When people decide to work at Specsavers, they’re joining a company with a purpose to change lives through better sight and hearing – hence why more Australians and New Zealanders choose the optometry provider over any other.
As one of the largest employers in the ANZ optometry sector, Insight sits down with an employee each month to hear about their growth trajectory within the company.
Specsavers stats
Name: Jessica Hickey
Current position: Regional training manager NSW/ACT
Location: NSW/ACT
Years within the business: 4
How did you come to work at Specsavers?
After completing a university degree, I was looking for a change. Feeling unfulfilled, I wanted a job that helped people. A close friend worked for Specsavers for many years and had amazing experiences. That, combined with the catch phrase ‘Should have gone to Specsavers’, made me excited to work for a company that not only helped people but also had fun while doing so.
What was your first role within the business?
I was hired at the Specsavers Dapto store as an optical assistant, and this is where I started my training towards optical dispensing. I had sales experience but learning the technical aspects around frame fit and the importance of lifestyle recommendations was completely new and intriguing to me.
What growth opportunities have presented themselves?
I was fortunate to be in a store with two fantastic partners who demonstrated many opportunities in store and offered unconditional support. They encouraged me to take on the in-store trainer role and then supported me through completing the Cert IV in Optical Dispensing. When I expressed an interest in moving to into the support team, they not only advocated for me but continued to strengthen my dispensing and leadership skills.
Why did you pursue a dispensing career?
I was immediately hooked. I loved all aspects of dispensing, the behind-the-scenes technical skills, as well as the professionalism that comes with getting to know patients and making recommendations you know will improve their quality-of-life.
What is your most interesting dispensing case?
A mother brought her son with ADHD who struggled to stay still. She had been told by the school they believed her son had vision problems. After a challenging sight test, it was confirmed he needed glasses. The mum was overwhelmed and struggling to process this information. Having just completed my Cert IV in Optical Dispensing, caring for this boy was a great experience, putting much of my knowledge into practice. It was important to make dispensing fun for him while ensuring he picked frames that fitted him and were durable for an active lifestyle. The dispense itself was another challenge but I used some new techniques to keep it fun and lively while also obtaining the accurate facial measurements and frame fit.
The most rewarding part was at collection, when the young boy went very still and started to point out, to everyone in-store, all the new details he could see. This dispense will stay with me for a very long time as it highlighted to me the power of sight.
What advice would you offer to someone considering a career as an optical dispenser?
I would say go for it! It is not a job you hear about at school, but it is a job that has endless possibilities, not only locally, but all around the world. You will meet some amazing individuals and continue to help people along the way. It is extremely rewarding.
What excites you most about turning up for work each day?
In my role as regional training manager, no day is ever the same. It is exciting to always face something new, challenging myself and keeping me on my toes. I am always learning and that’s what makes every day exciting.
More reading
Specsavers working to break down optometry barriers
Specsavers, Vision Australia stepping up for patients with low vision
Specsavers makes golden impression in customer experience award rankings
