Optician 

How did you get your current job?
Bought an existing business.

What was the application process?
No process at all. knew the previous owner – just met with him to talk.

Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
Informal interview with the previous owner of the business. In the past, because I’ve always worked for small companys, I jsut sat down for an hour or so with the business owner, gave them my resume, and talked about my skills and experience.

If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
None

Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
I already knew exactly what this job was before I took it.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
I think that I worked for 3 years as an apprentice. At that time, there were no strict rules, but now I think you need to carefully document hours worked and skills learned. I also ahd to pass a state licensing exam.

Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
My area of education did nothing to prepare me (sociology), but BEING educated is helpfull for any career.

If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
HUgely. Opticians who come out of a school only program, are usually lacking in many practical skills to perform the job. Apprenticeship is the way to go!

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
You can either go to a post highschool program for opticianry, or, depending on the state, can serve an apprecnticeship. I suggest the apprenticeship route. You can larn more about opticianry with hand-on work, and earn while you learn!

What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
It’s very helpfull to be a bsically mechanical person. That helps a lot with repaire and glasses fabrication. People skills help a lot in dealing with the clientele.

Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
I do believe that a high school diploma is a minimum necessity – and I agree that opticans should be licensed as well!

What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Try it out. Work in a store as a “frame stylist” for a while. Experience the hours – which can be tough – and the customers – which can be tougher. If you find that you enjoy it, ask your employer if they can enroll you in an apprenticeship program.