Some of the best items to include on an optometrist resume are educational background, research and clinical experience, employment history, and extracurricular activities. It is also good practice to position all contact information clearly at the top of the resume, just below your name. Any held licenses should also be listed, especially if practicing within a location requiring certification.
Optometrists must typically complete a bachelor's degree before attending an optometry school. Education should be one of the first items that a potential employer sees on your optometrist resume; this can reflect your dedication to the art of examining vision, especially if the bachelor's degree is in a related field, such as chemistry or another science major. A clear and concise resume will list the graduating major, years of attendance, and basic coursework completed.
Students normally attend classes, as well as internships, during their coursework in optometry school. As a result of the internship, you should have some critical research and clinical experience to list on the optometrist resume. Potential employers value clinical, or hands-on, experience in a real world situation; often, this experience can make the difference between being chosen for a position or passed over.
Along with the clinical experience, research is also highly valued by employers. Placing any research experience on the optometrist resume will show prospective employers that you have inquiry skills that can contribute to new vision examination processes and improved patient care. You should add specific research details to the optometrist resume to clarify the areas examined, such as glaucoma analysis.
If you have had any employment history, you should list it on the resume. Experience not related to the optometry field should be placed near the end of the resume; however, anything related to vision examination, such as volunteering in a doctor's office, is important experience to showcase above the rest of the experience. You should give a short description of your duties to illustrate the work and your skills.
Extracurricular activities should be placed near the end of the resume. These should reflect your dedication to the visual practice, like memberships with the optical industry. Any voluntary workshops or supplemental classes should be reflected as well, if they were not directly related to college or optometry school. The practice of optometry is regulated in many locations; include current licenses and certifications on your resume as well.