Volunteer Work
Volunteerism is in! But it has changed dramatically sincethe women who made up the traditional pool of helpers went to work at paying jobs. Contemporary volunteers areal ages, come from various walks of life, and donate their time for a variety of reasons. Many retirees do volunteer work in order to stay active. People new to a community often donate their nonworking hours to learn more about their new community and meet people. Volunteering is also good way to explore new or second career options. Most of the volunteers who work in hospitals or for other health services agencies will tell you that there is great satisfaction in knowing that the services they provide help patients.
Volunteer opportunities in eye care are abundant. The important thing to remember is to find a volunteer position that provides you with an opportunity to experience the career setting in which you would like to work. Your expectations about this "preparer" experience should be discussed with the volunteer coordinator before you sign on so that both your needs and those of the institution are met.
If you are undecided about which career option is for you, volunteer work in a hospital or eye institute will give youthe exposure to workers, patients, and other elements of the eye care environment that you need to make a decision. You should contact the volunteer services coordinator at a localeye institute or hospital that is affiliated with a medical school teaching program. In addition to working with inpatient services, you might have a chance to observe community outreach programs, such as mobile vision screening vans or satellite clinics in nursing home and neighborhood health centers.
The perception that hospital volunteers roll bandages and do menial work is outdated. Today's hospitals are short on staff in so many areas that your assignment could be one of your choosing and can be matched to your special talents and interests. Hospital volunteers are needed to escort and visit patients, help out in offices, do research in the medical library, program computers, run AV equipment for educational conferences, prepare public relations packets, manage the gift shop, organize fund-raisers, or do almost any job that does not require clinical licensing. Volunteers, in many ways, provide the extra level of caring and excellence that makes a hospital better.
Community Agencies
If your goal for volunteer work is to work with many patients or a specific type of visual disability, community agencies are a good source for this type of experience. Most states, counties, and large municipalities have an association for the blind and visually impaired that includes an information and referral service that lists volunteer needs. Community agencies that serve this population generally offer thefollowing services:
- Counseling of individuals and families
- Free/low cost transportation to medical facilities, shopping, and recreational activities
- Health equipment loans or consumer advice about equipment (talking book machines, canes, radios, glasses)
- Vision screening and education for the community
- Job placement and development
- Recreation (luncheons, parties, games, meetings)
- Rehabilitation outpatient care (Braille instruction, useof household appliances, instruction in independenttravel, adapted work or study skills)
- Recruitment of readers and recorders
The key to a successful and fulfilling volunteer experience—whatever you choose—is matching your goals with those of the institution or agency. If you want to observe ophthalmic technicians on the job, let the volunteer coordinator know, or you may end up in the linen room!
Part-Time Jobs
Many eye care professionals own their own businesses. Good way to learn about this side of eye care is to start at the bottom and work your way up. Part-dame jobs are a good way to gain some insight on the marketplace aspects of health care. Part-time employment may be educational and help to pay some bills, but it might not be glamorous. Many part-timers do paperwork in doctors' offices or stock shelves in stores. The object is not to get rich, but to watch your boss in order to gain an understanding of the rewards and responsibilities of self-employment. Your boss, of course, will provide more guidance if he or she knows that this is your intention. Ophthalmologists and optometrists often act as sponsors or references for employees who would like to enter technical or business training programs.
Part-time jobs are getting more plentiful and are frequently advertised in the employment second of the newspaper. One of the best ways to find a job in eye care is to use networking. You can do this by spreading the word among your friends, teachers, acquaintances, and relatives that you are interested in eye care related employment opportunities. If you know someone whose parent or friend is an optometrist, ask to meet that person to discuss your career exploration plan. Ask the optometrist to keep you in mind for any job openings he or she hears about.
A one-page resume is a good tool for communicating your skills and plans to prospective employers. Review the sections in this book on the eye care careers that interest you. Then, use your resume to summarize the relevant skills and education you have acquired in preparation for an eye care career. Remember to update your resume as you take on additional responsibilities in your new part-time job. Dealing with customers, developing marketing ideas, coding insurance forms, and updating patient education materials are the types of skills that will show schools and full-time employers that you are committed to professional growth and a good candidate for advanced training or promotion.
