Optical assistants are more than mere retail workers. These professionals work in big-name shops such as Boots, Vision Express, and Specsavers to deliver the highest level of customer support. When the optometrist has examined customers, you are the next port of call.
It’s your job to guide the customer through the process—whether that means helping them choose the right glasses or showing them how to put in contact lenses. If you have great people skills and don’t mind seeing someone stick a finger in their eye, this is the job for you.
But how can you land this role? To get your foot in the door, you will need to write an optical assistant cover letter that wins over the hiring manager. That’s where we can help.
Here at Resume.io, we have the resources you need to succeed in your career journey. In the following guide, along with the cover letter example, we will be covering:
- The best cover letter format and what paragraphs the cover letter should include
- How to quickly boost the effect of each cover letter paragraph
- What approach to take when writing your cover letter
- Writing an optical assistant cover letter when you have no experience
- The common mistakes to avoid when writing your librarian cover letter
If you’re looking for some more support to help you along the way, check out our expanding library of cover letter examples and guides now.
Best format for an optical assistant cover letter
Let’s get started and help you create an optical assistant cover letter that lands you an interview. Before you start writing anything, you need to know what elements to include. Your application letter needs a strong structure and should feature the following key sections:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
One of the biggest mistakes that candidates make when writing cover letters is not having a plan. If you start writing freeform, you can end up rambling on without ever getting to the point. That is a quick way to lose the attention of the hiring manager. If you’re looking for some more advice about the logistics of writing this letter, check out our comprehensive guide on it now.
Take a look at our optical assistant cover letter example below:
Dear Mr. Thompson,
I am writing to express my interest in the Optical Assistant position at Specsavers, as advertised on your website. With over two years of customer service experience in a fast-paced retail environment and a deep interest in eye care, I am eager to bring my skills and enthusiasm to your team.
In my previous role at Vision Express, I developed strong customer service and communication skills, ensuring that every customer felt welcomed and attended to. I handled eye test bookings, assisted customers in selecting frames, and offered advice on lens options, ensuring a smooth and positive experience. My ability to explain technical details in an easy-to-understand manner and build rapport with customers has been key to my success in the role.
At Vision Express, I was also trained in basic optical dispensing tasks, such as frame adjustments and minor repairs, which I understand are crucial for maintaining Specsavers' high standards of customer care. I am confident that my attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and passion for delivering outstanding service would make me a valuable addition to the Specsavers team.
What particularly excites me about working at Specsavers is your reputation for combining cutting-edge optical technology with a customer-focused approach. I am keen to contribute to a company that prioritises both innovation and community involvement, and I would love the opportunity to further develop my skills in the optical field under your leadership.
I would be delighted to discuss how my background and qualifications align with the needs of your team. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to Specsavers’ continued success.
Yours sincerely, Jane Smith
Cover letter header
The cover letter header either sits at the top of the page or at the side, depending on the design style that you choose. Either way, you shouldn’t overlook this vital part of your optical assistant cover letter. It includes the following details about you:
- Name. Include both your first name and surname.
- Address/location. List your address or location. You should also include details of whether you are willing to relocate for the right position.
- Contact number. Where can the hiring manager reach you? Include a phone number and the hours that you can be contacted.
- Email address. These days, so much is done via email. Make sure you use a professional email address on your next cover letter.
The above information is vital to your success. You need to make sure that the hiring manager can read it quickly and easily. Should they want to contact you, there can be no obstacles.
Want some more inspiration? Take a look at our related cover letter samples now:
Cover letter greeting
Before you can start talking about why you’re a great fit for the role, you need to greet the reader. Avoid informal greetings such as “Hey,” “Hi,” or the simple “Hello”. Your cover letter greeting should be formal and professional.
Instead, address the reader by their surname and title. For example, you might write “Dear Mr. Smith”. If you are unsure of the hiring manager’s name, go for something general, such as “Dear Specsavers Team” or “Dear Hiring Manager” here.
Never use “To Whom it May Concern” again!
While you may have been taught that this is the polite way to start a formal letter, it can come off stuffy and old. You want to make sure that you are approachable and relatable. For that reason, you should use a formal greeting that is more modern than this phrase.
Cover letter introduction
Next, you need to hook the reader’s attention. Your cover letter introduction needs to be punchy and give the hiring manager a reason to keep reading. Start off by stressing one achievement or talent that sets you apart from the crowd. That may be your excellent customer service skills or the fact that you won an award in your last retail role. Whatever the brag, shout about it now.
