Writing a CV for an optometrist requires thorough attention to detail. However, with myPerfectCV, it’s quick and easy. You’ll find all of the resources you need to create your application today – from our advice how to write a CV and a professional optometrist CV example to our proven builder tool. Our resources include extensive CV examples for each section to help you understand what has worked in the past. This can be the perfect starting point to get the writing gears turning!

Are you ready to start your CV writing journey?

Let’s look closely at the details of an optometrist CV with the following:

SEARCH ALL CV EXAMPLES

    Optometrist CV sample

    Optometrist CV sample

    Hannah Taylor

    24 Jones Walk
    Sheffield S2 2FJ
    (555)555-5555
    hannah.taylor@example.com

    Professional summary

    Highly skilled and experienced Optometrist with a proven track record of providing exceptional eye care services. Possesses in-depth knowledge of diagnosing and treating various eye conditions, as well as prescribing and fitting corrective lenses. Strong ability to build rapport with patients and deliver personalised care. Committed to staying updated with the latest advancements in optometry to provide the best possible outcomes for patients.

    Work history

    March 2022 – Current
    Vision Care Clinic – London, Optometrist

    • Conducted comprehensive eye examinations to assess visual acuity, detect eye diseases, and identify vision abnormalities.
    • Prescribed and fitted corrective lenses, including glasses and contact lenses, based on individual patient needs and preferences.
    • Provided expert advice and guidance to patients on proper eye care practices and the use of vision correction devices.
    • Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive patient care.

    February 2015 – February 2022
    Eye Health Clinic – Sheffield, Senior Optometrist

    • Managed a high-volume patient load, conducting thorough eye examinations and delivering accurate diagnoses.
    • Developed and implemented treatment plans for patients with various eye conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
    • Performed specialized tests and procedures, such as visual field testing and retinal imaging, to assess and monitor eye health.
    • Mentored and supervised junior optometrists, providing guidance and support in their professional development.

    Skills

    • Comprehensive Eye Examinations
    • Diagnosis and Treatment
    • Prescription and Fitting
    • Patient Education
    • Team Collaboration
    • Specialised Testing
    • Mentoring and Supervision
    • Record Keeping

    Education

    2017, University of Manchester Manchester
    Master of Optometry, Optometry

    2015, University of Birmingham Birmingham
    Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Sciences

    Create this CV

    x

    Optometrist CV template

    Writing a CV for an optometrist can feel difficult. You’ll need to include a wide variety of content including your educational background, your work history, and any unique skills you may possess. Trying to fit this all into one document can be difficult. Thankfully, we have a series of CV templates that you can use to build a CV that will allow you to get a head start on a new position!

    Choosing the right format for your optometrist CV

    The first step is to choose the perfect format for your CV. While there are many CV formats you can choose from, you’ll need one that best fits an optometrist. As mentioned above, the best CVs for this position will include your work experience, skills, and educational background.

    When it comes to selecting the right skeleton for your CV, there is one format that stands above all others – the reverse-chronological CV. Since employers will be interested in your work history, it’s a good idea to provide this to them in a comprehensive, simple way. A reverse-chronological CV begins with your current or most recent role and works backwards through time – explaining all of your most important work experience.

    If you lack experience as an optometrist, you might also want to consider a skills-based CV. In this case, the skills are brought further up the CV and expanded on a lot more. This is ideal for trainee optometrist applicants to shift the focus onto what you can offer rather than what you lack.

    Here are some important structural tips you should keep in mind when selecting a format for a optometrist CV:

    • Make sure to send your CV as a PDF or Word file.
    • Your CV should be either one or two pages long.
    • You should break up any long sections of text with section breaks or bullet point lists.
    • Make sure you pick a format that allows you to add everything asked by the job advert.
    • Always use a professional font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri.

    Choose your format now

    How to write a CV for an optometrist

    In the following sections, we’re going to explain how you can write a CV for an optometrist. We’ll take a close look at all of the important sections you’ll need to add and give you a simple formula to follow for each so you can get it right. Here is what we will delve into:

    How to add contact details to your optometrist CV

    After selecting your format, it’s time to go deep into the content of your CV. The first important section of content for you to add is a clear set of contact details to make sure you are reachable. There’s nothing worse for a hiring manager than to find your CV, like you as a candidate, but then be unable to reach you because you’ve left out your contact details.

    You won’t need to use much space up for this section, simply add a clear set of contact details near the top of your document. They should be written in a bolder or larger font than the rest of your text. When you create your contact details, always include the following:

    • Your full name – no need to include your middle name.
    • Your location – so the employer knows where you’re based.
    • Phone number – go for a mobile number if you can.
    • Your email – make sure to choose a professional email address.

