The Michigan College of Optometry New Graduate Job Search

Background: This research project investigated the process involved in finding
employment in the optometric profession after graduation. The survey compiled,
compared and analyzed a variety of methods utilized, including newer online social
networking, and how worthwhile each method was. Methods: An online survey sent to ten years of MCO graduates took a broad look at their first job search experiences. Graduate demographics, methods used to find their first position and their effectiveness, whether the graduate was open to practicing anywhere or self-limited to a specific location, and satisfaction ratings were analyzed. Results: From the responses received, the most utilized methods were networking connections, the AOA website, and other internet websites. The highest rated methods based on relative effectiveness were networking connections, connections through friends, and other internet websites; on the other hand, the Linkedln© and Facebook© websites were the lowest rated methods. Conclusions: Despite the individuality of each search, social networking is not currently an effective way to acquire optometric positions, but professional networking is a more effective method. The free text responses collected contain plenty of advice and experiences with a wealth of wisdom to reflect on that can benefit future optometry students.