Okay so basically I’ll be graduating this Summer InshaAllah.
I had been searching for a graduate job for the last year and a half. Now suddenly I find myself presented with two job offers. Both with companies that have respectively good reputations within my field.
Offer A: Boots Opticians - I had an interview with these guys in their head office, so I haven’t seen the store where I will be based, not met my supervisor/manager/director etc. Never been to the place where the job is based. However the regional manager who interviewed me was v down to earth and said she was placing me in this specific area because she thought the supervisor is someone she can ‘see me getting along well with’ - so to what extent do I go by her judgement? :-/
Advantages - I get good employee discounts, progression would be good as the company is expanding all the time. One of my friends is like a 45min train ride away, with the same company (Idk how that would help but still… )
However this place is a 3.5 hour train journey from home.. and never been here so I don’t really know what it will be like - I know NOONE in the area.
AH yes and I have the contract already.. waiting to be signed.
Offer B: Specsavers - So I had an interview with these guys over the phone, and then they invited me for a store visit day - basically spent 6 hours with them. They have 2 vacancies in 2 of their stores. Throughout the whole process they have been great, really friendly. Its a franchised store and I got to spend time with the directors, the managers, the current optometrists. Also the graduate optometrist from last year is from my university - so we sort of know one another.
They’ve been quite accommodating in terms of placing me in the store I prefer. Without a doubt, the market leaders in the industry atm, but they have an awful uniform
This one is a 2.5 hour train journey from home… it’s in a small town in Devon, a beautiful place. However, they have given me a day to think things through and verbally accept the offer before they send me out a contract.
SO, what do I do now.
Obviously, both are great companies but I feel Boots would be better in terms of progression and as an employer. Specsavers however I slightly favour purely because I’ve met them and spent time with them - their training is pretty good too and the supervisors are great.
I’m seriously confused and have a day or so to decide. So what do I do?? Any advice/help would be appreciated :-/
ok, I think it comes down to your progression then .. What do you do and what is your area of expertise?
Depending on that , can you sit back and think which is going to aide your next potential step in your career... say 5 years from now if you wish to change jobs , which companies experience will be more helpful for you to have in your CV at that time... this will sort out about 70% of your confusion ...
I personally think Boots is a much better company then Specsavers ... so think it through carefully which company gives you better career prospects in the longer run
Also , ask your friend who works in boots, about what the inside culture is .. are people generally happy working in that organization ... do the same for specsavers ...
Personally speaking even Boots have done you a favour by trying to place you next to a manager who they think you will be comfortable working with.. so people wise , culture wise , learning potential wise they may both be quite good ...
journey is the same almost , it doesnt matter if one is slightly lesser then the other, fact is that eventually you will have to move closer to your work place at one point or the other ... if one was half an hour away and the other 3 hours away then we could have thought differently but right now , both are long distance so its not an issue ...
Just focus on the next step bit and see what you find out ... I think that is the key in choosing the right firm ... Good luck
My role is basically as a pre-registered optometrist. So essentially I'll be working in these stores under the guidance of a senior optometrist who would be overseeing my clinical work initially and also preparing me for College of Optometrists examinations.
I do see Boots as a better company to work for but in terms of this initial training phase, Specsavers are known to be better.. with I think a 90%+ pass rate as compared to Boots - around 60%. So on that basis I think Specsavers provide better training and are more experienced with training graduates.
Long-term I think Boots would be better - my friends who have worked in both companies all have excellent things to say about both which makes it even more difficult!
In terms of which would look better on my CV... hmmm :-/
in this case I agree with NomiCA .. go with the company that provides a better passrate … you gotta think along the lines of who can give you a better kickstart to a successfull career ..and if thats specsavers , then sure go ahead with them specially that your friends have said good things about both firms ..
i was in a similar situation...........i chose to go with the one which had more flexible/friendly environment and easy going mangers.......
but as i found out later......... it would've been better to go with the one which had better pass rate/ training............ because the culture of being exam focused prevails in the whole organisation......it keeps u on edge and u feel the urgency to pass exams and train better.....
Yeah thats what I am thinking... I just don't want to be halfway through and think aah damn I should have gone with Boots - but yeah I guess its just one of them things. 4/5 people I've asked so far have said Specsavers..
But Yeah I've chosen - and Specsavers it is - InshaAllah its the best decision for me :)
Specsavers are known better thn Boots. Actually, I got eye laser treatment done last year,I was very much impressed by the friendly staff the services Optical Express provides.
I probably won’t even be able to come home on the weekend tbh.. Saturday is the busiest day of the week in practice so I will probably be working on Saturdays.. I don’t know yet Probably come home every few weeks or so..
Specsavers are known better thn Boots. Actually, I got eye laser treatment done last year,I was very much impressed by the friendly staff the services Optical Express provides.
Probably come home every few weeks or so..