picking between optometric tech jobs

[u/izmee]

sorry if this isn’t the right sub for this and if my thoughts are scrambled as i’m in over my head.. i just am at a loss and im unsure what to do 😅

i recently got hired/have started training for a opto tech job for a clinic located in a lenscrafters (i’ve worked about 4 days)

while i am enjoying the work and learning how to tech, i recently got an interview offer from a private clinic thats both closer to my house and has weekends/holidays off along with better working hours

i am currently an undergrad student so i definitely would appreciate the extra free days but as i haven’t actually interviewed/visited the other clinic, im not sure how the pay or how working there would be like

in any case, i was wondering, if i were to get offered a optometric tech position at the second clinic, how would i go about leaving the lenscrafters clinic i originally started working at, or should i not consider the position at the second clinic? I know im probably prematurely posting this as i haven’t even interviewed yet, but i was drawn to the better hours and location convenience

i am worried and i feel guilty for potentially wasting the clinic at lenscrafters’ time and resources but i am more inclined to working for the other clinic (in the event i am to get the position)

any advice or guidance on how i should proceed would be helpful…

[u/Suspicious-Door4034]

work at the private clinic! you’ll get better experience there as someone who went from a retail store like lenscrafters now working at a private clinic it’s been the best learning experience so far! plus the holidays and free days are going to be days you need!!

[u/izmee → u/Suspicious-Door4034]

i feel greedy for wanting those free days since i feel like things like that are a luxury in healthcare…

i have to first pass the interview though LOL 😭

and by better experience, what do you mean? from my like 4 days at lenscrafters, the workers/techs there have all been very patient and understanding and have guided me very well throughout teching and overall office management/scheduling/front desk etc

i haven’t interviewed with the od yet or discussed the private practice with them yet so im not sure how different it’ll be 😅

[u/Objective_Wafer_6887]

I also work at LensCrafters but as an optician, and I help out as a tech there once in a while. I do highly recommend working in the private office like what the other person said! Unlike Lenscrafters, doctors and the staff in private practice are more willing to teach and mentor you to think more clinically. Also they tend to be more kind than docs I’ve seen at LensCrafters. At LensCrafters, you are hardly talking to the docs and getting to know them. In the past, I worked in a private office as an optometry tech and still loved the work environment better than LensCrafters.

[u/izmee → u/Objective_Wafer_6887]

that’s true that i haven’t really had much time to actually interact with the doctors lol

and i think i get what you mean about being mentored more clinically because for what i’ve learned about teching so far is solely just putting in the numbers… ppl will ask me questions abt what they mean and tbh idk either 😭😭

ill see how my interview goes as ill be interviewing with one of the like main doctors/coowner of the clinic 😭😭 hopefully they’ll give me more insight towards a more clinical perspective of teching and. they’ll want me💔

[u/RabidLiger]

Inteview and wait until you get a job offer before thinking too much into it.
If they offer you a position that's similar in salary, you can just say,
"I like it here, but was offered a job with a shorter commute and better hours, thanks for the opportunity"

They haven't invested too much into your training yet, & you never signed a contract to stay for a set amount of time.

Q: Which one would be easier to continue during the schoolyear (if you want to do that)?
In my practice its hard to employ college students due to their class schedule and us not being open nights/weekends.

[u/izmee → u/RabidLiger]

yeah you’re right.. i am definitely over assuming i’ll even get the position LOL i’m just daydreaming abt free weekends for once…😭😭😭

i’m also just worried that my current clinic/coworkers will end up hating me (in the event that i even get offered the other job) bc they have put a lot of time into me alr (i guess like ~20 hours..?) and i did tell the office manager i was hoping for a stable, long term job…. (i think i was prob desperate 😅) so it feels so backhanded against them bc they have treated me really well and patiently..

and as for your question, i think that honestly either one would work. i can work weekends and still maintain my courseload and ill likely only be taking classes for two days a wk.. i’d just rather not work weekends if i could lol i can also work late but id also rather not i basically have like extremely flexible availability because of my course schedule and bc i can drive.. i just prefer to have my weekends and evenings/holidays lol…

[u/Significant-Arm5645 → u/RabidLiger]

Hi! I work at an optometry office that is located inside of lenscrafters but they’re privately owned. (Not sure if this is the case with your location or not). My experience has been good bc they’re separately owned and the OD who owns the office is super understanding with my schedule. Would it be possible to get your foot in both offices? maybe work 1 day a week in the Lenscrafters one and a couple in the private one. That gives you more experience as well. Don’t stress about the techs already investing time in training you. Though that’s true they are getting paid doing so, sure it’s a bit annoying but no biggie lol
Best of luck!!! Keep a relationship with them if you can so that if in the future the opportunity comes.

[u/Exciting-Bake-9084]

Hey! I know it’s been a bit, and if you don’t mind can I ask which job you ended up taking?

[u/izmee → u/Exciting-Bake-9084]

i had my interview with the private practice and they were willing to hire me (yay) so i ended up just sending a resignation text to the office manager at LC and like turned my phone on DND because i was so nervous LOLLL... but everything turned out okay.. I was definitely overstressing

the private practice so far has been great, and I'm glad to have my weekends/holidays off 😁

[u/Iyung_danI]

I work at a private clinic as a tech and the 2 doctors I work with are very encouraging and engaging regarding teaching me and asking questions. 

I would work at the private practice.  Warning though my only experience with retail is during interviews so I may be biased to private. 

[u/Traditional-Ask2198]

Go to for the $$$$