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Welcome...

If you’re new to the industry, all of us at Eyecare Business are glad you’ve joined the optical family. This issue of NEW DISPENSER is designed to give you a mix of need-to-know skills and how to grow and network for the future.

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America’s MOST-RECOMMENDED JOB!

“The most highly recommended job in America pays less than $35,000.”

That was the headline in Business Insider, but the message was repeated everywhere: Of some 200 jobs studied, when 10,000 U.S. workers were asked if they would recommend their job to others, only one professional received a 100% rate of recommendation. Opticianry!

Why did all of those surveyed say they’d recommend the field to a friend?

According to PayScale, which conducted the study, “perks of the job include below average stress and above average upward mobility and flexibility.”

OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND

U.S. News & World Report has a lot of great things to say about the field of opticianry.

SCORE: It ranked opticianry among the top 20 best health care jobs in the U.S. In best jobs overall, it came in at a strong #42.



POTENTIAL: Between 2012 and 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a 23.4% increase in jobs in this field—that’s 15,800 new opportunities.



NEED: Why the demand? An aging population that requires eyecare services and eyewear.

Young Professionals Club

If you’re lucky enough to be attending this month’s Vision Expo West, you’ll be able to benefit from an immersive and interactive experience starting Sept. 16.

Vision Expo West offers a range of benefits for new dispensers and young O.D.s through its Young Professionals Club. Members receive free exhibit hall registration, discounted education, and special networking events including:

FRIDAY LUNCH. The YPC Lunch is an opportunity to interact with fellow members and show management in a casual setting.



RECEPTION. The Young Professionals Club Member Reception is from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Double Helix Bar in the Palazzo Hotel.



CLUB CRAWL. A Saturday night Las Vegas Club Crawl combines YPC members, prospective members, and students. There is a $20 deposit; Vision Expo covers the rest.



LEARN AND LUNCH. Student Saturday offers specialized education for optometry and opticianry students. An interactive, two-part “Choose Your Own Adventure” course will apply the lessons learned to real-time situations.



ROCKHOUSE: The Optometry and Optician Student Party, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Rockhouse in The Venetian. Must participate in Saturday student sessions to attend.



JOB LINK. A new onsite job program during exhibit hall hours, Job Link, powered by Local Eye Site, promotes job search coaching resources. Booth 25130.

For YPC questions, contact Kristen Reynolds (kreynolds@thevisioncouncil.org). To register online, visit VisionExpoWest.com.

New Dispenser is an insert to the September 2015 issue of Eyecare Business, a monthly magazine published by PentaVision LLC. For more information, contact Stephanie De Long at Stephanie.Delong@PentaVisionMedia.com.