RateMyPlacement and RateMyApprenticeship are now Higherin: Learn More

Higherin

Optical Assistant Review

at Specsavers

Level 3 Apprenticeship

Customer Service, Merchandising, Sales

Wimbledon

Review Submitted: March 2026

Overall Rating

4.6 /5

The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!

4.5/5 - Overview of Role
5/5 - Skills Development
4.6/5 - Structure and Support

Overview of Role

Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
Supporting patients throughout customer journey. This includes arrivals, clinical pre-screenings, spectacle dispense, pre-dispense discussions, triaging minor eye care appointments, frame styling, frame adjustments, repairs, customer concern handling.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
Depends on the team in store and your apprenticeship coaches. In my experience, my team was great and my coaches were very helpful.

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Being an optical assistant is an interesting mix of healthcare, retail and sales. I definitely had the opportunity to pick up new skills and build upon existing skills.

Structure and Support

How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
Again, depends on your apprenticeship coaches. My coaches were great and always kept on top of things. If you begin to fall behind, they'll help you get back on track.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
The team were always there to answer any questions.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
In Specsavers, they use an application called iLearn. If there is something you're unsure about, you would use that app to find information and get up to speed. The apprenticeship coaches are great at guiding you in a certain direction or answering questions.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
Any gaps in knowledge or skills, the apprenticeship coaches can point out and help you develop on them. This allows you to do your job at a higher standard.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
Twice a year, the team would go out for a dinner.

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend Specsavers to a friend?
Yes
Why?
If you're looking for a place to begin or if it's your first job, then it's a great place to begin. You pick up so many different skills which can be brought forward to other roles or occupations. It really does depend on the team in store whether they help you achieve what you need to achieve. Without their support, as an optical assistant, you won't get far in the role - you may progress at a slow pace.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Specsavers?
Always ask questions. Understand why things are done the way they are. Understand other parts of the business, not just the shop floor, so you can get a better overall picture.
In This Review
Join Now

Join the Higherin Community

Save Time

Easily add jobs from Higherin or external platforms to keep everything organised.

Personalised Alerts

Get tailored job recommendations and updates straight to your inbox.

Exclusive Features

Access tools like application tracking, deadline reminders, and saved searches.

Stay Ahead

Be the first to know about the latest opportunities and deadlines.

Completely Free

Create an account and unlock powerful features at no cost.