    Example of contact section for an optometrist CV

    Martin Jones
    84 Round Walk,
    Glasgow, G1 3GU
    07912345678
    Martin.jones@example-example.co.uk

    Optometrist CV personal statement

    Your personal statement (or personal summary) is one of the most important sections of your CV. It can also be one of the trickiest to write. This paragraph needs to be around 2-3 sentences long and outline your current role, professional background, and short-term career objectives.

    Make sure your personal statement contains your most competitive information, as this should encourage your recruiter to read more. You can also use this section to share details of your work ethic or character, so don’t be afraid to include positive adjectives to describe your personality.

    To write a comprehensive personal statement, you can follow the following simple formula.

    Your first sentence is all about introducing yourself to the reader. Think of it as a snappy handshake that lets them know who you are and your general career focus. No need to delve into future ambitions this early – just state your experience level and current career objective.

    After this, move onto a second sentence that gives an example of something you have achieved as a candidate. You’ll want to couple this with a real world fact or figure that lends authority to your statement. Let’s say, for example, you achieved a 95% patient approval rating over the course of a year working as an optometrist – this would be the moment to mention it with that stat as the centre of your statement.

    Your third and fourth sentences are where you should outline any special skills or unique abilities. If you have experience in a special area of optometry, this would be your moment to mention it! Try to focus on what makes you the most unique – as this will help you to stand out from other applicants!

    Here are some other tips for your personal statement that will make the writing easier for you:

    • Write in the third person as this is seen as more professional.
    • Always proofread your statement to make sure it is coherent and free from errors.
    • Use engaging language throughout, including action verbs and positive adjectives.

    Example of personal statement for an optometrist CV

    Responsive Optical Technician proudly offering 16 years of expertise in lens operations, manufacturing, and production. Skilled in adjusting and repairing spectacles and applying special finishes and coatings to lenses.

    OR

    Experienced optometrist adept at supporting patients with a commitment to enhancing patients’ visual well-being. Conducted over 4000 eye exams, ensuring accurate prescriptions and detection of eye conditions. Particular skills in patient relationships, creating a trusting environment, and explaining complex medical terminology in a clear and empathetic manner.

    Create my CV

    Optometrist CV work experience

    In the realm of optometry, professional experience means a lot. Because of this, it should be the focal point of your CV if possible. As a result, your work experience section will take up a considerable amount of space. Despite this, you will need to make sure to fit in a lot of information without being overly wordy.

    Begin this section by listing your current or most recent role. You can then work backwards through time, outlining around 6 responsibilities for each job. Always make sure to give detail about these responsibilities, adding keywords from the job advertisement where appropriate.

    One thing to be careful of here is repeating yourself. Refrain from listing the same responsibilities twice. You should always remember not to add responsibilities that are mundane or standard – for example, answering emails isn’t a good use of your word count.

    You should write with clear, engaging language throughout. Use positive adjectives like “experienced” or “reliable” to describe yourself. When explaining your previous responsibilities, use action verbs like “led” or “assisted” to make your writing come to live. The idea is to hook the reader and give them an understanding of your real-life experience!

    Example of work experience for an optometrist CV

    Specialist Optometrist, 03/2023 to Current
    Gartnavel General Hospital – Glasgow

    • Made contact lenses for individual prescriptions using lathe-cutting techniques.
    • Removed lenses from moulds and separated lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
    • Completed documentation of care, hospital actions and patient activities.

    Optometrist, 09/2021 to 02/2023
    Vision Express Opticians – Glasgow

    • Inserted eyeglass frames into solutions to harden, dye or soften frames.
    • Maintained confidentiality and compliance standards at all times.
    • Followed and promoted protocols and procedures to ensure effectiveness, efficiency and safety.

    Great skills to add on your optometrist CV

    Optometrists need an impressive mix of technical and interpersonal skills. Read on to find out what employers want to see in the skills section of your CV. Many employers will skip straight to the skills section of your CV to see if you have the required boxes ticked to be considered for the position. More than this, many companies now use ATS software that will search the document and filter out those who don’t have some of the required skills listed.

    Because of this, you’ll need to add in a comprehensive skills section that showcases the best of you as a candidate.

    You’ll want to strike a balance between hard and soft skills on your CV, as an employer will want to see evidence of both to consider you for the position. So, what is the difference between these? Hard skills are anything you’ve learned on the job or through education. You can think of these as the concrete skills that an optometrist needs in order to do their job correctly.

    Soft skills, on the other hand, are more like personal character traits that make you a positive candidate. The idea here is to strike a balance between these two categories of skills. An employer will want both a well-rounded person and an individual who has the practical skills in optometry required for the position.

