employees

**fvc2020** · 09-25-2006, 02:03 PM

I was wondering.. Is anyone having problems finding employees? It seems like here in Minnesota it's impossible. I have need for a new optician. We placed help wanted ads twice that ran for 2 weeks apiece. The one person we did get lasted 3 days and left. This person left to work in another field.

When I lived in Florida those in retail did everything to get out. Here I'm not even getting those people.(they are getting way overpaid for their abililites) When I wanted someone I could train that was real scary.

Any suggestions...I'm frazzled....

Christina

**Jacqui** · 09-25-2006, 03:30 PM

I don't know what the problem is, Chris, we're having the same thing happen in Wisconsin.

**Snitgirl** · 09-25-2006, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by fvc2020

I was wondering.. Is anyone having problems finding employees? It seems like here in Minnesota it's impossible. I have need for a new optician. We placed help wanted ads twice that ran for 2 weeks apiece. The one person we did get lasted 3 days and left. This person left to work in another field.

When I lived in Florida those in retail did everything to get out. Here I'm not even getting those people.(they are getting way overpaid for their abililites) When I wanted someone I could train that was real scary.

Any suggestions...I'm frazzled....

Christina

Christina,

www.nao.org
Has a job bank listing where you can post an ad.

Depending on what level you are looking for and if your area has optical schools, you can call and let the department head know you are looking.

Call your local labs (if you have a good relationship with them) they usually know who is looking and also your sales reps.

Also, here is the best place where I got the most responses when I was looking to hire.

www.craigslist.com

Good Luck,
Michelle

**chip anderson** · 09-25-2006, 05:05 PM

We got plenty of displaced people from New Orleans here, write state employment commission of Mississippi we'll be glad to ship you some.

**ziggy** · 09-26-2006, 01:16 PM

Hi Christina, we were in need of an optician and I went to speak with some "retail" opticians that I know, and EVERY one of them said they didnt feel as though they were a good enough Optician to work for a MD:hammer: The problem that I've seen is that the best opticians come with a big price tag, most employers want an experienced Optician but they only want to pay12-15/hr. Good luck

**igirl** · 09-27-2006, 06:41 AM

Hiring for lab people is almost impossible. No one seems to want to get dirty anymore.

**jennylucas** · 11-03-2006, 01:06 AM

igirl,
I've been trying to get my current employer to let me into the lab since I started. I can do retail and dispensing. I want to get my hands dirty. They just won't let me. In this office (as with others I've been in) they seem to only train men on lab work. It's driving me crazy.

**Johns** · 11-03-2006, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by ziggy

Hi Christina, we were in need of an optician and I went to speak with some "retail" opticians that I know, and EVERY one of them said they didnt feel as though they were a good enough Optician to work for a MD:hammer:

I've interviewed these folks as well.

Many of the chain stores want their opticians to believe that this. It's almost like a control tactic to keep them from leaving.

Bizzarre...

**chip anderson** · 11-03-2006, 07:10 AM

In some organizations the method is to teach people only one job, the idea being that they will be less likely to start up thier own store or less qualified to change jobs. In the old days you tried to train all your people in every job so that if someone quit, or was not on the job that day, you could assign any employee to fill in.
In the lab women might be more prone to sue (when they leave, doesn't seem to bother them while they are there) over language, jokes, etc. Lab folks is more laid back as they don't have to face the public, and no one cares if they cuss each other or thier machines. If a man gets a small injury he is less likely to want to be compensated for damage to his "physical appearance."

Chip

**EyeFitWell** · 11-03-2006, 08:16 AM

When I was workin in the lab, I was proud of my swarf dandruff! I always thought it was pretty cool to be in a laboratory, regardless of how repiticious the work was.

In NC, we've been looking for a Dr's tech to no avail. We put an ad in the paper and got probably 50 resumees, but only two had any background in the field. It's surprising to me how few people there are around here looking for a good job!

**Dave Nelson** · 11-03-2006, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by jennylucas

igirl,
I've been trying to get my current employer to let me into the lab since I started. I can do retail and dispensing. I want to get my hands dirty. They just won't let me. In this office (as with others I've been in) they seem to only train men on lab work. It's driving me crazy.

Lab is still a male dominated facet of the industry, while the dispensing end now employs more females. Some optometrists are notorious for only hiring women. I do know a couple female lab techs though, and they are considered among the best in the biz. Keep pushing them to train you in lab work, you will become a more valuable employee, and a more rounded optician.

