Careers in the test room and beyond

A panellist of members from Women in Vision UK discussed the steps and decisions that have expanded their careers outside of the testing room in a discussion at 100% Optical (28 February–2 March).

Dr Lindsay Rountree, assistant professor at University of Bradford, and optometry undergraduate co-lead for Women in Vision UK, led a conversation exploring how the qualifications and expertise of eye care professionals can lead to unique paths in a lecture titled: Beyond the test room – real stories, real careers.

The panel was made up of Charlotte Bell, myopia consultant, South at Hoya Vision, Jigna Teli, optometrist at director at Linklater & Warren, Denise Voon, clinical adviser for the College of Optometrists, and Megan Vaughan, who is a lecturer at University College London and mentoring lead at Women in Vision UK.

A common theme amongst the panellists was that many describe themselves as having ‘fallen’ into the profession, either starting out with a love for science that led them to optometry or finding their start in the profession from working in practices.

Panellists reflected on the plans they had started their careers with, and how these had changed, including the decisions that led them to extend their roles in new directions.

Shining in training

Bell explained that she had been in practice for a long time and moved into domiciliary wanting to “give back.”

While working in domiciliary, Bell was involved in providing training to care staff on the experiences of visually impaired patients.

“I realised it was something I enjoyed,” she said, adding that when a training consultant role became available at a lens company, she took the leap and found that training was a niche in which she “shone.”

This wasn’t the route that Bell had set out for herself, but she emphasised that she is glad things didn’t go to plan: “I followed where my career took me, rather than being rigid. I’m glad I seized opportunities that presented themselves to me.”

I’m glad I seized opportunities that presented themselves to me

Finding a path in research and academia

Vaughan described how, despite the fact she “loved” her degree while at university, following her pre-registration period in an independent practice, she felt that the role – and perhaps the career – was not for her. By chance, someone she had previously completed a summer placement with had a PhD opportunity and asked if she was interested.

Now Vaughan has a portfolio career as a lecturer and in the hospital, seeing research patients who are involved in clinical trials of anything that could affect the eyes, such as cancer drugs.

She told attendees: “I used to be embarrassed about saying I’m ambitious.”

However, Vaughan sees this as wanting to be the best she can be, adding: “We should all want to be better."

In fact, she felt she is “exactly where I want to be” in her career, and looking ahead she wants to be “doing what I’m doing, but do it better.”

These opportunities don’t come up every day. If you wait until you’re ready, you’ll never be ready

Embracing business skills

Teli shared how, over time, she became involved in areas of business and the day-to-day running of the practice, alongside developing clinically.

Six years after qualifying, she was given the opportunity to buy a share in the practice where she had completed her pre-reg.

Teli described her reflections at the time: “These opportunities don’t come up every day. If you wait until you’re ready, you’ll never be ready.”

“I decided to back myself,” she said.

Moving into the management role, Teli said that she is embracing what she knows she is good at: “It took me time to come to terms with the fact I now enjoy the admin side more than the patient side. I know I employ people who are better optometrists than I am, because they enjoy the role more. But I can also do what others can’t.”

“Since I took the opportunity, I learn every day from every interaction with staff and patients,” she said.

A values-first approach

Voon shared with delegates that after a period in which she felt unhappy at work, she realised something needed to change.

“I looked at my values – what was wrong, and what did I need to function well,” Voon said, in her exploration to re-find the passion she had when starting out.

Values of integrity, staff engagement, and a desire to make the service better were important to her.

In following those passions, Voon found what worked best for her. Over time, certain things have become particularly important to her, such as autism advocacy, and this also shapes her approaches, she said.

Developing and practising confidence

Panellists discussed confidence and imposter syndrome in their careers, and strategies they have found helpful.

Bell explained how, when she took on her current role with Hoya and began presenting continuing professional development, she was anxious about presenting to peers.

“It was very nerve-wracking, but I had support around me. I used my friends, colleagues – my village,” she said, explaining that this included practising presenting CPD to her friends.

Vaughan explained that she had found a Ted Talk on “making yourself as big as possible,” was useful for working through her shyness.

