Licensed Optician Jobs Overview
Licensed opticians play a vital role in patient healthcare. Guided by prescriptions from optometrists and ophthalmologists, they help customers select the eyeglasses or contact lenses that best fit their lifestyle needs. Depending on the work environment, licensed optician jobs may also involve cutting lenses to fit them properly into the selected frame.
Approximately half of licensed opticians work in medical offices. Other opticians work in commercial establishments that sell eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other optical merchandise. While most opticians work full-time, part-time jobs are readily available for those with the required skills.
Opticians work directly with clientele, advising them on the various eyewear styles available. In addition to effective communication skills, these jobs require technical, administrative, and marketing expertise. Whether you enter the field with a high school diploma or an associate degree, a thorough knowledge of eye physiology and ophthalmic materials is a standard requirement.
Salaries for Licensed Optician Jobs
Nationally, around half of states require opticians to obtain a license. The median wage for all opticians is $19.08 per hour with a range of $15.88 to $24.95 per hour.
Your salary largely depends on where you live. Monster's salary calculator makes it easy to stay up to date on optician salaries in your area. If you're prepared to relocate, here's a top-five list of the cities with the highest hourly salaries for licensed optician jobs.
Your work environment is another factor to consider when determining licensed optician salaries. You can expect to make the most in a medical setting such as a healthcare center or physician's office. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, opticians in retail environments generally enjoy a higher salary than those who work in optometrist offices.
How to Find Licensed Optician Jobs
Identifying the ideal optician job begins by honestly assessing your career goals and interests. Steady employment, flexible schedule, opportunities for growth — what are your top priorities?
Unlike other careers in the healthcare field, there's a creative facet to optician jobs as well. Designing, measuring, fitting, and adapting eyeglasses for clients is both a science and an art. Discovering which aspects of the job most appeal to you is key to finding the right position.
It's equally important to research a company to decide whether their culture aligns with yours. Visit their website to read up on their mission and values. Peruse online reviews to see what clients feel about the services they offer.
Review the Job Description
Study the job description from top to bottom to determine if the position meets your qualifications. Begin by identifying whether the job's work environment is in a healthcare setting or a retail establishment. If you can't find this information in the opening paragraph, the list of requirements for the job should clarify it.
Licensed opticians in medical offices rarely cut or grind lenses themselves. For those positions, you'll need to know how to create work orders for ophthalmic laboratory technicians. Here's a list of basic skills typically required in healthcare environments:
- Assist clients with inserting, removing, and caring for contact lenses.
- Help clients select the style of frames and the size of eyeglasses.
- Verify the quality and exactness of the finished lenses.
- Adjust the frame and lens positions for a comfortable fit for the client.
Job descriptions for optician positions in retail often include cutting and grinding lenses according to prescriptions written by optometrists or ophthalmologists. They will also stress the importance of good communication and customer sales skills.
Look for Growth Opportunities
Depending on your unique interests, licensed optician jobs can open the door to a world of possibilities in the optometry field. Scrutinize the job description for phrasing that indicates opportunities for advancement.
How to Apply for Licensed Optician Jobs
Once you've decided to apply for an optician position, increase your chances of landing the job by submitting an application designed to capture your future employer's attention. Follow these tips to create an engaging resume and cover letter.
Craft a Concise Resume
Being concise is the secret to writing a resume that gets read by a potential employer. In every section of your resume, keep the content concise and to the point.
Most employers today use online screening programs to filter out resumes that don't include the position's key qualifications. Fortunately, you can usually identify these keywords in the job description and insert them in your resume. Here are some examples of resume keywords and phrases listed in licensed optician job postings:
- strong customer service skills
- attention to detail
- effective interpersonal skills
- organized
- excellent communication skills
- ability to meet deadlines
- multitasker
Before you submit your application, proofread your resume to ensure it's free of spelling, grammar, and formatting errors. Getting help from a certified expert can give your resume the polish it needs to make a strong impression. Monster's Professional Resume Writing Services can help you seal the deal.
Write a Persuasive Cover Letter
A well-written cover letter can articulate your interest in the licensed optician job in a more personable way than your all-business resume. Seize the opportunity to explain why you're the perfect candidate for the advertised position.
