How to Find an Associate Dentist Job

Whether you are a dental student, an exiting resident, or just returning to the job market, the task of finding an associate dentist position can be daunting. This is an attempt to provide a centralized resource to help you land a job. For more updates, tips, and helpful information, follow up on our Facebook fan page, Twitter, or on this blog.

Step 1. Make a Plan.
As outlined in the following blog link, the key is to be flexible. It is best to determine what your options are before narrowing your focus on the best fit. Job Hunt Tips.

Obviously location is important, but don't waste the crucial first years of your career in order to live in the heart of the city. Here is an overview of area limitations on a job market: Where are the Jobs?, and a real-life example is outlined here: The Grass is Always Greener. If you absolutely have to live and work in a saturated market, here are some strategies to help you land a job: Saturated or Difficult Markets.

Step 2. Prepare Your CV and Cover Letter.
Generally speaking, CV/resumes are overrated, as are cover letters. Still, they are a necessary evil when breaking into a job market. It is important to stand out from the crowd, but make sure that it is for the right reasons.
Here is an example of a well-written cover letter: Cover Letter Sample.
And here are instructions on writing your CV/resume: Resume for Dentists.

Step 3. Applying.
Here are several online sources for dentist jobs:

• ETS Dental Job Listings
• Indeed.com Job Listing Aggregator
• Careerbuilder
• DentalTown Classifieds

Step 4. Interviews.

The Telephone Interview:

• Return your phone messages and emails promptly. It speaks to your motivation, interest, and courtesy. Don't let returning phone calls or emails become an issue or an obstacle to getting an interview. Even if you don't think you will be interested in an opportunity, return the call. On more than one occasion we have seen a candidate get a call from Practice B when he was already talking with Practice A. The candidate puts off returning the call to Practice B. Two or three weeks later, the opportunity with Practice A does not work out and now Practice B will not consider the candidate because no calls have been returned.
• Your main goal in a telephone interview is to get a face-to-face interview.
• Ask for the interview. Take the initiative to set a time. Say something like, "From what you have told me, I would be very interested in meeting with you and coming to see your practice. When would be good for you?"
• Smile- even on the phone. You really can tell when someone is smiling.

Here is some additional reading on phone interviews: Tips for Phone Interviews.

The Face-to-Face Interview:
Don't go in blindly. Be sure to prepare in advance. Look over this article the night before: Preparing for the Interview.

• Treat the staff with courtesy and respect. A practice owner often feels like his or her staff is like a family and will listen to their opinions, especially if they are negative. On more than one occasion, we have seen excellent candidates not offered an opportunity because they treated a staff member poorly.
• Smile and show some enthusiasm. More candidates are hired because of their personalities and positive attitudes than because specific clinical skills. One high-end cosmetic practice told us they had interviewed six different dentists. They hired the candidate who smiled and appeared to truly enjoy being a dentist, passing on more experienced candidates with less personality and enthusiasm.
• Show sincere interest in the hiring dentist's situation. Understand that the dentist needs to solve a problem. Maybe the practice just lost a key associate or partner. Maybe the practice is growing and cannot keep up with patient demand. Maybe the dentist needs someone to take over the practice when he or she retires. You need to get a clear understanding of the dentist's true motivation for adding an associate. Once you truly understand the needs of the hiring dentist, you can mutually determine if you are the solution.
• Send a thank you note after the meeting. Here is a great example of a post-interview thank you: Thank You Note.

Still nervous? Here is a full blog post on interviewing: Interview Tips.

Step 5. Reviewing Contracts.
A good overview of contracts may be found here (the most relevant information is on the last page of the article): Compensation Considerations.

Step 6. What Can You Expect to Earn?
There are several good sources covering realistic dentist earnings. Here is our own: How Much do Dentists Make?
The Levin Group publishes an annual survey in Dental Economics. The 2012 version can be downloaded here: Levin Group Survey.
The ADA puts out its own numbers, also: ADA Income and Gross Billings.

Step 7. Plan Your Relocation.
If you need to relocate, be sure to plan it ahead of time. Here are a few key points to ponder as you plan: Relocating Tips.

Finding a job can be an intimidating process. I hope these resources will help make the process easier. Please feel free to call us should you have any questions. We are always happy to help.

