Best Optometrist Resume Example + Tips
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You need a great resume if you want a job as an optometrist and we’re here to help you build one. Our guide to crafting an effective resume for an optometrist job will help you make the most of your critical thinking, active listening, interpersonal skills and medical knowledge skills to stand out from the competition.
Start by editing this sample resume for an optometrist or explore our library of resume templates to find the best one for you.
Optometrist resume sample (text version)
ALVIN STOKES
Saint Paul, MN 55175
555-555-5555
example@example.com
Professional Summary
Dependable optometrist with two years of experience performing examinations and diagnosis of eye diseases and disorders. Skillful in preparing prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses, maintaining a strong commitment to accuracy. Versed at forging and cultivating productive relationships with clients, achieving high levels of satisfaction, retention and referrals.
Work History
May 2018 – Current
Pearle Vision – Saint Paul, MN
Optometrist
Interview and examine 11 patients daily with a full range of vision problems and consult medical charts to assist with diagnosis.
Prescribe eye treatment and corrective eyeglasses and contact lenses to align with the patient’s diagnosis.
Refer patients with indications of pathological conditions to an ophthalmologist for additional examination.
July 2016 – May 2018
Gurdsen Eye Care – Winona, MN
Optometric Technician
Conducted pretest procedures for over 50 patients per week, to gather data before exams and make eye appointments more efficient and productive.
Assisted with dilating patients or using eye medications when directed by the optometrist.
Helped patients with selecting and ordering glasses or contact lenses to encourage informed decisions, improving patient satisfaction by 35%.
June 2015 – September 2015
Evan’s Vision Center – Winona, MN
Intern Optometrist
Performed pretesting tasks for optical patients such as non-contact tonometry and optical coherence tomography.
Maintained a sanitary work environment by disinfecting equipment, disposing of used supplies and cleaning exam rooms.
Scheduled 30 examinations per week, contact lens fittings, optical dispensing appointments and other procedures.
Skills
- Vision therapy
- Patient counseling
- Eyeglasses prescription
- Lense & eyeglass fitting
- Attention to detail
- Visual acuity testing
- Visual hygiene
- Problem-solving
Education
May 2018-May 2018
Winona State University Winona, MN
Doctor of Optometry
May 2013-May 2013
Bemidji State University Bemidji, MN
Bachelor of Science Biology
License
Licensed Optometrist in Minnesota, 2018-current
License NO. 123456
5 essentials of a top optometrist resume
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your resume; otherwise, hiring managers won’t know how to contact you for an interview. Display your contact information like so: Your full name, then your city, state and ZIP code, followed by your phone number and professional email address. Add your LinkedIn profile and professional website (if you have them) last.
Personal statement
A personal statement is also known as a professional summary. This is where you introduce yourself and highlight your top qualifications for the job in three to five sentences. A resume for an optometrist must include a professional summary with appropriate skills and one or two notable accomplishments, and it should touch on how long you’ve been in the industry. If you are just starting your career, use an optometrist resume objective instead.
Skills
You’ve got to let potential employers know what skills you bring to the table. Create a separate section for your job-relevant skills and display them with bullet points to make them easy to read. Our sample resume for an optometrist includes technical, hard and soft skills, from Lasik surgery to verbal communication.
Work History
Your resume must include an employment history section, whether or not you have professional experience as an optometrist. In reverse-chronological order, list current and previous employers and provide business names, locations and the dates you worked for each. Include three bullet points of measurable achievements for every job you list. If you’re applying for your first job as an optometrist, it’s acceptable to highlight relevant extracurricular activities, coursework, presentations, volunteer experience and community service.
Education
Hiring managers want to see your education credentials, so a resume for an optometrist job must include an education section. Add all the educational institutions you’ve attended after high school and display the name of the schools and the years that you graduated in reverse-chronological order using bullet points. If you did not attend college, list your high school information and the classes you’ve taken since graduating.
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Action words for a stand-out optometrist resume
Action words strengthen resumes because they tell the hiring manager exactly what you did and convey confidence. Use them with numbers to make a more substantial impact.
