How Do I Find and Hire an Optometrist for My Organization? 

Here are some great tips to help you recruit the right O.D. for your Retail Store, Corporate Optometry Job, Hospital Based Position or Private Practice Role.

1. Understand Your Needs

Before launching a recruitment campaign, assessing your practice’s needs is crucial. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), the demand for optometrists is expected to grow by 10% from 2021 to 2031, which is faster than the average for most professions. This makes it more important than ever to know exactly what you're looking for in your next hire.

2. Craft a Compelling Job Description

When you craft a job description, make sure to stand out. According to a Glassdoor survey, 76% of candidates say they research a company’s culture before applying. A compelling job description that showcases your practice’s culture, values, and benefits can make a huge difference in attracting top talent.

3. Use Recruiters, Job Boards, Networking and Social Media

Optometry recruitment is highly competitive. According to the AOA, nearly 40% of optometrists are over the age of 50, which means a large portion of the workforce is nearing retirement. This underscores the importance of reaching as many potential candidates as possible. Consider diversifying your approach—Today's job seeking Optometrists find jobs through recruiters, online job boards, colleagues, and through social media channels.

4. Streamline the Interview Process

A long or complicated interview process can cause frustration and cause candidates to lose interest. 74% of job seekers report that they’ve lost interest in a job offer because the hiring process took too long (Source: Workable). To avoid this, streamline your process, and aim to make decisions quickly, especially given the demand for optometrists in today’s market.

5. Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits and Think Creatively

Compensation plays a pivotal role in attracting talent. According to a 2019 AOA survey, 55% of optometrists report that salary and benefits are the top factor influencing their job satisfaction.  Moreover, offering benefits that cater to work-life balance is crucial. A Gallup report found that 54% of employees would leave their current job for one that offered more flexibility, which may require open mindedness and creativity for hiring employers.

6. Highlight Opportunities for Mentoring & Career Growth

Optometrists, especially younger professionals, are looking for great mentors who can help them grow. According to a 2018 AOA survey, 78% of optometrists expressed interest in receiving professional development support from their employer. Practices that offer continuing education opportunities, mentorship programs, and leadership tracks will have an edge in recruiting top talent.

7. Make an Offer Quickly

Once you've identified the right candidate, prompt action is essential. In fact, 60% of job candidates say they would reject an offer if the process was too slow or lacked clear communication. When offering a job, do so in a way that feels personal—whether through a video call or a one-on-one conversation. This goes a long way in showing that you value your prospective new hire's time, attention and expertise.

8. Onboarding and Retention

Effective onboarding can have a big impact on retention. Studies show that organizations with a strong onboarding process improve new hire retention by 82% and productivity by 70% (Source: Glassdoor). A well-planned onboarding program will help your new hire feel welcomed, supported, and motivated to stay long-term.

Need Help? Are you an employer that needs help finding and hiring talented Optometrists? 

Let's brainstorm about finding the perfect doctor addition for your Optometry team. 

Reach out to Drew Caldwell at OjO Recruitment.  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.