Choose your words wisely when writing this part of your cover letter. You might want to include some strong action verbs, for example, to pique the hiring manager’s interest. Equally, don’t be afraid to blow your own trumpet. You need to use everything in your arsenal here.
Dear Mr. Thompson,
I am writing to express my interest in the Optical Assistant position at Specsavers, as advertised on your website. With over two years of customer service experience in a fast-paced retail environment and a deep interest in eye care, I am eager to bring my skills and enthusiasm to your team.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The middle paragraphs of cover letters give you the chance to expand on your experiences and expertise. If you have worked as an optical assistant before, you can include anecdotes about your career history.
Since this is a people-focussed role, it’s smart to share stories with real character. For example, you may choose to recount the time that you helped a customer find the perfect pair of glasses for her new job, or a frame style that suited her face shape. Show the reader that you offer more than just advice and support to customers—you offer them an entire experience.
Wherever possible, aim to quantify your achievements. You can do this by adding numbers or statistics into the mix. For example, you might state that you supported “in excess of 25 customers per day” rather than just saying that you “supported customers each day”.
Write now and edit later!
Of course, you don’t have many words to play with here. It may be a case of writing down everything that you want to say in your cover letter, and then editing it down afterwards.
In my previous role at Vision Express, I developed strong customer service and communication skills, ensuring that every customer felt welcomed and attended to. I handled eye test bookings, assisted customers in selecting frames, and offered advice on lens options, ensuring a smooth and positive experience. My ability to explain technical details in an easy-to-understand manner and build rapport with customers has been key to my success in the role.
At Vision Express, I was also trained in basic optical dispensing tasks, such as frame adjustments and minor repairs, which I understand are crucial for maintaining Specsavers' high standards of customer care. I am confident that my attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and passion for delivering outstanding service would make me a valuable addition to the Specsavers team.
What particularly excites me about working at Specsavers is your reputation for combining cutting-edge optical technology with a customer-focused approach. I am keen to contribute to a company that prioritises both innovation and community involvement, and I would love the opportunity to further develop my skills in the optical field under your leadership.
How to close an optical assistant cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
Towards the end of your optical assistant cover letter, you need to wrap things up. As a general rule, this letter should be around 300 words long. If you are running over that word count, you will need to take some of the content out. The final sentences need to show the hiring manager that you are serious about landing this particular job.
You can end on a high by reaffirming the skills you have or adding a quick Call to Action (CTA) in there. That may be a line encouraging the hiring manager to contact you for an interview. If you are unsure how to get this part of the equation right, take a look at our cover letter sample.
I would be delighted to discuss how my background and qualifications align with the needs of your team. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to Specsavers’ continued success.
Yours sincerely, Jane Smith
Optical assistant cover letter with no experience
Looking for your first job? If you’re new to the working world or even just the retail world, don’t let that hold you back. Plenty of people find their feet working in shops. Since you have no work experience to draw upon, here are some topics that you may choose to cover:
- People skills. This is a customer-facing role. That means that you will be working directly with people. Detail why you are the right fit for this particular job.
- Voluntary experience. While you may not have any direct experience, it’s worth considering any volunteering experience you have. Draw upon this in your letter.
- Company knowledge. What do you know about the business so far? Showing that your cover letter is targeted is a smart way to get ahead of the competition.
Basic mistakes in a optical assistant application letter (and how to avoid them)
If you have got this far, you should be feeling ready to write your optical assistant cover letter. However, there are some core mistakes that you need to avoid. These include the following:
- Spelling mistakes. It’s important to show that you have an eye for detail. Make sure that you thoroughly proofread your cover letter before you send it.
- Boring letters. Your cover letter needs to capture the imagination of the reader. Make sure that you include interesting information that showcases your skills and expertise.
- Big walls of text. Don’t confront the hiring manager with a huge wall of text. That will get you nowhere fast. Use white space to break up the various sections here.
Key takeaways
- Optical assistants provide more than just support to customers. These professionals offer each person a unique retail experience.
- Show that you have what it takes to thrive by highlighting your unique people skills.
- Whenever you talk about a specific result, be sure to quantify it too.
- If you want some extra help along the way, use one of our cover letter templates.