“Before I trained as an optometrist, I was too shy to talk to anyone,” she said. “I used to stand in front of the mirror and make myself as big as possible.”

Looking back at her own career, Rountree shared that there were occasions when she hadn’t felt ready to take up certain opportunities.

“I would look at something and think: I could do that in five years, but I’m not quite ready. I look back and think that I should have had a go at it,” she said.

Remember: a no is just a redirection. Don’t be disheartened

It takes a village

Teli talked about the importance of a support network, sharing: “Make sure you have people around you to build you up.”

Vaughan recommended delegates interested in exploring new career opportunities sign up for a mentor through Women in Vision UK, or consider completing qualifications in education.

“This will allow you to go to your local university and say you can supervise – they are dying for optometrists to come in and supervise, because you know primary care,” she said.

Voon encouraged attendees: “If you are considering a career outside of the testing room, ask yourself what you are looking for. What are you leaving behind? What is drawing you away?”

She recommended joining LinkedIn, looking at the roles people have taken on – and contacting them.

“Most people are more than willing to talk about what they are doing and how they got there,” she said.

With the talk held during 100% Optical, Bell suggested talking to the companies exhibiting about what a career with them looks like.

She also emphasised: “Remember: a no is just a redirection. Don’t be disheartened.”

OT asks: inside the topic and takeaway messages

During 100% Optical, OT met with Dr Lindsay Rountree and Dr Megan Vaughan, from Women in Vision UK, to learn more about the topic of the panel, the messages they hope attendees takeaway, and the mentorship programme.

What motivated the topic of this panel?

Rountree: A number of years ago we got a few members of Women in Vision UK together for a discussion about how we had got to where we were. There were five or six of us and, without fail, every single one of us said: “Well, I didn’t get here the usual way.”

It made me think that – the journey people go through in optics, academia, and research – I’m not sure there is a ‘usual’ way anymore. I thought there might be a few more options open to people that they might not be aware of. We thought this might be a good place to showcase some career paths that people maybe haven’t considered.

I remember when I was working in practice myself and I thought: “I'm not sure I want to work in practice full-time anymore.” I didn't really know where to go from there. I didn't really know what to do. This is a way of showcasing some branches off the test room.

The journey people go through in optics, academia, and research – I’m not sure there is a ‘usual’ way anymore

Vaughan: I know when I realised that I didn’t want to be in the test room, I felt that I had no other options. I remember being like: “Right, I just have to change my career. I’ll look into training to do something else.” Luckily, I fell into going down different routes, but if I hadn’t, I would have left it behind. I do love optometry – I just had to make it work for me.

I have a portfolio career, working two days a week in the hospital doing research and two days a week teaching. I’m such a routine person – I have the same breakfast all the time – but it turns out that is not the case for how I feel in my career. I love a bit of variety. It keeps it more exciting and you look forward to going back to whatever you’re working on.

What is something you hope attendees took away from the session?

Rountree: I hope people take away a bit more information and some ideas of what they could do. I think sometimes women in particular can think, “It’s great that that person is doing that, but I couldn’t do it.” So hopefully hearing some real stories will make people see that those options are open to them.

I also hope that some people get a little bit more involved with things like Women in Vision UK. We could do with some more optometrist mentors in our mentorship programme. That can be that could be a really good thing that people take away from it, and could be a way for people to explore career options.

Vaughan: It is a tailored mentorship programme. It can depend on what you are looking for. It’s not always an optometrist with an optometrist. So, some people are like: “Oh, I really want to know my next step career wise,” and so are perhaps matched with someone a little bit closer aligned to their journey. We can also match people who think they might like to try research with someone who has got a little bit more research experience. It’s very personalised in that sense.

We’re looking for some more mentors who are optometrists who would be willing to mentor more junior people

We find that we have a lot more optometry students or junior optometrists in general, who are feeling the way that Lindsay and I felt in the past, when I was an optometrist in the practice, and wondered what else I could do. We know that's a normal thing that we have experienced and other people experience, so getting involved in being a mentor or a mentee would be really helpful. We're looking for more mentors who are optometrists who would be willing to mentor more junior people.

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