Dentists are relied upon heavily to help people maintain their teeth, gums, and mouth, and take care of dental problems as they may arise. So a career in dentistry is one you can rely on to be in demand for many years to come. The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites the overall employment of dentists is projected to grow 8% from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations. As overall health is more and more linked with oral health, the demand for dental services will increase. Not only will dentists be needed to provide treatment for patients, but they will also be needed to advise about care aimed to promote good oral hygiene.
Whether you are right out of dental school, joining a new practice, considering relocation, or turning your focus into a specialty area, it is crucial you know how to define your objectives so you can begin a job search. If your objectives are not clearly defined, you may end up selling yourself short or settling for a job you do not prefer. Consider the following tips to improve your chances of getting the dental position you deserve.
Update Your Resume
Before you begin your job search, update your resume to assure it highlights your current strengths. Make sure it gives the proper attention to your education, clinical skills, and expertise. If you have particular certifications, be sure they are noted. Don’t be afraid to call attention to your abilities! You want to stand out from the other candidates with your professional resume to get the interview. One of the ways you can stand out from the crowd is to develop a simply powerful resume by seeking assistance from a professional resume service. They can help you tweak your resume to focus on the specific job you are pursuing.
Including professional references can make you stand out among the other job candidates. Exercise time and care when adding references to your resume. Make sure your references are people who are extremely familiar with your skills, abilities, education, and strengths. If you are focusing on a particular specialty position, be sure your references know of your expertise in the area. It is beneficial to list references who give praise for your qualifications.
Consider the Compensation
Dental practices offer dental associates flat salaries, salaries with production bonuses, or salaries with a percentage of the collections. Think about which one is mostly suited to your needs and the future you desire. Don’t be afraid to inquire what type of salary is being offered. Determine whether the practice wants to hire new graduates or associates with a minimum amount of experience. These factors can determine your income and hiring success.
Payscale shows the median salary for a dentist in the U.S. at $139,000, but this will depend on where the practice is located, your certifications, and other factors. Most dentists can make between $88,000 and $219,000 or more per year. So if you are being offered a percentage, what is it? Will the percentage offered be for production or collections? How much does the practice make? If earning a percentage, will it put you in the salary range you require? If they are offering a flat-rate daily, weekly, or monthly, what is the rate? Do you have the potential to earn bonuses? How are the bonuses figured?
Prepare Yourself
Interviews are the opportunity for the employer to find out about you, but they are also a chance for you to find out about the office and if the position being offered will challenge you and give you the job satisfaction you are seeking. Review your skills, qualifications, and experience listed on your resume so that you will be able to speak confidently about them. Make a list of questions you want to ask concerning details of the job and the office. Search for as much information as possible about the office prior to your interview. If they have a website, look it over to learn what services they offer, the location of the office, and the names of the dentists there. Try to prepare yourself for some questions the interviewer may ask.
Dress in business attire and have tidy hair, clean shoes, and clean clothes. Wearing perfume or aftershave is discouraged in case of any allergies. Keep your makeup and any jewelry simple. You may want to consider covering any tattoos. You may want to travel to the office beforehand to ensure you know the way there and how long it will take to get there. Make sure to allow extra time for possible delays in traffic. Make sure you have the phone number and contact information for the office where you are interviewing in case you need to call if you think you may be late.
There is no such thing as preparing too much for an interview. Talk over your achievements in preparation for discussing them with your tentative employer to impress them with your prior experience. Practice answering some of the hardest questions you could be asked. Also, prepare for the chance you may not be offered the position, and in this event, use the interview as a learning curve. There is a position you will interview for that will be offered to you at some point.
SPS Dental Staffing is a great place to find your next potential employer. They offer “temp to hire” and “direct hire” positions. Simply submit your resume with a brief description of your employment needs, and an SPS representative will contact you. Use their Dental Staffing/Recruiting Portal to find your dream job!
