It’s not easy being a new OD but today’s crop of optometrists have a lot going for them—they are resilient (thanks to the Great Recession), technically savvy and hard working, yet ever aware of the importance of the life-work balance quotient. This month’s Cover Story, “Living the Eye Life” provides an intimate look into the lives of 10 young ODs, adapting and succeeding despite some serious career obstacles, including financial woes and a lack of business skills.

So what’s setting these emerging ODs apart from other Millennials?

For one thing, many of them have been able to land jobs in their chosen field once they finished college, which is not something most Millennials can say. In a recent global survey on Millennials in the work force conducted by consulting firm Infosys, 55 percent of men and 69 percent of women agreed with the statement, “Job prospects for young people are worse than they were for my parent’s generation.”

The Infosys study also revealed that many respondents expect to learn completely new skill sets over the course of their careers in order to get and retain jobs. At least half of Millennial respondents said that their education did not prepare them for the realities of the workplace, and only 50 percent of those surveyed said their formal education was “useful for their current job.”

Although the job market can be highly competitive for new ODs and Millennials in general, most agree the importance of technology in the workplace will only grow.

Another theme that resonated throughout is that young ODs are not afraid of trying something new. Whether it’s opening up a practice or learning 3D printing, this generation is game for taking chances. And just like their fellow “non-optomeric” counterparts, technology in the workplace and staying connected with their communities are king.

mkane@jobson.com