Posted by Morgan Pace, Senior Dentist Recruitment Consultant with ETS Dental. To find out more, call Morgan at (540) 491-9102 or email at mpace@etsdental.com.

Snapping On the Job

I know what you are thinking; this blog is geared at the dental field, not our postal service.  You are correct, of course.  But the “snapping” that I am referring to is of the camera, not a mental break.  Today, more than ever, smart phones are commonplace.  In fact, according to a study from Pew Internet & American LifeProject, 46 percent of all Americans are using a smart phone.

I recently had a client that had an individual on site for a working interview; the candidate showed staff members pictures that he had taken on his phone from other offices that he had worked in or interviewed with that he considered “very dirty.”  First, it never reflects well to bash former employers.  Second, the fact that he had used his cell phone to take photos of employers meant he could do the same to them.  This was just an interview.  What could have happened if this person was hired? 

Most offices have rules in place regarding the use of cell phones for phone calls and texting, but are you effectively protecting yourself with regards to the camera?

Camera phones leave individuals and companies open to multiple risks.  However, I want to focus on two main topics: the invasion of one’s privacy and theft of company information.

Camera phones enable one to take pictures of surroundings, coworkers, and patients, with great ease and in a variety of intimate situations.  Today’s smart phones allow pictures to be distributed quickly through various outlets which opens the door for espionage and harassment.  Some states have gone so far as to make improper photography a felony.

As a dental practice, you must ensure that your information and your patient’s information are safe guarded.  Your computers and file cabinets contain sensitive information which could easily lead to identity theft if it lands in the wrong hands. 

What can you, as an employer, do? It may be time to update your cell phone policy to specifically cover the camera phone issues.  Make sure that all of the staff is aware of the policy and why it is needed.  I would suggest limiting the areas that cell phones are permitted and requiring staff to ask management before taking photographs.  And, of course, with any policy, you will also want to have in place consequences for those that do not obey the policy.

Contributed by Tiffany Worstell, Dental Staff Recruiter- Nationwide.  To Contact Tiffany, call 540-491-9112, or email at tworstell@etsdental.com.

Relocating for a Job?

Supply and Demand
The dental industry is as beholden to this premise as any other consumer service. As a recruiter, I see this in action as I counsel dentists considering their job options. Oftentimes, the supply of doctors in an area is too great and the best decision is to relocate to an area with more demand. For every underworked dentist in downtown Raleigh there is a haggard practice owner in Fayetteville, Greensboro or any other “boro” or “berg” that is 30+ miles away form a major city.
For those considering relocating to take advantage of a better opportunity, there are many factors to consider. Here are a few key points to ponder as you make your plans.

Cost of living difference
Don’t want to live in a shoe box in order to afford to live in town? It will be tough to do in San Francisco and New York but you may be able to afford more than you have right now. Housing is not the only factor to consider, though. Relative cost of living includes basic price differences for a variety of goods and services that you will be using in your new digs. Here are two free calculators that will help you understand the difference in cost of living between areas:
http://tools.gmsrelo.com/ToolsFAS/Tool_CityProfileState.asp;
http://www.bestplaces.net/col/


Salary Equivalence
Taking cost of living into account, how much will you need to make in order to maintain your current standard of living in your new hometown? Here is another useful calculator: http://tools.gmsrelo.com/ToolsFAS/Tool_SalarySurveyState.asp


Moving Costs
The actual cost of moving has increased substantially over the past decade. This includes the cost to hire movers, ship possessions, rent storage space and gas up the rental truck. This site will help you determine how much cash you can expect to spend: http://tools.gmsrelo.com/ToolsFAS/Tool_MovingQuoteState.asp


Home Sale
If you already own a house you will need to meet with a realtor to get an accurate home value and sale timeframe. In many cases, it will take you longer to sell your home than your new employer is willing to wait. If you are considering a move, you should talk to a realtor sooner rather than later. If you need to plan on paying two home payments simultaneously, you should know how much your dream house is going to cost you per month.
This site offers a breakdown: http://tools.gmsrelo.com/ToolsFAS/Tool_MortgageCalculator.asp


Personal Impact
There are other factors to consider as well. Are you active in any local organizations? Are your kids going to resent your decision? Do your research. Being close to family, friends, and lots of activities is great, but it is hard to enjoy all of that if you are not in a position that offers you a fulfilling and stable career opportunity.