Start with an opening paragraph that expresses your enthusiasm for the job. Show you've done your homework by explaining why you want to work for that particular organization. Use keywords you gleaned from the job description and end by highlighting your achievements.
Add another paragraph or two to quantify your skills using concrete examples. If you're short on work experience, mention past activities that showcase your aptitude for success. Check out Monster's sample cover letter for additional ideas.
Submit the Application
You've polished your resume to perfection and written a cover letter that's sure to impress. What's next? Submit your application by creating a free Monster account! You'll receive a free review of your resume and recommendations for other licensed optician jobs as soon as they become available.
How to Follow Up on the Application
A timely follow-up after submitting your application demonstrates your zeal for securing the position. It's equally important to give the employer time to process the application. Experts suggest waiting one week before checking in on your submission.
Stay positive while waiting to hear back from the employer and use your time wisely. Start by identifying the appropriate person to phone or email. Not sure who to contact? The company's human resources department might give you the information.
Next, write a brief follow-up email or make a phone call to express your continued interest in the licensed optician position. Keeping the tone professional and message brief, ask about the status of your application. If you don't hear back after another week, consider sending another inquiry.
Interviewing for Licensed Optician Jobs
There's something special about receiving a request for an interview for a job you truly want. Take a moment to celebrate that feeling of exhilaration, and then roll up your sleeves and start preparing for that all-important meeting.
The Interview Process
Begin your preparations by learning as much as you can about the company. Search the internet for recent press releases, reviews, or news articles. Accumulating this knowledge shows the employer you care enough about the job to learn all about the organization.
Understanding the way the company conducts interviews is also worthwhile. Don't hesitate to ask in advance if you'll be attending a single interview or a round of meetings. If there will be a panel of interviewers, do your best to learn the names and positions of everyone involved.
Interview Preparation Tips
Lay the groundwork for your interview by familiarizing yourself with the most common interview queries. Here's a sample of the top 10 questions job candidates get asked during interviews for licensed optician jobs:
- Why do you want to work here?
- What are your career goals?
- Why should we hire you?
- What are your weaknesses?
- What salary are you seeking?
Finally, learn about different interview formats, such as behavioral or competency-based interviews. To develop a technique that you can use no matter what questions come your way, practice these response strategies for interview questions. From qualifying your answers with real-world examples to steering the conversation your way, put your best foot forward when it matters the most.
How to Follow Up After the Interview
Within 24 hours of your interview, send a thank-you message to the hiring manager. Express your gratitude for being given the chance to join the team. Make it a point to reference specific topics that arose during the interview, emphasizing your skills and qualifications.
If you don't receive a response within a week or two, keep the conversation going with a follow-up call. Write out what you want to say beforehand so that there's no need to worry about sending the wrong message. Take time to listen to the employer's responses and always end the conversation with a big "Thank you!"
Responding to Job Offers
After all the hard work you've put into searching for licensed optician positions, a job offer is something to celebrate. Congratulations! Before you accept the offer, however, take some time to consider if this is the right licensed optician job for you.
First, contact the employer to express your appreciation for the offer. Let them know when they can expect a definitive answer to their proposition. Study the terms and conditions of the offer carefully. Salary, benefits, scheduling — is everything as you expected?
If the salary or compensation package doesn't match the job description, don't hesitate to ask the employer for clarification. Take a close look at the job's responsibilities as well. Will the job give you the experience you need to advance your career?
If you decide to decline the position, make every effort to keep the lines of communication open. Contact the employer to express your sincere gratitude for the offer. You never know when your paths might cross again, so aim for a polite and professional resolution.
Career Paths
As entry-level positions in the field of ophthalmology, licensed optician jobs offer ample opportunities for advancement. Earning six-figure salaries or higher, optometrist jobs and ophthalmologist jobs top the list. Treating disorders of the eye, both positions require a doctorate or professional degree in ophthalmology.
Furthering your education is also helpful if you're interested in managerial, supervisorial, or executive positions in ophthalmology. Opportunities to learn on the job abound as well. A licensed optician who shows skill in fabricating lenses can advance quickly in a factory setting. Depending on your aptitude, experience, and level of education, here are a few jobs that may interest you.
Similar Occupations
Looking to expand your career horizons? The following shows a list of occupations with job duties similar to those of licensed opticians.