Relocating isn’t just about a new home, but can be the start of a new and exciting chapter in your life. For example, living by the sea poses an envious work-life balance, where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle.
Just because you’re enjoying a more enriched life, your career doesn’t have to take a step back… you can have both.
With an already impressive career at Vision Express, optometrist Ali Meghjee has taken this to new heights with his recent coastal relocation. ‘I’ve always wanted the opportunity to do more than just be in a test room,’ says Ali. As well as getting involved in our pre reg recruitment events and supervision, Vision Express recognised Ali’s natural talent for leading and motivating others.
Originally based in Birmingham, an opportunity came along for Ali to relocate to a costal location and take a role as a Managing Optometrist. With his management capabilities developed through the Vision Express Rising Stars programme, Ali was the perfect candidate, and this was his chance to do more than be in a test room. This was an opportunity where Ali could lead and manage a store operationally along with an improved quality of life.
The challenge this presented was exciting, a new role and a lot more responsibility to go with it. ‘The location is lovely, the customers are great and loyalty in the area is really strong. The quality of life and work-life balance is amazing.’ Both Ali and his wife have more time to spend together and enjoy life by the sea. The disadvantage of leaving family and friends behind is overcome by regular trips home, and with social media, it’s easier than ever to keep in touch with those further away.
With opportunities like this available for optometrists many employers still scratch their head as to why key locations are more of a challenge than others. Sally Litchfield, Head of Recruitment and Development at Vision Express explains: ‘Coastal regions pose a particular challenge as these places don’t seem to have the same appeal as working in city centre locations such as London, Birmingham or Glasgow. A lot of newly qualified optometrists will have gone to university in these cities and want to remain there, despite the additional opportunities and enhanced remuneration packages a more costal store can offer.’
Ash Chowdhury is no stranger to optics, having practiced as an optometrist and now working in the capacity of a careers advisor for the optometry students at Aston University. He says: ‘The general feeling is that certainly students wish to be close to their family and friends and fear isolation. Only a few are brave enough to venture to our glorious coastline. Those that do, speak of a relaxed quality of life and can visit friends on days off.’
Natalia Nowakowska, a newly-qualified optometrist with Vision Express shares her experience. ‘I have many loans from my university education and as a result I have been open to other areas because of the enhanced salary packages available. Following her first visit at her new store Natalia says: ‘The store team were wonderful, very genuine and close knit, and my working environment is very important to me. The store had just been re-fitted and had fantastic equipment. I’m really excited to start my career here. I think some students find it intimidating to be further away from home when starting out as a qualified optometrist as it’s important to feel you have support when you need it. However Vision Express are also there to help, it feels like a family and as such the support will always be there’.
Despite the challenge in key locations to recruit employed optometrists, there are a high number of locums who are prepared to travel to these areas and take advantage of the higher day rates of pay. However, Vision Express now feels that with enhanced salary packages, flexible working arrangements and job security, this really is something for locums to think about. Being part of a store team and seeing how they can contribute to the success of the business are just a couple of reasons why more locums have chosen to take up employed positions with Vision Express. There is also ongoing training and development available, for example, opportunities to gain additional CET points through peer reviews or like Ali, optometrists can take advantage of the Rising Stars programme.
Following Ali’s relocation, he comments: ‘I would definitely recommend a coastal area to others in the industry who have the motivation and want to progress. It can provide a great platform to get more involved in the business and show results. I’m thankful that as an optometrist, Vision Express made this opportunity available to me, and supported me every step of the journey.’
This article was submitted by Vision Express.