For more relocation planning tools, see our website at: http://www.etsdental.com/candidate/relocation.htm

Posted by Morgan Pace, Senior Dentist Recruitment Consultant with ETS Dental. To find out more, call Morgan at (540) 491-9102 or email at mpace@etsdental.com.

Landing the Best Associate Position: Go Where You are Needed. Think Like an Owner.

For Early Career Dentists, it’s a wonderful time to be entering the Dental profession. There is a tremendous need for dentists nationwide. The supply of Dentists will shrink until at least year 2020 while the demand for Dental services will continue to rise. If you are an early career Dentist, you can get a job. No problem. But, to land the best Associate position takes far more than just earning your DDS or DMD. Our team identifies, recruits and places hundreds of Dentists with practices across the country each year. Two pieces of advice:

1. Practice where you are needed- The need for Dentists is most critical in communities located an hour or more from a dental school. It’s the simple rule of supply and demand. -- The greater the demand for your services, the easier it will be to become successful.

2. Think Like an Owner - Here are some common concerns that often run through a practice owner’s mind when evaluating an Associate Dentist candidate. As recruiters, we hear these concerns daily from our clients. As a candidate, you may never hear them verbalized. Also included are some tips on overcoming these concerns. They should better equip you to ace your next interview and land an Associate position in your dream practice.



Owner Questions:



Q. Would I enjoy working with this Dentist for years or even decades? Is this Dentist eager to do what it takes to be successful, or will he wait for me to spoon-feed him patients, arrange CE, work through problems, etc.?

A. It is critical for the hiring dentist to have confidence in your ability to self-manage. Talk about situations that demonstrate you have initiative and that you can work independently. Draw from previous experience to show how you’ve creatively worked through challenging situations.



Q. Will my patients and staff enjoy being around the Associate? Will patients feel like they've been passed off from the Sr. Dentist to the Jr. Dentist?

A. Demonstrate you are committed to life-long learning. No Sr. Dentist believes that any recent dental school grad really has solid clinical skills. It is more important to convince the Sr. Dentist that you are committed to improving your skills every day, every month and every year than it is to convince him that you are a clinical superstar today.



Q. Is the Associate candidate committed to the area? Will I have to look for a new Associate in two years and start the process all over again? Does he really want to be here?

A. In your cover letter or during an interview demonstrate how you will work to connect with the local community. Describe why you want to be in that community. Demonstrate you have done your homework and are familiar with the area. If you have ties to the region that are not readily apparent, make sure you point them out.



Q. Will this Dentist develop a patient following or rely completely on me to bring in new patients?

A. It is important to note that the owner dentist makes more money producing $100k himself than he makes on an Associate producing $200k. The rule of thumb in any service-oriented business is that an employee needs to produce three times more than he/she is paid in order to be a worthwhile investment. Be prepared to discuss specific strategies you will implement to grow referrals and generate more revenue for the practice. Take a Dale Carnegie Course. Join Toast Masters. Describe how you will take every opportunity to get out there and meet people. If you are not from the community, demonstrate that you will become active in community groups, church, or the school system and develop your own following.



Q. Does it appear that the Associate Dentist candidate can work through conflict? Let's face it, from time to time there will be misunderstandings, conflicts, and mistakes made in working with staff and patients. Can the Associate work through these issues with ease or will he be a constant source of negative energy in the practice?

A. Be prepared with situational examples which demonstrate your ability to work through conflicts and misunderstandings with peers, colleagues or others. Talk about your problem solving skills and draw from your experience to show how you have resolved situations in the past.



Q. Does the Associate Dentist candidate have a good smile?

A. Smile! Believe it or not, we know dozens of Associate candidates who were not offered positions simply because they did not smile during the interview. Patients, staff and colleagues want to work with someone who is positive, upbeat and confident.



You've chosen a wonderful profession. You’ve worked too hard to settle for just another associate position. Remember to go where you are needed and think like an owner.

Article written by Mark Kennedy, Owner/Director of ETS Dental. You can reach Mark at (540) 491-9103 or mkennedy@etsdental.com.