    Key skills for your optometrist CV

    • Communication
    • Customer service
    • Eye examination
    • Health and safety
    • Knowledge of medical regulations
    • Vision correction

    Bonus skills

    • Administration
    • Fitting glasses
    • Making contact lenses
    • Patient confidentiality
    • Database management

    Outlining education on an optometrist CV

    The final required section on your optometrist CV is to add your educational history. An optometrist is a position that requires brains as well as practical experience, so you’ll want to show your employer you have the background to go along with your skills and experience. Because of this, you should add a short educational history section that covers all of your most impressive qualifications.

    You won’t need to use much space to cover everything, but you should keep in mind that the employer will want to see relevant qualifications. If you’ve completed an undergraduate degree in optometry then highlight this straight away as it is often one of the first barriers to entry for an optometry candidate.

    You should list each of your qualifications from most impressive to lesser. Only add qualifications that are relevant. What do we mean by this? While your art A level might be something to be celebrated, it isn’t going to be especially relevant for an optometry position. You can leave this out in place of something that builds your application.

    Here is what to focus on when adding an education section to your optometry CV:

    • Name of the educational institution
    • Start and end dates of your academic course
    • Official title of your field of study
    • Qualification level you attained
    • Qualification outcome or result

    Example of education for an optometry CV

    Doctor of Optometry, 2022
    University of Glasgow – Glasgow

    Bachelor of Science: Optometry, 2020
    Glasgow Caledonian University – Glasgow

    Dos and don’ts for your optometrist CV

    Don’t go into the application process blind. With our top tips, you can discover exactly what your recruiter wants to see on your optometrist CV.

    Do

    • DO use keywords from the optometrist job description

      From making contact lenses to monitoring signs of diabetes, the role of an optometrist can be incredibly varied. To make sure your CV is tailored to each new role, always include keywords and phrases from the optometrist job description.

    • DO highlight your specialisms

      Because optometrists can work in a variety of settings, it’s important to highlight your particular areas of expertise when writing your CV. This could be writing prescriptions at an optician company or diagnosing medical conditions in a clinic.

    Don't

    • DON’T forget to show off your interpersonal skills

      Customer service is a key part of most optometrist roles. To show a potential employer you have excellent interpersonal skills, don’t be afraid to show off your personality. By including some thoughtful adjectives in the personal statement section of your CV, you can create a well-rounded overview of your professional qualities and demonstrate your suitability for the role.

    • DON’T forget the numbers

      Sometimes, numbers speak louder than words. To help your recruiter quantify your impact, include some facts and figures from your previous roles – whether you managed a patient database containing over 100 people or reduced the time it took to diagnose eye problems by 10%. These metrics will make sure your application stands out from the crowd.

    brand-image

    Your optometrist CV questions answered

    What qualifications do I need to be an optometrist?

    To become an optometrist, you’ll need a degree in optometry that has been approved by the General Optical Council (GOC). These optometrists qualifications are essential – it isn’t possible to start working as an optometrist if you haven’t registered with the GOC, although you can study for this qualification while working towards the role.

    What skills does an optometrist require?

    An optometrist requires a strong combination of practical, technical, and interpersonal skills. As well as being able to use various bits of medical diagnostic equipment, you will need to have excellent customer service skills to assist patients or customers. This includes great communication, especially as you may need to explain complex problems to people with little to no medical knowledge.

    What should I include in an optometrist CV?

    When writing your CV, make sure to follow this optometrist CV format:

    • A personal statement that outlines your current optometrist role, experience level, and most impressive skills.
    • A work experience section that highlights your professional background, with 3-6 bullet points per role to share your optometrist responsibilities and achievements.
    • A skills section that lists eight of your top skills (both hard and soft).
    • An education section that lists your academic and professional qualifications.

    How do I write a cover letter for optometry?

    Writing a cover letter for optometry is similar to writing your optometrist CV. Both documents need to showcase your experience and explain why you’re an excellent candidate for the role. To do this, make sure you address particular requirements that are mentioned in the job description – whether it’s a personality trait, a key skill, or particular qualification.

    What is the average optometrist salary in the UK?

    According to the NHS, the standard starting pay for an optometrist is around £30,000 a year. The National Careers Service gives the average optometrist salary as £31,365 to £62,001. Your optometrist pay will depend on factors such as your seniority and location.

    Build my CV

    Related CVs Healthcare CV Examples

    See your career path clearly with myPerfectCV

    If you’ve set your sights on a new optometrist role, you’re in the right place. At myPerfectCV, you can explore our top tips, professional optometrist CV templates, CV examples, and innovative CV builder tool. We’ve made it quick and easy to create your application today!

    Build my CV

    Build CV

    *The names and logos of the companies referred to above are all trademarks of their respective holders. Unless specifically stated otherwise, such references are not intended to imply any affiliation or association with myperfectCV.