Case studies: Dispensing optician: Saima Begum

Saima is a dispensing optician and assistant manager at Boots Opticians. She has a Foundation Degree from Anglia Ruskin University in Ophthalmic Lenses and also a dispensing diploma from the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO).

I started off in optics when I was 17 years old, working in a small independent opticians practice, where I was an optical assistant. After a short amount of time I became assistant manager and I worked there for three years before moving to Boots Opticians.

I wanted to work for Boots Opticians because there was an opportunity to pursue a career as a dispensing optician, something I was interested in. Boots Opticians gave me the opportunity to study whilst working and supported me throughout the course. I completed the course successfully with the support of my supervisors and practice manager. I graduated earlier this year and stayed at the same store working as a qualified dispensing optician. After just two months I was offered the role of assistant manager. I have now been with Boots Opticians for almost six years and have enjoyed every moment.

Studying ophthalmic lenses gave me a great deal of knowledge on the physics of lenses and anatomy of the eye, which is really important in my job role. I now have the confidence to dispense the best possible spectacles to every patient I see. My course also contained modules on management, which allowed me to prepare for the management job role that I am now undertaking.

My daily duties include completing an action plan for the team first thing in the morning, as well as running a team meeting in the morning to keep the team up to date and motivated, sharing information such as customer service success stories from the previous day as well as financial data. I find these meetings invaluable in terms of focusing the team for the day ahead. During the day I both dispense and lead the floor. My aim is to ensure the whole team is 100% customer-focused - helping our customers look, see and feel better is the whole team’s number one priority. I also supervise children’s dispenses.

Becoming an assistant manager has changed my role significantly. I really enjoy the management side of things and in the future I would ideally like to manage my own practice and even have my own franchise store. I also find teaching and training people in dispensing very rewarding and therefore I would like to become involved in some sort of training initiative that would enable me to help others.

The dispensing element of my role is very satisfying, as I get the opportunity to give truly excellent service to customers, dispensing spectacles recommended by the clinician and giving customers the confidence that they have the very best frames or lenses to make them look and feel great. I also enjoy the clinical side of things, and dispensing allows me to be more clinically involved.

The most challenging part of my job is the juggling of the two respective parts of my job - managing the shop floor in a flagship practice while also dispensing. To do both to the best of my ability requires good time management and strong management skills.

The best thing about working in optics is you are involved with people who are both patients and customers. This gives me the opportunity to both help people from a clinical point of view, but also to act in a commercial retail role and help run a successful business. I believe that working in optics allows you the opportunity to progress via many different avenues - management, training, retail or running your own business. There are a lot of opportunities to become successful in whatever you choose.