucial for a harmonious work environment and achieving both personal and professional success.
Why is understanding local protocols important in optometry?
Understanding local protocols ensures consistent patient care and helps you navigate the healthcare system (and your clinic diary) efficiently. It also demonstrates your commitment to adhering to regional standards.
How can I adapt to new testing rooms when in a optometry role?
Familiarise yourself with the layout and equipment in each new testing room. Identify where the light switch is, where your hygiene facilities are and get familiar with any equipment within the room. This can significantly enhance your workflow and ensure consistent and efficient patient care.
What are the benefits of building a strong reputation in optometry?
Building a strong reputation can lead to patient trust and satisfaction, creating a loyal patient base that supports your career growth.
Additionally, becoming recognised within your field will also open the door to further opportunities to expand your career options.
What should I do if I feel anxious about moving to a new optometry practice?
Embrace the change and seek out diverse experiences. Moving to different practices can provide invaluable insights and experiences crucial for your professional development.
Be kind to yourself and accept that all new beginnings can be scary at first, but remember that this experience will help you grow as an optometrist.
How can I find a new optometry role through networking?
The optics community is tight-knit, and many professionals are connected through a UK-wide network. You might find a job through word of mouth, social media, recruitment agencies or by asking around individual practices that you may wish to work in.
What role do specialist optical recruitment agencies play in finding a new optometry role?
Specialist optical recruitment agencies can help you find the role you are looking for and offer further optometry career advice.
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