Below is a quick Q&A between the owner of Avant Garde Optometry in Frisco, Texas and an experienced recruiter on the current struggle for talent and what opticians and medical technicians look for in an optometry practice.

Owner of Avant Garde Optometry: Dr. Jamie Yee

Dr. Jamie: The job market is aggressive, so my first question to Glenn, my recruiter, is that optometrists commonly have a hard time finding opticians or optometric medical technicians. Why do you think that is?

Glenn (Recruiter): I think the biggest thing around all industries is people don’t spend enough time talking about culture. I hear all the time, culture doesn’t pay bills. And I agree. What I have found time and time again is that if a candidate is looking between two jobs or multiple jobs, they are more likely to go with the job that matches their values and their personal beliefs and they are going to work harder because it’s something they believe in. They want to further the mission. 

To talk about culture in a simple way people can do two things. If you are looking for someone, tell them what you expect – if you come and work for me, I expect… The second thing is what they can gain from coming to work for you vs someone else. 

So, you have to be super clear about your culture, what you expect, and what are they going to gain. We all have selfish tendencies, and we work because we love what we do, but be clear about what they gain from you as an employer.

Dr. Jamie: Oh, interesting. I actually didn’t know that, and that’s a great way to put it. So, if you were an optician or a medical technician, what advice would you have for them when they are trying to look for new employment? 

Glenn: First, you need to have a list of your non-negotiables–like I’ve had some work experiences that have not been great, so write down the things that are your non-negotiables. For example, if you cannot work past 4 pm on Wednesdays, well, that’s a non-negotiable, and be upfront about these non-negotiables. 

Be upfront and honest; don’t try to be this fake person to get this job; be real with whomever you are talking with. The real you will come out. Certain things you like and dislike, so they can tell you ok this is a match or this is not a match. 

You should be crystal clear about the value that you bring. You need to be able to talk about your skills, like this is what I can add to the practice. If you have a heart for service, like you love working with people, talk about that. It will all come out, so be clear about your value and be clear about your experiences. 

Sometimes, we ask people to tell me about their worst work experience, and people will fumble with the answer. But if you have been doing this for five years, you should have a handful of experiences to discuss. Think about your best experiences, your worst, what you do not like. People are afraid of this, but just be honest. 

An example is if a doctor you work with is an extrovert and you are an introvert. Let them know what your communication style is. You like to think about upsetting situations and not always verbalize it. It’s not, oh I don’t like you; it is instead, oh I now am aware about this, and this is how we can work together. 

A lot of people are scared to be honest because they just want the job, but in the long run, you will be happier if you are honest, transparent, and genuine with the interviewer.

Dr. Jamie: Well, that’s really helpful. This is great advice for optometrists looking for opticians or medical technicians. 

Learn more about Avante-Garde Optometry, or contact us with any questions!