**Fezz** · 11-03-2006, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by EyeFitWell

When I was workin in the lab, I was proud of my swarf dandruff! !

LOL.....Nothing beats a bad case of swarf dandruff!!!

:cheers:

**Jacqui** · 11-03-2006, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Dave Nelson

Lab is still a male dominated facet of the industry, while the dispensing end now employs more females. Some optometrists are notorious for only hiring women. I do know a couple female lab techs though, and they are considered among the best in the biz. Keep pushing them to train you in lab work, you will become a more valuable employee, and a more rounded optician.

Igirl:

Our lab is all women (except for 2 or 3 of the cats). When I started (1969), I was only allowed to do "some" benchwork and only if I wasn't needed in the stockroom. I had to beg, harrass, and threaten the men to show me how to do the rest. The only thing they didn't teach me was how to run the generator. I read the operators manual and with a supply of reject lenses, I taught myself.

You may need to find a small wholesale lab to get started. Women can learn, I did !!!!

:cheers:

**EyeFitWell** · 11-03-2006, 11:13 AM

Amen Jacqui! I'll admit, I had to fight for my right to grind also.

**SarahMP584** · 11-03-2006, 01:10 PM

It seems that we have the opposite problem in the High Desert of california...
I finally gave up and took a job in the valley, it pays very well but I have a 1-2 hour drive ahead of me each way...
I WISH I could get a decent paying job closer to home, try finding a Contact lens fitter job....................ugh!! I have only been here about two months and I have already had two car accidents...THAT WERENT MY FAULT. I got rear ended, and then a week ago I got sideswiped by a freaking metro bus. My nerves are totally shot.

**Snitgirl** · 11-03-2006, 01:22 PM

Contact Lens Fitter jobs in California? Good luck with that.. Optometrist have a pretty tight grip on what they allow done in their office regardless of education and knowledge. Plus, there's not that many independent Opticians in California these days..

In San Diego, Optometrist offices remind me of 7/11 stores. Seems like there's an office every quarter mile and 99.9% of them have dispensaries.. This is just my opinion of course..

**gnogin** · 11-03-2006, 02:31 PM

hi...
to all women opticians

jennylucas wrote-
"igirl,
I've been trying to get my current employer to let me into the lab since I started. I can do retail and dispensing. I want to get my hands dirty. They just won't let me. In this office (as with others I've been in) they seem to only train men on lab work. It's driving me crazy..."
............................................................ ..............
i'd say- at least your current employer lets you touch them specs...if anyone remembers "guild opticians" in NYC or Chicago,London or Amsterdam-- only 30 yrs ago there were no female
at the dispensing table or in the lab...by the way,
don't get too angry- same went for shoemakers, watchmakers,doctors,jewelers,tailors :cheers: and other professions...
sorry,but its a historical fact.
be well and drive safe.

**chip anderson** · 11-03-2006, 06:06 PM

The whole problem started when we started allowing women to become educated, got worse when we allowed them to vote.

**Happylady** · 11-03-2006, 06:22 PM

I do lab work and I'm a woman.

**Jubilee** · 11-03-2006, 07:35 PM

I used to manage a lab, and I am a woman.

And for half of my lab career, women out numbered men.

**hotsauce** · 11-03-2006, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by chip anderson

The whole problem started when we started allowing women to become educated, got worse when we allowed them to vote.

Another turd in the punchbowl. Thanks for contributing nothing.

**Snitgirl** · 11-03-2006, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by chip anderson

The whole problem started when we started allowing women to become educated, got worse when we allowed them to vote.

LOL... ah huh :D

**Jacqui** · 11-03-2006, 11:16 PM

I own the lab and I'm a woman.

**cocoisland58** · 11-04-2006, 04:47 AM

In regards to finding employees it can be difficult. It took me three months. The best way is to go at it from all angles. Online job sites, newspaper, getting the word out through your sales reps, calling your optical friends, etc. I finally hired the person who answered the phone and took our orders at a wholesale lab. I had always liked her phone skills and cheery personality. She knows lens product very well and teaching her the rest was easy. Also it helps if you are willing to pay decent and offer benefits.

In regards to women in the lab. A well rounded optician is a desirable employee. You need to be able to work all areas, front desk to lab. When I started 30 years ago I would move from job to job as I learned all facets of the business. I found an optician who allowed me to come in early off the clock and learn the lab. Nowadays with patterless edgers anyone can learn very quickly to at least cut and edge. If you are in place where you are no longer learning new things, time to polish up your resume and move on.