Three Things to Include on Your Resume When Applying for a Position as a Doctor of Optometry

When applying for a position as a doctor of optometry, it is essential to craft a resume that stands out from the crowd. When looking for a new position, there are a few components you can include to help your resume shine.

1. Details about your clinical rotations – When reviewing your resume, employers are interested in learning about what kinds of patients you have experience with and are comfortable treating. As you list your clinical rotations, use this section to highlight any specializations or patient types you would be interested in focusing on over the duration of your career. Don’t forget to mention technology and techniques you have experience with. Practice owners value recent graduates for their training with the latest optometric technology and techniques. Highlighting any advances you’ve become familiar with over the course of your studies and in clinical rotations allows hiring ODs the opportunity to analyze any gaps they may have within their practice and consider how your experiences may help to bridge those gaps.
2. Extracurricular activities and community involvement – These inclusions help demonstrate your well-roundedness as an applicant. Practice owners are often looking to add doctors to their practices who exhibit leadership qualities and have experience as a member of a team. Including your extracurricular activities and community involvement, and highlighting the role you played in each activity, helps to give your potential employer an idea of your willingness to act as a member of a team and commitment to your community.
3. Hobbies and interests – Some applicants may view this section as frivolous and choose not to include it in their resumes. However, a hiring OD is faced with the challenge of identifying a candidate who is going to be a good long-term fit for their practice, and personality plays an important part in making that decision. Sharing your interests and hobbies will help your potential employer to develop a more complete picture of who you are as a person and how you might build relationships with your colleagues and patients. Also, your hobbies will often generate new patients to your practice as you meet and interact with others that share your interests.

Searching for your perfect career fit? Check out the AOAExcel Career Center to connect with hiring practices nationwide.