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: Steven Verebes
Current position: Optometry Director
Location: Kalamunda, Western Australia
Years within the business: 1
Why did you pursue an optometry career, and how did you enter the profession?
For as long as I can remember I’ve been interested in science and biology. At some point during my early teenage years I realised I wanted to pursue a career in the health sciences. I remember being fascinated with the eye and how vision works, so I decided to do my work experience in high school for an optometrist. After that I was sold and my fascination ended up eventually turning into a career.
How did you come to work at Specsavers, and what attracted you to the business?
I have worked for Specsavers before in different capacities, so I knew prior to rejoining how well the business model works. It’s such a great system for both staff and customers alike; being able to provide a service like OCT on every patient, without charge, is a game-changer clinically.
What was your first role within the business, and what did it entail?
My first role was working as an optical assistant in Indooroopilly when I was an optometry student in Brisbane. It entailed optical dispensing, pre-testing and front-of-house duties. During this time I got to experience first-hand how well structured the customer journey is, and this is one of the big reasons that ultimately drew me back to working at Specsavers.
Since then, what growth opportunities have presented themselves?
I have worked in different capacities for Specsavers over the years, as an optical dispenser, locum optometrist, full time optometrist, but the most exciting growth opportunity afforded to me so far is the Pathway Program. During this time I learnt a lot, but the key gems I took away were around how to be the best leader that I can, both through self-development and specific tools to mentor and guide teams successfully.
Can you recall a case where you made a significant difference?
One case I will never forget is when a patient presented with a recent onset, very localised headache at the top of her head. She also had a very subtle ptosis and smaller pupil on one side. My disease lecturer at university would often talk about how life threatening a sudden onset Horner’s Syndrome can be, and as she had never noticed her eyelid or pupil being smaller, I referred her immediately to the hospital emergency rooms. When I followed up with her, she confirmed that she had a carotid dissection. It was a real wake-up call that what we do can actually save lives.
Can you outline your top career highlights since joining Specsavers?
The highlight that comes fresh to mind is being able to implement my learnings from doing Pathway in store. It’s been really rewarding to be able to use what I’ve learned to create meaningful change in store and to develop my leadership skills.
What excites you most about turning up for work each day?
It might sound cliche, but it’s the ability to make a difference to the eyesight and quality of life of people every day. The gift of sight can’t be understated, and I think that’s why we’re all here doing what we do, at the end of the day.
More reading
Specsavers, Vision Australia stepping up for patients with low vision
Specsavers makes golden impression in customer experience award rankings
Specsavers named as one of the world’s best workplaces
