Many people consider jobs in healthcare, and there are a lot of ophthalmology job opportunities available. Ophthalmology is a field that’s constantly evolving and always in need of talent. On top of making a profound impact on patients’ lives, you’ll find that you don’t need a certificate or special training for many positions because on-the-job training is provided, making it a lucrative and rewarding career path.
Ophthalmology is a great field in which to build your career. Along with many growth opportunities, you’ll find job stability, the power to make a huge difference in patients’ lives, a healthy work-life environment, and more.
To learn what people should consider when looking for an ophthalmology job and how Vision Integrated Partners (VIP) can help new hires develop a career in ophthalmology, we sat down with Daniel Flores, Director of Talent Management for Vision Integrated Partners (VIP).
A: Having a certification helps, but many practices are promoting from within as well as training and developing from within. Because of this, many certifications are no longer as necessary as others, such as those for nurses and doctors—those are still required and needed.
A: We have a really short turnaround time for filling positions, and we also have great retention rates. There are plenty of opportunities for growth, high employee satisfaction, great benefits, competitive pay, and great leadership.
A: We take pride in responding to applications within 24-48 hours. We like to respond quickly and keep a fast-paced turnaround time to respond to applications and move them forward in the application process.
We also limit the number of interviews a candidate has and avoid having five or more interviews for one candidate. They can expect one-on-one with a recruiter followed by a Business Unit Leader (BUL). We also have a lot of communication with candidates throughout the interview process and even up to their first day at VIP and beyond to see how things are going for them.
A: Stability and not jumping between different jobs is very important. We understand the struggles many people faced during the pandemic, so we give grace on any kind of gap or turnover within those couple of years. But, before the pandemic, we make sure candidates weren’t jumping around between jobs every six months or year. This is because we're looking for people who want to be with us, grow with us, and stay with us long term.
Then, we look at experience and skills. We don’t expect a ton of experience, but we do want someone who has stability in their profession. Unless it is a position that requires a license, such as a nurse or a doctor, we don’t actively look for certifications. So, what we look at is if a candidate has the experience or skill set that aligns with the position.
For example, if we're looking for a medical receptionist, you may not have medical receptionist experience, but maybe you were a receptionist at a med spa or a high-volume veterinary clinic—something that can translate and can be coached and evolved for it to be cohesive with the position.
A: Technology will continue to drive significant change in the industry. Advancements in artificial intelligence, scientific breakthroughs, and innovations in intraocular lenses will have a major impact on ophthalmology and reshape the field. At the same time, the staffing shortage will also continue to impact the industry.
A: They should understand they’re constantly going to be valued and needed. For those who are already in the vision care field, the growth opportunities are going to continue to be there. It's just going to advance, but new entrants should prepare themselves for those future trends.
With all the healthcare jobs available, you may be wondering, “Why ophthalmology?” Let’s take a look at what makes ophthalmology attractive and how VIP has a unique approach to recruitment compared to other recruiting fields.
A: When people are looking for healthcare jobs, unfortunately, vision care can be forgotten about sometimes, but there’s a huge need for staff in the ophthalmology field. And when it comes to vision care, many people may think it’s just fitting glasses. But there’s a lot happening in vision care that many people may not think about or even look into when trying to get into a healthcare job.
There’s also much better work-life balance in ophthalmology jobs. Many of our practices are 8-5 with no evenings, weekends, or holidays, which is much different in the medical field, where you might be working a 12-hour shift or night shift. There’s a lot more flexibility in ophthalmology and a lot more work-life balance, which is fantastic.
A: We try to keep open communication with candidates and new hires to see how things are going and if they have any concerns, comments, or questions that they might not be comfortable bringing up to their manager. We are with them from the beginning and develop a close enough relationship where they can confide in us.
Every candidate can expect rapid responses so they know where they stand—even if we aren’t moving them forward in the interview process or if they don’t meet the criteria. I also make sure that candidates are prepared and understand the full scope of the position, the practice, how the practice operates, and information about the practice, but also help them get prepared for their next interview. We do some coaching on great questions to possibly ask or research to do before the interview.
The ophthalmology field is constantly evolving, opening up an array of opportunities for new hires. VIP is always on the lookout for talented people with a drive to provide care for others to join our team. Learn more about our exciting opportunities by exploring open positions and applying today!