Here’s a short list of perfect action words for an optometrist resume:
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Counsel
- Motivate
- Plan
- Lead
- Manage
- Expedite
- Supervise
- Monitor
- Lead
- Educate
- Provide
- Administer
Want more inspiration? We have 800+ resume examples to help you create the perfect optometrist resume.
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Top skills for an optometrist resume
Review the job description carefully and match the required skills to the skills and traits that fit you.
Your skills might include the following:
- Empathy
- Compassion
- Decision making
- Active listening
- Patience
- Communication
- Perception
- Human anatomy
- Treatment planning
- Customer service
- Optics
- Electronic health records
Certifications for an optometrist resume
To become an optometrist, you must have an O.D. degree from an accredited optometry school and complete the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exam. Before you begin to practice, you must pass your state license exams and renew your license each year.
Some optometrists choose to be board certified by the American Board of Optometry. Board certification is a voluntary credential that confirms your commitment to the field and to the highest quality patient care.
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
Optometrist resume FAQ
What does an optometrist resume look like?
There is no standard optometrist resume template; you can use any of our resume templates and customize them for the job you want. A good resume for an optometrist will look much like the optometrist resume sample on this page and will contain the job seeker’s contact information, skills, employment history, education and certifications, if applicable. An optometrist resume might also contain sections for awards and honors if the job candidate has them to display.
What to put under skills on a resume for an optometrist?
A resume for an optometrist should only include skills that 1. Are relevant to the job, and 2. Fit the job applicant’s true skill set. Review optometrist resume examples for ideas on how to display your skills on your optometrist resume.
What are some tips for creating an excellent resume for an optometrist job?
Not all resumes are created equal. Here are our top tips for crafting a perfect optometrist resume:
- Add separate sections for extra training, certifications, licenses and awards.
- Keep your resume short and to the point. If you have less than 10 years of experience, it should be one page long; if you have more than 10 years of experience, then it’s acceptable to have no more than two pages.
- Use keywords before the job description in your optometrist resume work experience section to pass ATS screening.
- Ensure your resume is formatted correctly, meaning margins should be one inch on all sides and line space should be single or 1.5 inches.
- Only use appropriate fonts, like Times New Roman, Arial or Helvetica, in 11-12 points on the body and 14-16 points on headers.
- Proofread your resume more than once before sending it to potential employers.
Do’s and don’ts for building an optometrist resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your optometrist abilities and experience.
- Use action words to make an impact on your optometrist resume.
- Tailor your resume to your target optometrist job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your optometrist resume.
- Format your optometrist resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your optometrist experience and skills.
- Boast about your optometrist experience and skills.
- Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience that do not pertain to being an optometrist.
- Forget to proofread!
Top 4 tips for acing an optometrist interview
Learn about the institution.
It’s vital to take the time to learn about the institution or company’s history, goals, values and people before the job interview. Doing so conveys interest, passion and commitment — traits that can set you above the competition. Plus, a glimpse of the company culture early on will help you know what to expect and can boost your confidence.
Practice at home.
Practice really does make perfect. To practice for your interview, start by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as:
- What Do You See Yourself Doing in 10 Years?
- What’s Your Proudest Accomplishment?
- Why Did You Choose This Career?
Possible behavioral questions include:
- Why Should We Hire You Over Other Candidates?
- Tell Me About a Time When You Were Forced to Think on your Feet
- Tell Me About a Time When You Had To Cope With a Stressful Situation
Write down two or three possible answers as you review potential questions, then review them with a friend or a family member in a mock interview so you can get comfortable with the questions and memorize your answers.
Ask questions.
You should always have at least three questions ready to ask every job interview you encounter; those who do tend to get hired more often than those who don’t because they show motivation, keen interest and thoughtfulness.
Some questions you might ask for an optometrist job are:
- What is a typical day like?
- What are your expectations for the first 90 days?
- What does a successful optometrist look like to you?
Gather references.
You’ll need professional references quickly if the hiring manager offers you the job after the interview. Having them ready will save you stress and time, so prepare a list of two former colleagues and a former manager who are willing to speak to your abilities to perform the job of an optometrist and who you know will give you a stellar review.
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How we reviewed this article
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Sources
- American Board of Optometry
- Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Optometrists
- NHS. Entry requirements, skills and interests (optometrists)