If you’re looking for a job as a dentist, you’re making a good choice because employment of dental hygienists is expected to increase 20% between the years 2016 and 2026. This growth is going to outpace all other occupations, so it’s good you have chosen not to give up dental school. However, you may be wondering what you can do to ensure you have the best chance possible of landing a job as a dentist. Here are some things to keep in mind as you get ready to apply for a position.
Is Your Resume Current and Ready?
If you haven’t updated your resume recently, this is going to be the first step you need to take. If your resume is fairly tight, you shouldn’t even have to spend too much time polishing it up. However, it also doesn’t hurt to have a professional take a look at it for you. It would be well worth the investment. Whether you are going to try to DIY your resume or have a pro lend you a hand, you’re first going to want to make sure you have all of your most recent and relevant work experience detailed and ready. Keep in mind that what you do at a job is as important as the job title and the company you work for. Use action words to begin each bulleted point describing what you do/did at the job. Write in such a way as to give the person reading the resume a good idea regarding your skillset and responsibilities within a 30 second time span. If an employer has many resumes to examine, they may not give yours much more than that at first glance.
Prioritize jobs and internships that highlight the skills you think the employer is going to need in the dental positions he or she is offering. A dentist job search is a great way to compile a list of the skills those who post to dental job boards are looking for. As you go through the listings, keep track of recurring skills. These may be hard or soft skills. Regardless, if you’re asking, “Where can I find a dentist hiring near me?” you will need to have these skills on your resume.
Have You Explored Possible Connections?
The old adage is still true today: It’s not what you know; it’s who you know. If you’re thinking to yourself, “I need to find a dentist hiring near me,” your search may have to start with where you’ve already been and people you already know. This may include professors you have a good relationship with, people you’ve met, friends, family members, or people you’ve worked with. You can approach and frankly state, “I’m trying to find a dentist hiring near me. Do you know anybody?” If they say no, then ask if they’ve heard of any openings, and even if they haven’t to keep you in mind if they do hear of something.
Tap Into Alumni Resources
Approaching an alumni organization by saying, “I’m interested in finding a dentist hiring near me. Do you know any alums I can connect with?” can be a great start to a search. Alumni love helping out other alums. Wise graduates know that helping other grads of the same school benefits both themselves and their newfound buddy. The new connection benefits because he or she gets one step closer to a good job. However, the alum you contact benefits as well. The more fellow alums are in the marketplace, the stronger the brand of the college or university the alumni graduated from. It also helps expand the network to graduates, increasing the number of people the alumni can contact for cool hookups and opportunities. Also, the more money alumni make, the more they will be able to donate back to the university. This strengthens the overall profile of the institution, enabling it to attract even more powerful sets of freshman and future alumni. So don’t feel awkward when approaching an alumni of your dental school, college or even your high school. They will be more than willing to give you some suggestions.
Your dentist job search, whether you’re focusing on dental associate jobs, or any other dental industry jobs, will be more successful if you follow these tips.
